|
|
|
|
|
Satire v Serious presentations
|
|
|
Serious presentations of anti-war themes provide us with truly great drama in which modern day society can find truly relevant. As well as providing a source to reflect on those tragic realities associated with war. However, the capabilities of serious presentations of anti-war themes can be over shadowed by the sharp nature of satire when addressing similar ideas of anti-war themes. Satire can have such an affect through its ability to diminish the emotion of serious anti-war presentations as the film Gallipoli. There have been many diverse forms of satirical literature with powerful anti-war motives such as the novel Catch-22 that focused on the reaction of people when faced with the daily likelihood of annihilation. In addition, the more dubious likes of Play Little Victims that pursue a more comical approach to present its anti-war themes. Finally, a cartoon by Roger Matthew’s that presents a very critical opinion on important issues currently concerning the American community. These three sources of satire address similar themes of war, as does the more serious presentation Gallipoli. The themes were: the negative reaction of those individuals when involved in the war, the serving of self-interests in the face of war and the unjustifiable death of thousands of individuals at the hands of war. Firstly, the acclaimed novel Catch-22 written by Joseph Heller has established itself as one of the most recognised satirical literature of the modern era. Catch-22 is about death and the reactions of people when faced with the daily likelihood of annihilation. For the most part what they do is try to survive in anyway they can. The reaction of those characters in these circumstances is to erect individual and institutional defences against the anxieties engineered by unconscious fantasies of the threat of annihilation. These defences are extreme, utterly selfish and survivalistic in nature. These reactions are observed throughout the novel by the behaviour of numerous characters; however the character most notably affected is the main character Yossarin. Yossarin has made it clear he no longer cares about the outcomes of the war and wants as limited as possible to do with the war effort. It’s via this anti-war transformation that Yossarin becomes overwhelmed by the survivalist instinct and becomes apparent in his behaviour and mind state. This is supported by the narrative statements “Yossarin was a lead bombardier who had been demoted because he no longer gave a damn whether he missed or not”….. “Yossarin had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive”. The increasingly corporate nature of American society is also a large satirised feature of Catch-22. This is primarily represented by the endeavours of M&M Enterprises led by Milo Minderbinder, the acting mess hall officer which is involved in various trade deals with surrounding islands and lastly the enemy. M&M Enterprises opens their black-market transactions in the selling of the squadron’s silk parachutes in exchange for cotton. Later business transactions included the sale of some of the military’s most vital supplies as diesel engines, shoes and morphine for items that represent no value to the base. M&M Enterprise’s final trade was however the worst judgement of all as in order to rid the army of the masses of worthless cotton earlier purchased, Milo made a deal that risked the safety of his own base. The deal involved that the German’s would buy the cotton from the army providing they would agree to drop explosives on their own base. The audience can relate to Milo Minderbinder as a terrifying but accurate symbol of immoral international business practices because of his practice of twisting the military system to satisfy his own purposes. In conclusion, the use of satire was a major contributor in the creation of such a masterpiece as Catch-22.
|
|
|
|
Still Can't Find What Your Looking For? Then Try a Essay Search!
|
