The Role of Bureaucracy and Military Power in Catch-22: A Critique of Authority, Control, and Institutional Corruption

Catch-22 offers a sharp critique of bureaucracy, authority, and military power. In the novel, the military structure is depicted as a sprawling, impersonal machine where the lives of soldiers are controlled by arbitrary rules and endless regulations. The bureaucratic system is shown to be corrupt and inefficient, with no regard for the well-being of its soldiers.

The novel’s critique of bureaucracy is most evident through the character of Colonel Cathcart, who is more concerned with his career and the appearance of success than with the lives of his men. The bureaucracy of the military, much like other institutional systems, is portrayed as self-serving and dehumanizing. Yossarian and his fellow soldiers are trapped in a system that prioritizes control over human life, where promotions, decisions, and missions are dictated by the whims of those in power, rather than the needs of the individuals serving in the war.

Heller’s portrayal of the military bureaucracy underscores the dehumanizing effects of institutional power, illustrating how those in authority manipulate systems to maintain control, often at the expense of the individuals they are meant to protect. Through satire and absurdity, Catch-22 critiques the corrupting influence of power in bureaucratic systems.