Jan 05, 2010 06:22 PM
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Its your perspective with which you start reading this book that assures, what you are going to get out of it; if you read it as just another funny book, well.. there is lot to laugh about, but if you really think a little deep and put yourself in the shoes of these characters facing the heat of War; you will feel their pain, you will feel how despondent is there condition, and how cheap lives are in the times of war. It also reminds us how we take for granted the things in the world and should not, and how for small benefits of their own, some people put lot of troubles and pain in other’s lives. But still, after all said and done, it’s the most funny book one can find around and it can really transform your perspective towards the armed forces and its men.
About the Story : In the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean sea, American forces has setup their base for airborne attacks on Germen occupied lands of Europe. Though many memorable characters are there in this book, captain Yossarian is the one around whom the story revolves. He is a malingering bombardier (a brave soldier at his times of early years, but now has got tired of all the missions he has to fly) whose only concern is to save his own life somehow.
He always has one way or the other (very inventive ones) to save his skin from the horrible outcomes of war. Though he succeeds, most of the time, in getting relieved of flying missions but it’s his eventual desire of going back home, that he has to fight for, as there are none in the regiment that supports him openly, some out of shame for raising the issue, and others who really want to keep flying mission, for the love of country, Bllst.
Then there is this Colonel Cathcart, who keeps raising the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service, to show his seniors ..how efficient he and his men are. So every time, someone finishes his quota of missions, the number is raised. Even if someone somehow manages to get it all done, there is this Catch 22 to trap them.
Catch 22, a menacing bureaucratic rule. What Catch 22 really means is – A man is considered insane if he is willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a request to be relieved of his duty, that very act proves that he is sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. This one catch's enough to keep them all in war forever.
What starts as a hilarious book with Yossarians attempts to escape the missions, turns into a very emotional and thought provoking tale by the time you reach the final pages, though humor is still there, but it takes the dark form by then, as one by one his friends gets killed on their missions. In the last few chapters, where Yossarian tries to save a small girl in the war torn city of Italy, writer has described the evils of wars very meticulously.
When it becomes unbearable, Yossarian finally declares openly that he is not going to fly anymore missions and the News of one of his colleague finally succeeding in running away from the island comes as a ray of hope, when he has lost it all.
The book is 452 pages long with 42 chapters in all and each chapter is named after the characters in the story, who ever played the prominent role in that particular chapter.
About the Writer : Joseph Heller was born in 1923 in Brooklyn. Catch 22, his first work, was first published in 1961 and became a best seller. In 1970 a movie was made on it. His other prominent works include “The portrait of an artist as an old man”, “Something Happened”, “God Knows”, “Closing Times”(sequel to Catch 22). He died in 1999 December.
About some interesting Characters : There are number of unforgettable characters other than Yossarian, but if I start covering them all here, the review will go into the comment section, but believe me every character is so beautifully carved out and all of them are so different in their approach towards the war that one wonders whether they really are fighting for their country, or is it for some self-interested motto and in some cases even they don’t know what they are fighting for.Some of the interesting characters are like :
Major Major Major Major : A man named Major Major Major becomes a real major and so the name. Since he looks like Henry Fonda, everyone thinks that he is promoted because he looks like him and there are others who think that he really is Henry Fonda. He tries every bit to be friendly to all, but no one shows interest and neglects him. He tries to be friendly, in disguise, with his juniors but when they find it out they beat him hard. So finally he decides to take refuge in solitude and orders that no one should come and visit him as long as he is in office. Only when he has left the office that people can come and visit him in office. Even the officer who is supposed to deliver this message is not supposed to meet him again.
Milo Minder Binder: Milo, a mess secretary, finds a way of earning money, even in most hazardous circumstances. He has ways of earning money from everything he is involved in, even uses fighter plans for transporting things from one country to another and his network involves Germens too. Sometimes you feel that writer is crossing the limits to glorify him but it is funny indeed.
An Example to demonstrate his brilliance: Milo buys a thing for Rs 1, sell it to some other man in other country for Rs 4 (other man in fact is Milo himself), then buy it backs from him at Rs 7 (both buyer and seller is Milo) and then sell that product in his mess for Rs 5. Everyone thinks that he selling it at a loss of Rs 2 where as he infact is making a profit of 4 rupees per piece, brilliant mind, and this one is just one of his tricks. Read out for more of such tricks.
Othere interesting characters are like: Doc Daneeka, Chaplain, Dunbar, General Dreedle and his son-in-law together, and some, whose name I have forget.
One Take from the Book : Before I end it all, here is some words of wisdom from Catch 22
“Rome was destroyed, Greece was destroyed, Persia was destroyed, Spain was destroyed. Why not your’s? How much longer. Do you really think you own country will last? Forever? Keep in mind that the earth itself is destined to be destroyed by the sun in the twenty million years or so.”
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Take Care and Keep Writing and Smiling
Vikky Gural
PYAR HUMEIN PHIR MILAAEEGAAA...
