What is the What? #4

What is the What was extremely hard to analyze because it was written in a biographical format. With that in mind, analyzing someones writing about their life was difficult since most of what was written is objective rather than subjective. However, I did notice a lot of biblical allusions layered within the story.

The Eleven--Valentino's group in Pinyudo--represents the 12 disciples because if you include him it makes twelve. He also comments on how they are the best and that even one of the members is a great fisherman just as how Peter of the disciples was a fisherman.

Moses is like Judas betraying the group and Valentino to join the SPLA and to meagerly throw away his life.

Tabitha is compared indirectly to being an angel in how he wishes he could watch her ascend upon an escalator.

Valentino's constant mishaps are trials he must overcome to become a better person. Free from his war ridden past.

What is the What? #3

Valentino and Achor Achor find an A shaped hut and light a fire. Even though they're now dry and warm from the evident dangers of the rain and wildlife, Achor Achor wants to die. He wants to die, since everyone is dying, but Valentino lives up to his given name in which he is spreading the light or the will to live.

What is the What? #2

Chapter 14:

Valentino is reunited with his childhood friend William K. Together they venture into the desert in hopes of reaching Ethiopia. William K tells magnificent lies of Ethiopia in order to keep both of them in high spirits, knowing that they could die at any moment. During the chapter Valentino's leg is severely wounded by barbed wire and later becomes infected. Vultures start to approach and hover above William K and Valentino.

The presence of a vulture signifies death. A vulture being a decomposer, feeds on dead, rotting animals hinting that Valentino may die from his infected leg. However, it is to signify the oncoming death of William K. His body becomes weaker more of a skeleton and his body becomes distraught and he even goes crazy.

What is the What? #1

Valentino a Sudanese refugee is robbed and beaten in his own house. The comfort of his home is violated and his items stolen. The irony in this is that, Valentino, has seen worse than his robbers, Tonya and Powder, he has seen death in all forms. At the end of chapter nine Valentino says, "No one is waiting to hear the kicking of a man above." alluding to the absence of God's watchful eye on Sudan.

catch-22 #7

Catch-22 was an enjoyable book, whether or not I comprehended anything at all. The story itself was out of the norm for it reversed in which we think of things. Basically meaning that we ourselves were caught in the notorious rule of "catch-22."

catch-22 #6

This book was extremely difficult for me to follow. The story would have within it substories that would seem like a hallucination rather than real dialogue. At one point of the book Yossarian speaks to Clevinger, but in the previous pages they say Clevinger disappeared. The lack of indication whether or not something is a flashback, a foreshadowing of the future, or even what events are occurring adds to the lucidity of the characters. Questioning whether or not someone is sane or considered insane adds to the height of the story. Having the story this way though I cannot stray from the idea that Joseph Heller made it this way in order for us to familiarize ourselves with the soldiers. They were confused and caught in an unavoidable loophole known as "catch-22", so by making the story itself lucid adds to our insanity allowing the reader to relate.

catch-22 #5

Aarfy is a mess officer who is building a produce/food distribution organization around the Eastern Hemisphere. He signs contracts with Germany and anyone since he sees that everyone has a part in the profit, so no man can be excluded. We see Aarfy in two views, a provider, yet a traitor. He provides for the squadron mess halls, allowing them to have fine cuisine and exotic pastries, desserts, and fruits. However, we soon learn that he contracts a deal with the German forces to attack them.

The reason the audience is so displeased and furious at this turn of events is that he is the mess officer. He controls the food and therefore one of our life sustaining forces. When we think of dinner or dining we see it as a peaceful time of merriment and joy and at first Aarfy brings that to the squadron and we are rooting for him. But he then destroys the traditional view of eating with disgust. Joseph Heller most likely chose Aarfy as the mess officer to portray that in war, nothing is sacred anymore.

catch-22 #4

Chapter 16

The chapter aptly named Luciana is full of symbolism toward the seven deadly sins. Hungry Joe even states that Aarfy is "Sinful" further supporting my observation. Luciana is the devil, a temptress towards Yossarian. She even exhibits a catch-22 when Yossarian says he wants to marry her saying "You won't marry me because I'm crazy, and you say I'm crazy because i want to marry you?"

Yossarian is full of lust, Hungry Joe full of envy, Aarfy of pride, Luciana of gluttony, and wrath.

catch-22 #2