The knife came down, missing him by inches, and he took off." The spirit of Bugs Bunny inspires the finale of Yossarian's adventures with 256th Squadron. It's the moment in which Yossarian, who has been in thrall to Catch-22 throughout, finally breaks away. Yossarian has come to realise that Catch-22 does not actually exist, but because the powers that be claim it does, and the world believes it does, it nevertheless has potent effects. Indeed, because it does not exist, there is no way it can be repealed. But here, finally, he can become free."
In the climax of Yossarian's journey within the 256th Squadron, he experiences a moment of liberation reminiscent of Bugs Bunny's antics. After being ensnared by the absurdity of Catch-22 for so long, he finally recognizes that the rule is a construct, an illusion enforced by those in power. Despite its non-existence, the myth of Catch-22 exerts a strong influence over those who accept it as real.
Yossarian's realization empowers him to...
