John Yossarian Essay Free Essays

In his 1961 piece, Joseph Heller in a subtle way brings an exclusive attention to the experiences of the world wars to the soldiers, using the Second World War and John Yossarian, the protagonist as case studies. The story is transmitted in a third person narrative that paints the pictures that the readers can relate to. As the narration commences, the story is told within the hospital buildings where Yossarian is hospitalized, though in a manner that the readers can vividly tell that he is pretending. We will write a custom essay sample on John Yossarian Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The doctors examining him were puzzled with his condition. They made a determination that if he would be jaundiced, they would treat him, but if not, they discharge him. His case was constantly short of jaundice every time. Explicitly, Yossarian is faking sickness, but in an intelligent manner. It seems that in his mind, Yossarian thinks that the hospital is safe to take solace since liver problems take time to treat. Nurse Duckett signed a note to give him some pills, but interestingly, the liver pain had healed, yet no doctor realized it. It is important to note that Yossarian is the center of the story and everything is deflected from his perspective. He is innately determined to remain safe at all times. However, the story is not told in chronological order, and therefore, the readers must collect all the jaunts together to comprehend what it all implies. The story is an enlightening piece that divulges the inner spirit of a soldier when masked with fear, more so having seen his or her colleagues die dreadfully. Troubled with the memories of Snowden, Yossarian has lost the aspiration to continue participating in the war. Having seen his friends die mercilessly, he is more perturbed and feels weak, something that happens with different soldiers on the battlefield. The same applies to other characters such as Dunbar who is with him in the ward. Dunbar wants to stay longer in the hospital by engaging in some boring activities to pass time. The hospital setting has become a better place for them. On the other hand, Yossarian has made up his mind to remain in the hospital for the remaining time of the war, he writes a letter to different people known to him, but never tells them the reasons. As the story continues, he realizes that if insane, he can be relieved of his duties as a soldier. He pretends to be insane in order to be discharged from the military service. However, he is surprised that by claiming that he is insane is a proof that he is actually sane. In conclusion, the story portrays the diverse points of views that the readers can relate to. It also gives a pointer to the minds of the characters that depict the inner world of a soldier. It carries the audience with mixed reactions while interacting with the events. Certain events are funny, while others elicit pity. Yossarian is shaken by the storms of the experiences of the war and uses numerous tactics to get himself out of the military service. For instance, he fakes his prolonged stay in the hospital. When he also tries to pretend to be insane, he is openly caught. Rightly, the story compels the readers to see much inside a soldier’s heart than just what is seen from outside. How to cite John Yossarian Essay, Essays