Got My Vans On

Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 is a very humorous but thought provoking novel. The novel begins with introducing Yossarian to the reader. Heller’s writing makes the reader see a different side to the traditional image of war that has been imprinted on society’s mind. The character of Yossarian presents new perspectives to war as well.

The beginning scene in the hospital is a very interesting scene. Traditionally we picture soldiers in hospitals to be valiantly injured, horribly sick, or tragically-mentally affected patients. But in Yossarian’s case he apparently is none of those “typical” patients, other than the maybe slightly damaged mental patient. Yossarian uses the hospital as a subterfuge from the war; he is presented with whatever he desires: comfort, security, and complacency in the hospital.

This use of the hospital as a shelter from the war is interesting. We start to wonder, to think: how many soldiers did this in the war? Were all injured soldiers who were placed in hospitals really worthy of a purple heart? We also realize how logical it would seem for a soldier to use a hospital as a source of security and comfort from a hostile environment. Heller uses this scene to provide the reader with a different take on a traditional image.

One of the funniest moments of the beginning of the novel is the censorship scene, where Yosarrian censors letters during his hospital duty. Heller is able to make a scene of traditional importance seem very humorous. The method with which Yosarrian censors the letters is hysterical and it brings lightheartedness to a serious subject of war. Heller is constantly able to present a new angle on various ideas and topics in his Catch-22.