full title Catch-22
author Joseph Heller
type of work Novel
genre War novel; satire
language English
time and place written 1955–1961, New York
date of first publication 1961
publisher Simon & Schuster, Inc.
narrator The anonymous narrator is omniscient, seeing and knowing
all things. The narrator presents characters and events in a humorous,
satirical light but seems to have real sympathy for some of them
as well.
point of view The narrator speaks in the third person, focusing mostly
on what Yossarian does and what Yossarian thinks and feels. Occasionally,
the narrator also shows us how other characters, such as the chaplain
or Hungry Joe, experience the world around them.
tone The narrator presents ridiculous behavior and illogical arguments
in a flatly satirical tone, never stating outright that matters
are funny, but always making the reader aware of how outrageously
bizarre the characters and situations are.
tense The story is written in the past tense. Although the
book settles into a more chronological order as it approaches its
end, most of Catch-22 is
told out of sequence, with events from the past mixed in with events
from the present.
setting (time) Near the end of World War II
setting (place) Pianosa, a small island off the coast of Italy. Although
Pianosa is a real place, Heller has taken some creative liberties
with it, enlarging it to hold all the action of the novel.
protagonist John Yossarian, an Air Force captain and bombardier
stationed in Pianosa
major conflict Yossarian struggles to stay alive, despite the many
parties who seem to want him dead.
rising action The rising action in the novel’s present time is Yossarian’s growing
certainty that he will never be allowed to go home. Alongside Yossarian’s
certainty is a second subplot that takes place in the past: the
bombing run on which Snowden was killed. As the novel moves along,
we are allowed to see more and more of this pivotal scene.
climax The two climaxes of Catch-22 happen
simultaneously. The first climax occurs when Yossarian is offered
a choice: he can either face a court-martial or be sent home if
he agrees to support Cathcart and Korn. The second climax, which
occurs as Yossarian makes his decision, is the final flashback to
Snowden’s death, in which all the details of this critical event
are at last revealed.
falling action Remembering the lesson of Snowden’s death, Yossarian
decides that he cannot betray the other men in his squadron by forcing them
to fly his missions for him. Instead, he decides to desert the army
and flee the camp.
themes The absolute power of bureaucracy; loss of religious
faith; the impotence of language; the inevitability of death
motifs Catch-22; number of missions;
Washington Irving
symbols Chocolate-covered cotton; the soldier in white; aerial photographs
foreshadowing Snowden’s death is heavily foreshadowed, but in the
unusual vehicle of Yossarian’s memories. Yossarian recalls the death
very briefly several times near the beginning of Catch-22. It
is not until the second-to-last chapter that the death is finally
described in full.
