Catch-22: Humor

Quote from page 24:

But I never knew if it got across or not, since it's pretty tough to make people understand you when you're talking to them with two crab apples in your cheeks.

One of the main devices Heller uses in this book is humor. The quote above is not the only point in the book that made me laugh out loud; the comedy begins on the very first page. The humor is an odd type of humor though. It seems to be, for the most part, ironic humor or sarcasm. Often, Heller uses humor to highlight the ignorance of characters or the complete uselessness of their actions. For example, on page 78, the colonel at Clevinger's trial says, "I may be stupid but the distinction escapes me. I guess I am pretty stupid, because the distinction escapes me". He calls himself stupid! Another example is on page 192, when Colonel Cathcart is trying to implement prayers before each mission. He says to the chaplain, "Haven't you got anything humorous that stays away from waters and valleys and God? I'd like to keep away from the subject of religion altogether if we can". Then only a few seconds later he asks, "Atheism is against the law, isn't it?". His entire conversation with the chaplain shows how ignorant Colonel Cathcart is.

I think Heller uses this humor to make light of such a horrible thing as war. It sort of diminishes its negativity.

Until Next Time,
Alysse