Stages Of War In Joseph Heller's Catch 22

Joseph Heller's Catch 22, which depicts the ending stages of World War II, presents war in its most crude, uncensored form. The novel dissipates all thoughts of war as ideal and heroic, instead, the novel shows the true violence of war. Through his illustration of the war, Heller satirizes war and its establishments resulting in an underlying theme of death. Almost all of Yossarian's friends end up dying in the chaotic war. For example, Yossarian's comrade, Snowden, dies, but his death is only revealed in bits until the end of the novel (Chapter 41 of 42) revealing its profound effects on Yossarian. This climax, Yossarian's first direct experience with death, reveals why Yossarian fears death throughout the novel. Prior to the Snowden`s death, Yossarian did not know the gruesome effects of death and was therefore apathetic towards death. He reluctantly did what he was told rather than attempting to escape the confines of the military. As a cadet, he trained to be a pilot and was promoted to captain “at a moment when he was up to his own ass in the same vile, excruciating dilemma of duty and damnation”. He obeyed the orders of his officers flying
Yossarian immediately treating Snowden`s obvious thigh wound by applying a tourniquet which gives Yossarian a false hope that his care for Snowden will result in his survival, but Yossarian is oblivious that the man is dying from another wound under the flack jacket. When Yossarian removes the jacket, “liver, lungs, kidneys, ribs, stomach and bits of the stewed tomatoes Snowden had eaten that day for lunch” poured out. While caring for Snowden, “Yossarian was cold, too, and shivering uncontrollably” allowing him to empathize with Snowden. In Snowden's death, Yossarian can see his own impending death. Yossarian realizes the inevitably of death and life is temporary. The expulsion of Snowden's insides reveals one thing to