Sure there's a catch, Doc Daneeka replied. Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy. There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind.
In "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller, the concept of Catch-22 is introduced, highlighting a paradoxical rule governing military service. The rule states that a soldier can be deemed insane and therefore eligible to avoid combat duty if they request it. However, the request itself indicates a rational thought process, which implies that the soldier is sane and must therefore serve, creating a no-win situation.
This absurdity reflects the broader theme of the book, where the struggle for survival and sanity in the face of war becomes a trap. The idea that seeking safety from real danger is a sign of rationality encapsulates the bleak humor and critique of bureaucracy and war, illustrating how individuals are caught in vicious cycles created by illogical regulations.
