What was Heller Up to in his Satirical Catch-22?

Joseph Heller wrote his satirical novel, Catch-22, directed towards the mindset of the veterans of American conflicts, as it quickly became a cult novel for the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. These are the very people that can put into perspective the satire used in this book. The veterans of those wars, and all persons similar, are the people who had actually been present and had seen and experienced the Catch-22 in action. Satirical humor is generally only comical to those who understand the background of it. This means that only certain people would be able to put into perspective certain types of satire. In Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, the types of satire were focused on the absurdity of war, and of all similar political institutions. As Heller himself had said "Catch-22 was more political than psychological." Referring to the stance the book adopted politically and psychologically. Satire is quite a powerful element in literature. It can take a serious book, and just by twisting a few words, can make it seem like a "Funny Horror" to certain people. The composition of the satire in this book is purely incongruous, and consists mainly of dark or black humor. The dark or black humor and the incongruity were mainly contained in the names of the characters and in the absurd situations that befell them.

A few examples of satire in the character’s names are as follows; Lieutenant/General Schiesskopf, Piltchard and Wren, General Dreedle, and Colonel Korn. These would be considered satire for the very reason that all of them have a double meaning. For example, in the name Lieutenant/General Schiesskopf, Schiesskopf is German and the translation in German most nearly means S**thead. This is comical because he is eventually...

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...r is generally only comical to those who understand the background of it. This means that only certain people would be able to put into perspective certain types of satire. In Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, the types of satire were focused on the absurdity of war, and of all similar political institutions. As Heller himself had said "Catch-22 was more political than psychological." Referring to the stance the book adopted politically and psychologically. Satire is quite a powerful element in literature. It can take a serious book, and just by twisting a few words, can make it seem like a "Funny Horror" to certain people. The composition of the satire in this book is purely incongruous, and consists mainly of dark or black humor. The dark or black humor and the incongruity were mainly contained in the names of the characters and in the absurd situations that befell them.