“Slaughterhouse Five” and “Catch-22” Essay Example

though they offer little hope for his impending death. Similarly, Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22" illustrates how soldiers in war situations are completely hindered by incomprehensible military ideologies (Heller 24). Their leaders have the authority to impose any fate upon them without providing any justification. The illogical stance of these ideologies is evident and ultimately results in the complete suppression of the soldiers' free will. The irrational conditions of World War II are portrayed in a satirical manner from a historical perspective. According to Heller, the unfounded ideologies reached such an extent that they triumphed over practicality, rationality, and the realities inherent in war. This is exemplified by the phrase "catch-22," which becomes the embodiment of these misleading assertions. The sole purpose of this creed is to suppress the use of logic by both officers and soldiers during the war (Heller 24).The purpose of the incongruous idiomatic phrase was to ensure that in situations where individuals involved in war were deliberating whether or not to engage in combat, they would always choose to go into war, regardless of the prevailing conditions. The rationality behind this phrase was that it would be illogical to use rational thoughts and decisions to avoid combat; instead, the logical choice would be to embrace war and seize any opportunity to engage in it. The Catch-22 principle, though self-defeating, was implemented to enforce discipline and prevent individuals from acting against the orders of higher-ranking officials, even if they believed their actions were rational and justified (Brustein 1). Yossaria's actions in attempting to escape enemy attacks are practical and sensible, but as a military personnel, he is compelled to do the exact opposite

due to the military principle (Heller 24). The colonel, being constantly observant, ensures that bureaucratic rules are not violated and assigns Yossaria to perilous missions against American adversaries. Despite being a work of fiction, Kurt's novel "Slaughterhouse Five" does not disregard the harrowing and deteriorating realities of war. The character Billy serves as a clear illustration of this theme as he is forced by political circumstances during wartime to become a soldier.In Slaughterhouse Five, a poorly trained soldier named Billy is captured by German forces and becomes a prisoner of war (Kurt 57). Despite being against the war, his viewpoint is unwelcome among die-hard war proponents, including his fellow soldiers. On both sides of the battle line, antiwar sentiments are not tolerated. The dilapidated housing where Billy is held captive is called Slaughterhouse Five, and it serves as a refuge for both German soldiers and prisoners of war (Kurt 57). The war conditions force people to abandon their chosen paths in life and serve controversial political agendas. Those who oppose these actions risk their lives, as they are seen as abandoning their national duty. The suppression of free will and irrationality are evident in both "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Catch-22", where differing opinions are met with isolation, neglect, and violent stigmatization by the political systems. This novel illustrates the helplessness of those in lower social statuses. A small group of decision-makers hold the fate of the rest of the population in their hands, and the political system and bureaucratic structures do not accommodate the opinions and sentiments of minority members of society.During the war, Billy was forced to serve against his will due to political situations.

As a soldier, he was under the control of his commanders, and as a captive, he suffered under objectionable captors who subjected him to subhuman conditions (Kurt 57). In this grim reality, Billy's only escape is through his imagination. Yet, even within the bounds of his mind, he can't help but contemplate the lack of free will and the impending future dictated by his captors. The book "Catch-22" explores a similar theme, where senior officers exploit the Catch-22 dogma in a satirical yet disturbing manner when dealing with military police during the war. This doctrine allows for the mistreatment of military police by justifying it with contradictory satire. Essentially, any action taken against a soldier could be explained using the absurd Catch-22 principle (Heller 24). According to this principle, punishment could be enforced without the need for evidence, giving those in authority the power to do anything the officers being accused couldn't prevent. Ultimately, bureaucratic war regimes severely marginalized individuals.The notion of this doctrine was susceptible to abuse and experienced it to a significant extent, as the law essentially reflected the decisions of senior authorities. Furthermore, this doctrine overruled personal choices even in purely individual circumstances. The absence of free will plays a central role in both "Catch-22" and "Slaughterhouse Five," highlighting the theme of bureaucratic absurdity and the irrationality of human beings. Although they differ in their approaches, both books explore the theme of free will through various instances. Heller's writing style in "Catch-22" brings attention to the bizarre, consequential, and far-reaching effects of military bureaucracies. On the other hand, "Slaughterhouse Five" illustrates how the self-serving interests of senior political leaders in society imprison

the desires and wills of ordinary individuals, both in physical and mental realms. These individuals find themselves in undesirable circumstances, where their personal freedoms and natural instincts are completely restricted by those in authority. Any attempt to pursue personal interests and exercise free will inevitably leads to worse living conditions and possibly even death. In "Catch-22," Yossarian, the main character, is repeatedly compelled by the colonel to undertake missions despite his strong inner resistance (Heller 24).The text discusses the themes of military bureaucracy in the books "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Catch-22". The colonel in "Catch-22" is oblivious to the realities of military assaults and fails to understand the conditions under which they occur. Yossarian, on the other hand, tries to adapt to rationality and logic but is hindered by impractical military rules. Similarly, in "Slaughterhouse Five", Billy foresees his future and accepts the bleakness of it. The military police face a similar fate, having to choose between following their rationality and personal feelings or adhering to deadly military doctrine dictated by high-headed military regimes. One common theme explored in both books is the suppression of free will. The authors use satire and black humor extensively to discuss this theme.The soldiers found themselves in fatally compromising conditions due to the systematic inhibition of free will in political and military systems. The two writers have created literal masterpieces for the twentieth century by utilizing satire, historical fiction, and black humor. Despite modern trends emphasizing individual liberties, the military regimes completely disregarded these rights and instead perpetuated unfounded and impractical principles for their own benefit. The inflexible and inconsiderate leadership forced individuals to live in ways that guaranteed their

victimization. The bureaucracies caused the deaths of many people during the war as they fought for unclear political agendas based on illogical war doctrines imposed by their leaders.