I have finished and I have come to the realization that I was wrong. This book isn't about war. It is about humans. It is about human nature. There are two camps. One, Yossarian, Nately, the Chaplain, Orr and others. They are crazy, many people would choose not to be around them. Yet they are there, trying to complete their time so they can serve their country and go home. Two, Milo, Colonel Cathcart, Colonel Korn and others. They simply are working to make themselves look good. They are looking out for Number One and everyone else is getting in their way. Colonel Cathcart is trying so hard to make himself look good, that he cannot make any decisions for himself. Colonel Korn is concerned about making Cathcart look bad so that he will in turn look good. Milo, Milo is out for himself. He doesn't give a damn about anyone else. He runs his syndicate and makes his money, taking medical supplies from wounded soldiers, bombing his own unit to make money. He is rewarded too, he is seen as a hero. This novel is less about war and more about humans. No character in this book is perfect, they are all human. Some are worse and more odious then others, but in the end, they are all human.
Truth is that I have nothing deep and meaningful to say about this book. It is beautiful and terrible. It is hilarious and heartbreaking. The idiocy of the commanding officers and the blatant disregard for human life and the all-consuming quest for money is something that may take place in a war and on a street. Heller is bashing people and their weaknesses. Chances are that a reader can see themselves in one of the characters and in their weaknesses and follies. Yet through all of this, I can still say that I look to see the good in people. If you walk around believing that people are evil then you never give them a chance to prove you wrong. In this case, isn't it good when you are proven wrong? When people prove that they can be kind and good?
Yossarian is forced to continue flying missions and watching the men around him die. Can you imagine? This book gives me a deeper respect for the people that put their life on the line for their country. They reach down deep and pull it out of themselves. Amazing. Such strong people. Yossarian says that he is against the Colonel's who were not treating him like a human being who's life matters, not against his country, I thought that was well put.
Let me intrude by saying that I have nothing but deep respect for the people that stand up and fight for what they believe in. Everyone is viewed in a gray area, but no more than the men and women that take up arms for their country. There are people that will hate you and people that will like you, there is nothing you can do to change that. However that does not mean that you should change yourself to be who they want you to be. Yossarian was given a choice, be who you are or be who we want you to be. Being who they wanted him to be was going to give him riches and fame. Being who he was would probably bring jail. He chose to be himself. So in the end, he was looking out for Number One, just like those he was rebelling against. The only lesson I took was that life is frail, life is precious and humans are imperfect. Happy thought indeed.
Ok, I rambled a bit, hope you followed. If not, disregard last paragraph. My thoughts are still not settled.
This book will make you smile then it will make your head explode with anger. There are times that you will need a good strong drink. I love it and I completely hate it.
There is always a catch, and it is Catch 22
I need a pick-me-up. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone it is!
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