Abstract

Sometimes life traps you in an unfortunate situation that is impossible to escape from because of a set of inherently absurd rules. Just as Yossarian, the protagonist of Catch-22, who is caught in an absurd situation---Catch-22. Catch-22, which is written by Joseph Heller, can be recognized as a major work of Black Humor Literature. The core of black humor is the Absurd. Heller revealed an absurd world, where Bureaucracy has absolute power that soldiers cannot control their own lives. 

This paper aims at giving some of the examples to make readers clearer of the Absurd world and more familiar with the“anti-hero”, Yossarian. Especially the thesis focuses on the factors that contribute to Yossarian’s disillusionment and rebellion. Through analysis, we can find that living in an ridiculous world spread Catch-22, Yossarian’s situation is absurd and illogical, which is irrevocable in that age, just like the same situation in 1960s and 1970s of America. Here, Yossarian’s attempts to escape from the absurd world--the military regulation will be analyzed. Snowden’s death shattered Yossarian’s courage and brought him back to earth; Nately’s shore’s constant attack increased his horror and finally he retreated to Sweden and get away from the war. In this way, he completes his process of being an anti-hero.

Keywords:  Catch-22  anti-hero  Yossarian  absurdity  rebellion

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

 1.1 Joseph Heller and His works-1

 1.2 A Brief Introduction of Catch-22 -1

 1.3 Literature Review-2

 1.4 Structure of This Thesis-3   

Chapter Two The Analysis of the Absurd World-4

2.1 Absurdity-4

   2.1.1 Ridiculous Catch-22-4

   2.1.2 The Absurd Logic-5

2.2 the Abosulute Power of Bureaucracy-5

2.3 American Reality-6

Chapter Three the Disillusionment and Rebellion of Yossarian-8

3.1 Disillusionment from the Inevitability of Death-8

   3.1.1 Snowden's Secret-8

   3.1.2 Nately's Whore's Attack-8

3.2 the Impotence of Language-9

3.3 Anti-hero Yossarian's Rebellion-9

3.3.1 Yossarian's Dilemma -9

3.3.2 The Comparison Between Yossarian and Orr: the Encouragements from Orr-10

   3.3.3 Yossarian's Choice-11

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

References-13