Free catch-22 summary essay sample

The novel ‘ Catch-22’ was published in November 11th 1961 authored written by Joseph Heller mainly focus on satire in the military and political establishments. The writer presents his argument by showing how individuals in the book distort reality and logic for their personal gains and interests. The most significant characters in the novel include Captain John Yossarian, Colonel Cathcart, and Nately
The novel opens and we meet the novel’s protagonist Captain John Yossarian, a bombardier of the 256th squadron who is hospitalized on the islands of pianosa in the squadron hospital with a temperature of 101 degrees Celsius. However, the doctors are treating him of constipation since they are unable to establish the specific disease Yossarian is suffering from. The tone of the first third of the novel is absurdly light-heartened and ironic.
Captain John Yossarian is tasked with the responsibility of bombing enemy’s position in Italy and eastern France but he has learnt to use ailment to evade his assignments, these kind of his creativity is seen when the novel begins and the Captain is in the hospital faking a liver ailment. He has learnt that liver ailments are hard to diagnose and hospital can be a safe haven to evade the dangers of the war. He is also in the company of Dunbar who believes that by engaging in boring task and passing time, he can live longer. Other members of the 256th squadron are mc watt the pilot, Nately who is in love with a prostitute in Rome, Daneeka the flight surgeon and colonel cathcart an aspiring General.
The story takes a change of tone where the men find joy, romance and parties and floric when they leave Rome. As the novel progresses, Milo Minderbinder who is the squadron officer and an entrepreneur makes the amusing antics turn grim as he uses the squadron money to operate a syndicate dealing with everything, from prostitutes to fresh eggs. However Nately’s love to his prostitute turns deadly as the novel end when he insists on flying extra missions to be close to her and is killed in the process.
The novel ends as Yossarian refuses to fly further missions and is summoned by Colonel cathcart and Korn where they offer him a ‘ deal’, that he can return home only if he turns his back on the men of the squadron and speak well of colonel Cathcart and Korn which he agrees but is attacked on his way out by Nately’s fiancée. He is seriously injured and hospitalized. While in the hospital, Yossarian decides to renege the agreement and flee to Sweden with Nately’s kid sister where Orr fled to after using his plane crash as a means of escape.