Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

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Recommended: Gender in the military

In the novel “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller, shows many types of flaws. The novel shows the reader the gender expectations from when the country is at war and when there is peace. The author, Joseph Heller, presents critical feminism in the disadvantages and expectations of men and women, where men are forced to engage in war while women are looked down on in the society. Both parties are mistreated by abusive power but had no way out.

There are specific expectations and guidelines for the behaviour of men, especially during the war period, they are enforced to act audacious and proud. These strong individuals must protect their county, fight courageously, and are insisted if they met the requirements. The soldier have to become a certain age and certain medical standard to be able to serve at war. The typical stereotype for men is they fight courageously and talk later. Men would use violence to sold their problems, instead of an inner expression to speak their ideas. Men are to serve their country at war whereas women served at home. The women expressed in the novel “are grotesque, like useless your men in depression” (Heller, Pg 27). During catastrophe men are imaged as a courageous figure who will stand upon all obstacles and there would be no reason to quit. The men seemed who seemed to be clumsy or instance would not be able to fight. During war, situations become chaotic, to soldiers afraid they will have to show no fear. some of the men in the novel showed insanity where ‘they threatened to throw [a girl] out the window. They were utterly demoralized men of distinction” (Heller, Pg 352). The me doesn't realize the outcome of their idiotic actions, but seek sex and desires more important. In the mind set of war, there is n...

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... return home or be sent home because of their insanity. The only way to escape the thought is “to assuage my fears of sexual impotence” (Heller, Pg 298) toward those who are weak and have no self esteem of power. the way is by degrading and threatening those who are week. Near the end “Nately’s whole was binding just outside the door. The knife came down, missing him by inches”(Heller, Pg 453). She became strong enough to almost commit to killing another man.

Thought out the entire novel, the author depicted the stereotypes of women and the mental and physical harm that resulted from the inferiority. Meanwhile, men craved to be overpowering, both on the battlefield and in the community. The gender differences were in just. both gender should be equal and have equal advantages to becoming the stronger version of themselves.

Works Cited

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

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