Chapters 6-9

More insight into Heller's portrayal of war is revealed in these chapters. It is commonly said that something that is enjoyable and fun is over in the blink of an eye no matter how long the event actually lasted. In of the other hand, something that is dull, boring, and even pointless can seem like an eternity even if only one second of real time actually passed. Through Hungry Joe's eyes, war is something that falls in the category of the latter. Hungry Joe has flown many tours of duty and has flown the required number of bombing missions for each one. However, his superior, Colonel Cathcart always raises the number of missions necessary before one is allowed to go home so that Joe is never able to go home. It is similar to the cliche that one can never win a race or even finish that race if the finish line is continually moved. This portrays war as a interminable and pointless journey that takes its toll on the human mind and never seems to end. In face, the mental toll that the everlasting war has taken on Joe is apparent through his nightmares which subside when he has the faintest hope that he might be going home. That hope is always crushed instantly when the number of missions is increased. Although the characters introduced so far have all exhibited very different personality traits, one common thread that seems to run through them is a sense of disillusionment over the war, which has seemingly gone on forever. This sentiment is especially shared by Major Major Major, whose name results in much ridicule and much of his own distaste for life. The picture of war that Heller has painted so far in Catch-22 is not glorifying at all. Although not graphic, the realities of war are portrayed in a very negative light.