There was no established procedure for evasive action. All you needed was fear, and Yossarian had plenty of that, more fear than Orr or Hungry Joe, more fear even than Dunbar, who had resigned himself submissively to the idea that he must die someday
In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the lack of a clear protocol for taking evasive measures highlights the chaos and absurdity of war. Yossarian, the protagonist, is engulfed by a profound sense of fear that surpasses that of his comrades. This fear drives his actions and decisions as he grapples with the grim realities of war and the inevitable threat to his life.
Unlike Dunbar, who has accepted his mortal fate, Yossarian's anxiety fuels his resistance against the system that surrounds him. His experience illustrates the psychological toll of conflict, suggesting that fear, rather than rational procedures, governs soldiers' responses in dire situations. This theme resonates throughout the novel, emphasizing the struggle between personal survival and the bureaucratic madness of war.
