Catch-22

the story takes place in a fictional island called Pianosa during the time of WWII.
Catch-22 does not flow with the sequence, but the story rather proceeds according to lives of each character described in each chapters. In short, Catch-22 is an overall story of soldiers who are lunatic and insane--desperately trying to avoid the military services. Their only goal is to survive. Heller uses a great deal of gags and satires to portray the ugliness of the war. In that, readers feel the horror in the middle of their ecstatic laughs--this condtraditory juxtaposition nonetheless distinguish Catch-22 as one of the best novels of the 20th century. Each soldier is the embodiment of cowardice and absurdity--their lives full of lunatic incidents. However, as the protagonist Yossarian encounters theses minor characters, he learns the life lesson. Yossarian used to be such full of midiocrity; he fakes illness to be out of military activities. In the end, however, his interactions with other midiocre characters teach him the value of humanity--life is not winning or losing. it rather is accumulating experience gained through interactions and interconnection between people. in that, even though Yossarian desperately wanted to be out of military service, he chooses not to take the upper power's offer since he would have to betray his other friend soldiers if he had taken the offer. From a man whose only desire is to survive and getting out of serving military therefore, Yossarian transforms into a man of humanity and compassion. in short, Heller definitely warns the people of futility and horror of the war in Catch-22. however, he further delineates the most important value in our lives.--YJK