Post by mbenoit on Sept 4, 2011 16:21:34 GMT -5
Joseph Heller's novel, Catch-22, poses the importance of a human life as well as the inevitability of death. Accompanying this thought is the lesson to everyone what quality of life they should lead. The main character of the novel, Yossarian, is faced with the moral question of how he should go about his life in the army. As opposed to many of the men, he chooses to do everything he can to stay alive, even if that means going against what his superiors may believe to be right and fair. Yossarian comes about this idea after witnessing many of the men in his squadron die. Their deaths were very sudden, which made Yossarian realize the frailty of life. While on a particular mission a young boy, Snowden, was severely wounded and there was nothing that could be done to save him. After seeing Snowden's wounded body, Yossarian realizes that a spirit is the only aspect of man that keeps it from being merely matter. This mission causes him to protect his spirit, the only thing linking him to a complete life, from then on. This choice ultimately leads to his decision to desert the army in pursuit of a better life. Yossarian's path to complete happiness should be duplicated by all people. Everyone should have the ability to follow what will truly make them happy in life. Life may be followed by the inevitable death, but doing what will make you happy will fill and prolong your life, as realized by Yossarian.
