Techniques in Catch-22

In Catch-22, by Joseph Heller, one of the more intriguing aspects of the novel is the point of view. This is because Joseph Heller chose Captain Yossarian, the main antagonist, to narrate the majority of the novel, which in turn added to the idea of complexity and chaos in war. By utilizing Captain Yossarian’s point of view, someone who is constantly depicted as insane throughout the novel, Heller induces the reader to question the reliability of the narration. Captain Yossarian’s paranoia, contributing to his purpose as the narrator, is best expressed where he states “The enemy is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which side he is on” (Heller 20). This quote clearly depicts the supposed paranoia that Yossarian is experiencing, in regards to his trust or lack thereof in his allies, and thus corroborates the previous claim.

One of the most interesting and ingenious components of this novel is the way in which it is structured. Each of the 42 chapters in the book express a different story and the stories seem to be presented in no particular order. In the big picture however, Heller is able to synergize the contents of the novel into the coherent tale that is Catch-22. The various stories all help to characterize and define the main story in the novel. It can be noted that like the seemingly scattered stories combining to form Catch-22, war is often not a singular uniform movement but rather a decentralized effort with a central purpose. This is perhaps another intended effect by Heller.