The value of one’s own well being versus that of their state is a controversial question that has been asked since the dawn of nation states. In Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, Heller depicts the confusing and dangerous dilemma of self versus state that his protagonist Yossarian faces. Forced to act against his own best interests by his military superiors, Yossarian must look within himself to decide what he truly cares about. Heller uses Yossarian;s interactions with other characters to demonstrate the different opinions of the overarching question of self preservation versus state preservation, and uses the resolution of the novel to argue for the valuing of the self over the support of a state. Yossarian correctly argues in support
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Near the conclusion of the novel Yossarian turns down a deal that would set him free, because it means that he would throw his comrades under the bus. When Yossarian refuses to make the dirty deal, “the moral stance he takes is wholly at odds with the pure survival ethic of earlier Yossarian” (Potts 6). Yossarian is loyal to his friends even when it hurts him, which is a contrast to the selfish Milo and the psychopathic Aarfy. After Yossarian’s plane abandones a dangerous bomb run, they land their plane and look out at the silence of the squadron. “Back at field, the party fizzled out abruptly. An uneasy silence replaced it, and Yossarian was sober and self-conscious as he climbed down from the plane and took his place in the Jeep that was already waiting for them” (Heller 141). The men feel guilt for how they have abandoned their comrades and made their lives more dangerous. At the same time they worry for all of the others on their dangerous missions. While these emotions are common to have, it is the first time that the reader sees Yossarian have these emotions so strongly, as he usually remains brash to others and self-centered. A much more touching moment occurs when Yossarian believes that his roommate Orr has been killed, and his reaction to this scenario directly contrasts with Aarfy’s, who is completely self-centered. After being notified that Orr’s plane his missing, “Yossarian bounded up with a one-syllable cry that crackled with anxiety…’There he is’ Aarfy orated funerally, pointing down dramatically at a hay wagon and two horses standing before the barn of a gray stone farmhouse. ‘Smashed to bits. I guess their numbers were up.’ Yossarian swore at Aarfy again and continued searching intently” (Heller 151). While Yossarian feels pain and sadness at the thought of losing Orr, one of his best
Near the conclusion of the novel Yossarian turns down a deal that would set him free, because it means that he would throw his comrades under the bus. When Yossarian refuses to make the dirty deal, “the moral stance he takes is wholly at odds with the pure survival ethic of earlier Yossarian” (Potts 6). Yossarian is loyal to his friends even when it hurts him, which is a contrast to the selfish Milo and the psychopathic Aarfy. After Yossarian’s plane abandones a dangerous bomb run, they land their plane and look out at the silence of the squadron. “Back at field, the party fizzled out abruptly. An uneasy silence replaced it, and Yossarian was sober and self-conscious as he climbed down from the plane and took his place in the Jeep that was already waiting for them” (Heller 141). The men feel guilt for how they have abandoned their comrades and made their lives more dangerous. At the same time they worry for all of the others on their dangerous missions. While these emotions are common to have, it is the first time that the reader sees Yossarian have these emotions so strongly, as he usually remains brash to others and self-centered. A much more touching moment occurs when Yossarian believes that his roommate Orr has been killed, and his reaction to this scenario directly contrasts with Aarfy’s, who is completely self-centered. After being notified that Orr’s plane his missing, “Yossarian bounded up with a one-syllable cry that crackled with anxiety…’There he is’ Aarfy orated funerally, pointing down dramatically at a hay wagon and two horses standing before the barn of a gray stone farmhouse. ‘Smashed to bits. I guess their numbers were up.’ Yossarian swore at Aarfy again and continued searching intently” (Heller 151). While Yossarian feels pain and sadness at the thought of losing Orr, one of his best