Catch-22 - A ComedyThe novel, Catch-22, is a comedy about soldiers during World War II. However, these comedic scenes and lines are quite tragic when you think about them, as are most things related to war, which makes this comedy completely absurd. The best way to represent this idea is through the characters in the book, especially Yossarian, Huple, and Nately's whore's little sister, and the events that occur with their thoughts and actions. Obviously, the main character and the one whose life is primarily depicted is Yossarian. Yossarian has a sense of humor and a slightly sick way of looking at things. In the first chapter, Heller tells us that the letters sent by soldiers needed to be revised to prevent secret information from being leaked to the public or, worse, to the enemy. Yossarian, for lack of anything better to do, censors all the letters. Sometimes he crosses out everything except a, an and the, sometimes adjectives, whatever he's feeling that day. For his final gag, he signs these letters under the name Washington Irving to completely confuse the readers of these letters. It's funny, but ultimately tragic. These are the letters every woman, mother and daughter looks for in the mailbox to make sure their husband, father and son are okay. This is a letter that might say, "Honey, I'm coming home" or "I love you." When I come home, I want to marry you. These letters could change the way of life of so many people and only Yossarian is altering them. The absurdity of this is immense. A gag of slightly more consequence occurred in Chapter 12, when Yossarian decided to move the bomb line over Bologna. What I find most ridiculous about the whole process is why he did it. Not everyone wanted to embark on this mission to capture Bologna. They prayed that the rain would never disappear, or that the line of bombs would move mysteriously, anything was just right to accomplish this mission. Clevinger, in disbelief at the stupidity of these men, said to Yossarian, "They really believe we wouldn't have to go on this mission tomorrow if only someone would tiptoe onto the map in the middle of the night." and moved the line of bombs above. Bologna. Can you imagine? Yossarian therefore believes “Why not?