An Existentialist Reading of Catch-22 essays

An Existentialist Reading of Catch-22 essays Mankind has always been in search of something more meaningful than we can truly comprehend, when in actuality, there really isn't anything we can truly comprehend to begin with. Mankind is plummeting towards an unknown destiny of prosperity or devastation and there is truly nothing we can do or say to stop whatever occurrence awaits us. Joseph Heller brings us a little closer to our insane destiny with his novel Catch- 22 as he depicts grimly absurd scenes that are "all about a society that is fast going insane", according to John W. Aldridge. Characters cursed with savage physical desires and characters cursed with one-dimensional thoughts are the basic make-up of this extremely intricate novel. The reader is constantly aware of basic human desire, but then they're reminded of the absurdity and pointlessness of the world in which they desire. Heller highlights the essential nonsensicality of our existence through the use of absurd, and yet somehow depressingly realistic circumstances that force the reader into wondering why they go through so much trouble to exist in a world that most certainly has no point. Heller does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of basic human desires, and they play a pivotal role in this novel. Heller uses each of his characters to introduce a new desire and or physical need that humans experiences in all phases of their lives. Hungry Joe represents sexual desire, the Chaplain represents the desire for basic human companionship, Milo depicts the desire for success and money, and so on and so forth. Almost all of Heller's Characters are in search of something, they all want to feel something or be a part of something in order to feel connected to something. Yossarian is constantly falling in love because he needs to feel that connection to another human being. Yossarian needs to know that it is possible for two humans to connect in a way that ...