Catch-22

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller is about a bombardier named Yossarian in World War II, 1943. Yossarian tries everything to relieve himself of duty to return home, but fails every time because of the rule Catch-22. The rule states that a pilot has to ask to be grounded for insanity, but a pilot that ask must be sane because the sane people would never fly the bombing missions.

The centralized theme in Catch-22 is that war is irrational and completely absurd. Heller symbolizes this theme perfectly through the soldier in white. "Sewn into the bandages over the insides of both elbows were zippered lips through which he was fed clear fluid from a clear jar. A silent zinc pipe rose from the cement on his groin and was coupled to a slim rubber hose that carried waste from his kidneys and dripped it efficiently into a clear, stopper jar on the floor. When the jar on the floor was full, the jar on his elbow was empty, and the two were simply switched."

Joseph Heller uses a satirical tone through out the novel. Never stating directly whats funny and pointing out the bizarre in between the characters and situations. An example of this would be when the chaplain is interrogated in the cellar. The Officer states, "We accuse you also of the commission of crimes and infractions we don't even know about yet. Guilty or Innocent?" The chaplain replies, "I don't know, sir. How can I say if you don't tell me what they are first?"  A second example of Joseph Heller's satirical tone in Catch-22 is when Doc Daneeka is declared dead because of the flight list that Yossarian was putting his name on so he could get flight time without actually being on the plane. The military then gives the Doc's wife money because of his
death. He eventually writes her stating he is actually alive. When she receives the letter, the wife moves to a different state leaving him no way to contact or find her. Finally, a third example would be Hungry Joe having nightmares of a cat lying on his face and suffocating him. Later in the book Hungry Joe does in fact die from a cat laying on his face and suffocating him.
Symbolism, foreshadowing, direct characterization, dialogue, and a satirical tone. In the beginning of Catch-22 Joseph Heller mentions just briefly the death of Snowden. Later the explaining of the death of Snowden becomes the climax of the book. Joseph Heller also uses direct characterization immensely. For instance, "The soldier in white was encased from head to toe in plaster and gauze." Lastly dialogue is a literary element used in Catch-22. For example, "Murderer," Dunbar said quietly. The Texan looked up at him with an uncertain grin. "Killer," Yossarian said. "What are you talkin' about?" the Texan ask nervously. "You murdered him," said Dunbar. "You killed him," said Yossarian.