How can war, with all of its destruction, be beneficial?
While there are many negative effects that war has on society, there are also many benefits. We saw this occur many times during World War II, one of the main examples being the literature that emerged from the war. Below we have provided an example of famous World War II literature, Joseph Heller's Catch 22.
Summary:
Joseph Heller's novel, Catch 22, takes an uncommonly satirical approach to World War II and the general absurdity of war. The book follows the protagonist, Captain John Joseph Yossarian and his time spent on the fictional island of Pianosa off the coast of Italy. Throughout the story, Yossarian is constantly making attempts to escape combat duty but is always faced with the paradoxical and nonsensical Catch 22. As Yossarian struggles to survive in the war, many secondary stories start to surround him. For example, his friend Nately falls in love with a prostitute, his comrade Hungry Joe goes insane and his mess hall manager, Milo, manages to bomb their entire campsite. Catch 22's lack of chronology makes it an exciting read that keeps you on your toes and gives you a completely different perspective on war. |
"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions."
(Heller, 55) |
Catch 22 Movie Pilot
as made by Da Vinci students