In Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22," the concept of the titular Catch-22 presents a paradoxical situation faced by soldiers in World War II. Doc Daneeka explains that anyone who seeks to avoid combat is demonstrating rational thought, which implies they are sane and therefore ineligible for discharge from military service. This creates a cycle where those wishing to escape the dangers of war are trapped by their own rationale.

The Catch-22 embodies the absurdity of bureaucracy and the illogical constraints imposed on individuals. It highlights the struggle for survival in a system that punishes those who show self-awareness and a desire for self-preservation. Ultimately, the absurdities of war and the conflicts faced by the characters illustrate the tragicomic nature of their reality.