"I was a fascist when Mussolini was on top, and I am an anti-fascist now that he has been deposed. I was fanatically pro-German when the Germans were here to protect us against the Americans, and now that the Americans are here to protect us against the Germans I am fanatically pro-American. " pg. 245, Old Man
"You must never let them change your values. Ideals are good, but people are sometimes not so good. You must try to look up at the big picture." pg. 445
These two quotes show two sides to an arguement; is it best to give up your values for self-preservation, or should you always stick to your guns, no matter what the situation is? I think it is obvious what the answer should be; everyone should stick to their morals, backing them up no matter what. However, the selfish, sometimes more highly chosen side is to give up ideals in order to stay afloat. As awesome as it is to stand by morals, this book definately has things working out better for the Old Man who changes loyalties that for the Americans who stick by their ideals.
Nately says "Anything worth living for, is worth dying for"
The old man, however, says "Anything worth dying for, is worth living for."
They both have good points. Why die for something just because you care about it? I think the answer we want is that if we didn't care about things enough to die for them, where would we be? This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from a source that I really don't remember right now:
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"
Monday, April 30, 2012
Catch 22- Greed
"When I look up, I see people cashing in. I don't see heaven or saints or angels. I see people cashing in on every decent impulse and every human tragedy." pg. 445
Yossarian, at this point, has given up on his country. He's "been fighting all along to save my country. Now I'm going to fight a little to save myself" pg 446. Really, he's completely justified in giving up. He keeps fighting for his country, and they keep betraying him with rules, and with upping the amount of missions it takes to go home. The men, even the ones he cares for, are greedy. The greatest example of this is Milo; his work in the black market causes the death of numerous men, namely, Yossarian's roommate. However, many many men still support him, because they are greedy. In my opinion, Yossarian is right to finally think about himself.
Yossarian, at this point, has given up on his country. He's "been fighting all along to save my country. Now I'm going to fight a little to save myself" pg 446. Really, he's completely justified in giving up. He keeps fighting for his country, and they keep betraying him with rules, and with upping the amount of missions it takes to go home. The men, even the ones he cares for, are greedy. The greatest example of this is Milo; his work in the black market causes the death of numerous men, namely, Yossarian's roommate. However, many many men still support him, because they are greedy. In my opinion, Yossarian is right to finally think about himself.
Catch 22- Nothing to Live For
"You know, someone who was killed in the war, like Clevinger, Orr, Dobbs, Kid Sampson or McWatt.... They've got all my pals, haven't they?"
pg. 435
Little by little, one by one, Yossarian loses all of his friends to the horrors of war. At this point, I think he'd be justified to go crazy. What does he have to live for? Why should he go home, when he will never be able to get these men out of his mind? He's been living with people who contradict themselves all the time for years. If I were him, I wouldn't be able to tell what was sensical and what was not anymore; it all seems to be jumbled together with one another. The only thing that would honestly make it better would be for the war to end; not just for him to be sent home, but for the war to end altogether.
pg. 435
Little by little, one by one, Yossarian loses all of his friends to the horrors of war. At this point, I think he'd be justified to go crazy. What does he have to live for? Why should he go home, when he will never be able to get these men out of his mind? He's been living with people who contradict themselves all the time for years. If I were him, I wouldn't be able to tell what was sensical and what was not anymore; it all seems to be jumbled together with one another. The only thing that would honestly make it better would be for the war to end; not just for him to be sent home, but for the war to end altogether.
Catch 22- Have a Little Respect
"He loved Nurse Duckett's serene, flattered response,t eh sense of attachment to him she displayed proudly." pg. 335
Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me!!? I know this book is completely backwards, completely contradictory, and completely nonsensical. But does this woman have no self respect??!! Did she forget about this little instance?
""She wiggled free finally and retreated frantically into the aisle with an ashen, trembling face. She backed away too far, and Dunbar, who had watched from the beginning, sprang forward on his bed without warning and flung both arms around her bosom from behind." pg. 293
The two men basically tried to rape her, and now here she is, making love to Yosarrian all the time? I don't understand, but I could say that about many things about this book. The women and men all sleep with one another like it is nothing; yet, like in any real "relationship", there is still a jealousy factor, despite the apparent free-heartedness of the situation. It reminds me of "Friends With Benefits" and "No Strings Attached". It just doesn't work, ladies and gentlemen. Have some self-respect.
Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me!!? I know this book is completely backwards, completely contradictory, and completely nonsensical. But does this woman have no self respect??!! Did she forget about this little instance?
""She wiggled free finally and retreated frantically into the aisle with an ashen, trembling face. She backed away too far, and Dunbar, who had watched from the beginning, sprang forward on his bed without warning and flung both arms around her bosom from behind." pg. 293
The two men basically tried to rape her, and now here she is, making love to Yosarrian all the time? I don't understand, but I could say that about many things about this book. The women and men all sleep with one another like it is nothing; yet, like in any real "relationship", there is still a jealousy factor, despite the apparent free-heartedness of the situation. It reminds me of "Friends With Benefits" and "No Strings Attached". It just doesn't work, ladies and gentlemen. Have some self-respect.
