Catch-22 Analysis

            The social satires of people today use absurd humor, which discredits and ridicules aspect of society. War is ridiculous; and the major effects that occur in war are likewise absurd, which includes, man's actions during combat. Joseph Heller uses a comical in style and language, which he portrays in Catch-22 and introduces the reader as it is one of a grim world's decay. Through the black humor that Heller sets of the characters during war in Catch-22, which shows severe effects of the world crumbling.
             The black humor depicted in Catch-22 is reflected through his style of writing. He describes Scheisskopf's strange obsession with parades will reappear each time he is promoted. When Lieutenant Scheisskopf accedes to his wife's suggestion of him whipping her, this demonstrates a destructive, cruel streak in what should be a pleasurable, relaxing activity. .
             It was the despair of Scheisskopf life to be chained to a woman who was incapable of looking beyond her own dirty, sexual desires to the titanic struggles for the unattainable in which a noble man could become heroically engaged. "Why don't you ever whip me anymore?" she pouted at night (Heller 82).
             Such behavior reflects the effect of war: an inability to have pleasure and desensitization to life. Heller conveys the black humor through his wife's suggestion of the cruel whipping, which he says should be an enjoyable activity. Scheisskopf shows his immorality through his horrendous ways that contribute to the effects of war. This is because he has no time to perform these bizarre sexual activities and to give pleasure to his wife due to war. "Vulgarly, bitterly, savagely funny One can relish and his delirious dialogue and his ludicrous situations while recognizing that they reflect a basic range and disgust" (Prescott 1). This shows the humor of Heller is improper and very repulsive because of the sexual activity that Scheisskopf's wife requests to perform.