In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the protagonist grapples with the absurdity and frustration of war. He finds himself trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare where the rules seem designed to perpetuate his misery. The phrase "Why me?" encapsulates his feelings of injustice and helplessness as he questions why he must endure the suffering inflicted by the system he cannot control.

This poignant question reflects a broader commentary on the human condition and the randomness of fate. The character's struggle highlights the irony of trying to escape from a situation that is inescapable, emphasizing a critical theme in the book: the paradox of seeking clarity and peace in an inherently chaotic world.