How does the character of Colonel Cathcart represent the
absurdity of war in Catch-22?
Colonel Cathcart is depicted as an ambitious and ruthless military officer who
is more concerned about his own career advancement than the welfare of the
soldiers under his command. He embodies the absurdity of war through his
obsession with increasing the number of missions required for his men to
complete before being rotated out of combat duty. He continually raises the
required mission count, despite the fact that the risk of casualties increases
with each mission.
Cathcart's absurdity is further highlighted through his desperation for
recognition and promotion, even at the cost of his soldiers' lives. He
relentlessly pursues the admiration of his superiors and his own personal
ambition, rather than focusing on his duty as a commander to protect and care
for his men.
Moreover, Cathcart’s character also exemplifies the contradiction of the
military bureaucracy. He is surrounded by a team of sycophants who flatter
him for their own self-interests, rather than any concern for the well-being of
the men under their command.
In summary, through the portrayal of Colonel Cathcart, Joseph Heller conveys
the idea that the absurdity of war is rooted in the egotistical behavior of those
in power and the self-serving bureaucracy of the military.
References:
Heller, J. (2019). Catch-22. Simon and Schuster.
Korb, R. (2013). “The Good Soldier and the Evil Leader: Catch-22 on War’s Bureaucracy.”
War, Literature & the Arts, volume 25, p. 196-211.