Essay on the Evils of Capitalism Exposed in Catch-22 -- Catch-22

Evils of Capitalism Exposed in Catch-22 Thats some catch, that Catch-22 (47). Some catch indeed, for Catch-22 is the best there is (47). A strange paradox preventing men from being grounded nether any circumstances, Catch-22 eventually evolves into a justification for doing virtually anything. After all, it says anyone can do anything that we cant stop them from doing (416). A less obviously stated, but equally powerful, validation for ones actions is the guarantee of profit. It is odd how many wrongs leaving money seems to right (418), for the promise or presence of some form of profit, rights even the wrongs warranted by Catch-22. Milo Minderbinder takes good advantage of this powerful reasoning and uses it extremely well. Yet, rather than using it to right wrongs, Milo uses it to justify his own dastardly deeds. Therefore, throughout Catch-22, Milos capitalistic greed leads him to be an emblem evil. Milo spends most of his time in the army traveling Europe, the Middle East, an d Africa in search of the best deal. With the use of donated army equipment (239) he buys and sells versatile items in order to make the highest profit. Rather than fly missions, Milo seeks to make money, capitalizing on his time abroad. After all, Milo didnt start this war...hes just trying to tack it on a businesslike basis (262). This attitude leads Milo to begin a syndicate, one in which everybody has a share (238-239). This proposed arrangement keeps everyone at ease, so much so it leads to general sloth. Because everybody has a share, ...men get fat and move about tamely with toothpicks in their greasy lips (259). One by one, the men succumb to the charms of plenty as well as to their internal greed... ...avoids and resists many things that bring him closer to death or to violating his morals. Be it Aarfy, Colonel Cathcart, or war itself, Yossarian distances himself from the evil in question. Ironically, defiant as he is, Yossarian fails to break through the limitations of the syndicate and actually befriends its proprietor. Yossarian doesnt even attempt to do otherwise, for even he sagged back in a contented stupor, his lip filmy with a succulent residue (22) Yossarian had become one of the men who got fat and moved about with toothpicks in their greasy lips (259). Therefore, even he who refuses to align to other standards is corrupted by the sweet blandishments and innocent appearance of capitalism. The novel thus ends on the note that no one remains free from so powerful a force. Works Cited Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. New York Knopf, Inc., 1995.