In the midst of World War II, restless soldier and antiheroic bombardier John Yossarian endures the perpetual torments of war with a stubborn desire to escape. Witnessing a number of horrific events and relentless bureaucratic absurdities, Yossarian and his companions struggle against the surreal parameters that define life in a constant battle and attempt to understand the insane paradoxes that often hinder their strongest desires. Throughout his novel Catch-22, Joseph Heller depicts Yossarian's plight to free himself from the tenacious grip of his superiors, proving that in the face of the illusory face of freedom, it is often impossible to escape the forces of freedom. 'oppression. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get an original essay As an important theme of the novel, high-ranking officials often refer to the mental state of their subordinates as a means of causing confusion and restrict their actions. . In an early invocation of the term named after the novel, catch-22 is used to explain the paradox in which Orr did not have to go on missions because "he was crazy", but if he chose not to not carry out missions, he would be considered "sane". and I had to do it” (Heller 46). This “slippery but elegant” logic demonstrates how the military uses the mental state of its subordinates in order to make them perform various actions, thus forcing them to do so through their own state of mind (Swift 2011). Later in the novel, Yossarian attempts to cite his madness as a way to leave the war, to which Doc Daneeka responds, "'Who else will go [to be killed]?' » (Heller 305). Although the military has previously emphasized the idea that poor mental health is a reason to leave the war, Doc Daneeka points out that this idea is not really enforced, but rather presented as a way to control men and women. to hide the fact that escape is impossible, whatever the situation. of his mental well-being. Additionally, Yossarian's mental state is used to discredit his logical fear of being killed. Explaining that “strangers he didn't know were shooting cannons at him every time he flew through the air to drop bombs on them,” Yossarian is considered crazy by Clevinger (Heller 17). Although both men are subject to the same dangerous conditions, Yossarian's view is frowned upon because it encourages the desire to escape war and its potentially deadly implications. The military's tendency to appeal to the mental state of its subordinates places men in a vulnerable state and leaves them receptive to the control of others. Additionally, in the novel, the enigma of Trap 22 extends beyond the U.S. military and is used by other demographics across the planet, emphasizing that the theme of hidden oppression is not specific to the United States , but rather extends to the whole world. Reflecting on why Nately's whore blamed Yossarian for Nately's death, Yossarian comes to the paradoxical conclusion that "every victim was a perpetrator, [and] every perpetrator a victim" (Heller 405). This phrase, which applies to the tragic nature of the world, emphasizes that those who are helpless and guilty of the cycle of misfortune suffer from it and contribute to it, leaving everyone, despite their supposed freedom, victim of an oppressive system. Similarly, catch-22 appears as a widespread concept in Italy when the term is uttered by Yossarian's lover, Luciana. She attests that she “will not marry [Yossarian] because he is crazy, and… [he is] crazy because he will not marry her” (Heller 159). Although presented in terms of love rather than.