"Catch-22." Novels for Students, edited by Diane Telgen, vol. 1, Gale, 1997, pp. 89-115. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX2591400015/GVRL?u=lawr16325&sid=GVRL&xid=ee0fbf61.
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Themes and Construction: Catch-22." EXPLORING Novels, Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2111500013/SUIC?u=lawr16325&xid=17f1a515.
Yossarian is terrified of flying bombing missions and attempts throughout the novel to escape this duty. He is thwarted, however, by his superiors and by "Catch-22," an ever-changing rule that keeps people subjected to authority. Early on, "Catch-22" works to keep all the men flying bombing missions.
"Joseph Heller." Newsmakers, Gale, 2000. Biography in Context,
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Again and again, the military and business bureaucracies steal the dignity and hope of the men in Yossarian's squadron. The reader can understand Yossarian's point of view and empathize with him because he can never reach the number of missions he must fly before he goes home; the number will constantly be bumped up—not because that is what is necessary to stop the enemy, but because more missions will help the individual ambitions of one man gunning for a promotion. The reader sees Yossarian helpless against an absurd militaristic bureaucracy, held hostage and even physically endangered by the mercenary, money-grubbing business dealings of M & M Enterprises. The reader comes to like and respect Yossarian for standing up to the absurdity, refusing the dishonesty of betraying his fellow men by taking Cathcart and Korn up on their offer (he'll be honorably discharged if he lies and tells people he never refused to fly or challenged his superiors). Under the circumstances, Yossarian's character flaws are no match for his decency and honesty, traits which seem utterly absent in the rest of the