I'll tell you what justice is. Justice is a knee in the gut from the floor on the chin at night sneaky with a knife brought up down on the magazine of a battleship sandbagged underhanded in the dark without a word of warning
In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the concept of justice is portrayed as a harsh and brutal force, likened to a sudden and violent attack. The quote suggests that justice is not straightforward or righteous; instead, it emerges from darkness and aggression, representing a kind of retribution that is sneaky and underhanded. The imagery evokes a sense of betrayal and unpredictability, highlighting how justice can be more about survival than morality.
This unsettling view of justice reflects the complexities of the human experience during war, as depicted in the novel. Rather than offering a sense of order or resolution, justice is presented as chaotic and often concealed, leading to a recognition that traditional notions of fairness and accountability may be distorted in extreme situations. Heller's work challenges readers to rethink their understanding of justice, suggesting that it is often intertwined with violence and conflict in a flawed system.