Catch 22- Religion Theme
"By the lifelong trust he had placed in the wisdom and justice of the immortal, omnipotent, omniscienct, humane, universal, anthropomorphic, English-speaking, Anglo-Saxon, pro-American God, which had begun to waver."
pg. 285
There are so many things that can be said about this quote. First off, it contradicts itself; the God in the Chaplain's mind is universal, Anglo-Saxon, and pro-American. It seems that by being the latter two things, the God in his mind is no longer universal. I think the author is pointing out something that many humans think; God is universal, but the God they picture is on their side, always. Even if that somehow means he is against someone else. However, I think it is logical for people to picture God as one of their own race, because then we identify with him better.
Secondly, this quote captures a reoccuring theme in Catch 22; God isn't present in war. There are many quotes to back this theme;
"And don't tell me God works in mysterious ways... there's nothing so mysterious about it. He's not working at all."
"Tell Him it ain't right for people to die when they're young." pg. 185
Whether the author actually believes that God isn't present in war (or at all, even) or whether he is pointing out that many soldiers lose their faith because of war, I'm not sure. Really, I think this theme just plays into the larger one, that war is stupid.
pg. 285
There are so many things that can be said about this quote. First off, it contradicts itself; the God in the Chaplain's mind is universal, Anglo-Saxon, and pro-American. It seems that by being the latter two things, the God in his mind is no longer universal. I think the author is pointing out something that many humans think; God is universal, but the God they picture is on their side, always. Even if that somehow means he is against someone else. However, I think it is logical for people to picture God as one of their own race, because then we identify with him better.
Secondly, this quote captures a reoccuring theme in Catch 22; God isn't present in war. There are many quotes to back this theme;
"And don't tell me God works in mysterious ways... there's nothing so mysterious about it. He's not working at all."
"Tell Him it ain't right for people to die when they're young." pg. 185
Whether the author actually believes that God isn't present in war (or at all, even) or whether he is pointing out that many soldiers lose their faith because of war, I'm not sure. Really, I think this theme just plays into the larger one, that war is stupid.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Catch 22- If I Die Young
"Tell Him it ain't right for people to die when they're young. I mean it. Tell Him if they got to die at all, they got to die when they're old. I want you to tell Him that. I don't think He knows it ain't right, because He's supposed to be good and it's been going on for a long, long time."
pg. 186
Hmm. Simple, and true. The father's words to Yossarian (who he is halfway convinced is his dying son?) are part of a mystery that none of us will ever understand. I think it is also the author speaking out against the war in some way. He is speaking out against the death of young men. Yossarian cries because even though he is generally healthy, he thinks he will die as well someday soon, due to the war. It is so pointless, his work in the army. Obviously, he doesn't feel patriotism or duty. He feels scared, and he feels targeted. The only way for his sadness to end is for him to go home, if the silly major would stop extending his duty.
pg. 186
Hmm. Simple, and true. The father's words to Yossarian (who he is halfway convinced is his dying son?) are part of a mystery that none of us will ever understand. I think it is also the author speaking out against the war in some way. He is speaking out against the death of young men. Yossarian cries because even though he is generally healthy, he thinks he will die as well someday soon, due to the war. It is so pointless, his work in the army. Obviously, he doesn't feel patriotism or duty. He feels scared, and he feels targeted. The only way for his sadness to end is for him to go home, if the silly major would stop extending his duty.
Catch 22- Time, Life, and Death
"You're inches away from death every time you go on a misssion. How much older can you be at your age...."
"Maybe a long life does have to be filled with many unpleasant cocnditions if it's to seem long. But in that event, who wants one?"
"I do," Dunbar told him.
"Why?" clevinger asked.
"What else is there?"
pg. 39
The top quote on this page was part of a paragraph that kind of blew my mind. As in, having just finished Inception kind of mind-blowing. Dunbar makes an excellent point- we are oldest when we are nearest danger. What if we measured life in terms of how close we were to dying. If I were to know I was going to die in the next couple hours, I would be one of the oldest people on earth. However, being close to death doesn't magically give you wisdom, or experience, or anything else that comes with old age, so it's really not the same.
The later quote from this page reminded me immensely of one of my favorite book quotes ever, from "A Princess Bride". It says "life isn't fair; it's just fairer than death, that's all." It's so true. Life may not be awesome. There may be bad things. But the bad things make the good all the better, and really, there's not much else to do, except die. Since the idea of death freaks most of us out quite a bit, I think it's safe to say that continuing living is the best choice.
"Maybe a long life does have to be filled with many unpleasant cocnditions if it's to seem long. But in that event, who wants one?"
"I do," Dunbar told him.
"Why?" clevinger asked.
"What else is there?"
pg. 39
The top quote on this page was part of a paragraph that kind of blew my mind. As in, having just finished Inception kind of mind-blowing. Dunbar makes an excellent point- we are oldest when we are nearest danger. What if we measured life in terms of how close we were to dying. If I were to know I was going to die in the next couple hours, I would be one of the oldest people on earth. However, being close to death doesn't magically give you wisdom, or experience, or anything else that comes with old age, so it's really not the same.
The later quote from this page reminded me immensely of one of my favorite book quotes ever, from "A Princess Bride". It says "life isn't fair; it's just fairer than death, that's all." It's so true. Life may not be awesome. There may be bad things. But the bad things make the good all the better, and really, there's not much else to do, except die. Since the idea of death freaks most of us out quite a bit, I think it's safe to say that continuing living is the best choice.
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