Heller 's claim to fame, Catch-22, was published November 10th, 1961. Heller could not have chosen a more perfect time to have his novel published, due to the fact the time period was in the early stages of the Vietnam War. Anti-war marches and other protests allured a widening base of support over the 1960s (“Vietnam War Protests” 1). Elsewhere in the world, 1961 was quite the active year for America. The Space Race occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union, President Kennedy was inaugurated, and the United States ' involvement in Cuba reached its peak ("The Year 1961 From The People History" 1). The peak of the United States’ involvement in Cuba was the Bay of Pigs, America’s unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro. In total,
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Correspondingly, the novel’s setting only bolstered the publication’s punctuality, as America was still reeling from World War II Pianosa is a fictitious island off the coast of Italy, and while it is fictitious, Pianosa is not detrimental to the plot. Therefore, the context of 1944, the heart of World War II, is important. WWII began with Hitler 's invasion of Poland in 1939, which caused Great Britain and France to declare war. At this time, Hitler and Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, sign a pact that caused much worry in London and Paris. Towards the end of 1939, Soviet troops invaded Poland, which meant Poland was under total domination ("World War History" 1). Throughout the novel, Heller mentions the invasions, but never refers specifically to any particular one. As the war waged on, British and German forces battled at sea and more than 100 vessels were brought down in just four months. Furthermore in 1942, Germany invaded Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands and Blitzkrieg warfare was introduced. Continuing with foreign domination, Benito Mussolini made a pact with Hitler, thus establishing Italy 's dominance ("World War II History" 3). Throughout Catch-22, Mussolini is referred to and his ignorance is repeatedly compared to that of Major Major 's. In closing, the war waged in the west was built upon Germany’s domination and was augmented by the Soviet Union and …show more content…
The United States soon after won the Battle of Midway, which served as the turning point in the Pacific. After taking control of several islands, the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs, resulting in over 200,000 deaths ("World War History" 4). The war ultimately ended with Hitler committing suicide and American and British forces winning the Battle of Bulge. In total, an estimated 35-60 million people died in World War II, 6 million being Jews. The end of World War II did not end world chaos because immediately after, the spread of communism began and the Cold War ensued ("World War History" 5). The details of World War II have a minuscule role in Catch-22 because instead of satirizing the rest of the world, Heller turns the tables and satirizes America. Nevertheless, Heller repeatedly refers to WWII events, particularly at the end when Yossarian recognizes the destruction war has
Correspondingly, the novel’s setting only bolstered the publication’s punctuality, as America was still reeling from World War II Pianosa is a fictitious island off the coast of Italy, and while it is fictitious, Pianosa is not detrimental to the plot. Therefore, the context of 1944, the heart of World War II, is important. WWII began with Hitler 's invasion of Poland in 1939, which caused Great Britain and France to declare war. At this time, Hitler and Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, sign a pact that caused much worry in London and Paris. Towards the end of 1939, Soviet troops invaded Poland, which meant Poland was under total domination ("World War History" 1). Throughout the novel, Heller mentions the invasions, but never refers specifically to any particular one. As the war waged on, British and German forces battled at sea and more than 100 vessels were brought down in just four months. Furthermore in 1942, Germany invaded Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands and Blitzkrieg warfare was introduced. Continuing with foreign domination, Benito Mussolini made a pact with Hitler, thus establishing Italy 's dominance ("World War II History" 3). Throughout Catch-22, Mussolini is referred to and his ignorance is repeatedly compared to that of Major Major 's. In closing, the war waged in the west was built upon Germany’s domination and was augmented by the Soviet Union and …show more content…
The United States soon after won the Battle of Midway, which served as the turning point in the Pacific. After taking control of several islands, the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs, resulting in over 200,000 deaths ("World War History" 4). The war ultimately ended with Hitler committing suicide and American and British forces winning the Battle of Bulge. In total, an estimated 35-60 million people died in World War II, 6 million being Jews. The end of World War II did not end world chaos because immediately after, the spread of communism began and the Cold War ensued ("World War History" 5). The details of World War II have a minuscule role in Catch-22 because instead of satirizing the rest of the world, Heller turns the tables and satirizes America. Nevertheless, Heller repeatedly refers to WWII events, particularly at the end when Yossarian recognizes the destruction war has