Joseph Heller wrote Catch-22 not only to make a statement about the absurdity of war, but also to illustrate the absurdity of the human condition itself. Through its style, language, and characters, Catch-22 vividly depicts the absurdity of life using World War II as its medium. One of Heller's most significant parodies is that of capitalism and free enterprise, which he embodies in the character of Milo Minderbinder. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The reader is first introduced to Milo in Chapter 2 of the novel, where he is described as the most amazing mess officer ever, providing a luxurious dining experience complete with Italian waiters, tablecloths, and a lunch consisting of shish -kabob and asparagus tips followed by jubilee cherries, coffee, Benedictine and brandy. Milo is briefly mentioned again in chapter 3 during the Great Siege of Bologna, when he is said to have bombarded the squadron. The reader already gets a taste of the absurdity that comes from this character, such as: "Why did Milo bomb his own soldiers?" It is in chapter 7 that the reader first glimpses the madness behind Milo. Milo admires Yossarian for a letter Yossarian convinced Doctor Daneeka to give him. He says that Yossarian can have all the fruit he wants (due to the liver condition he pretends to have). Milo is horrified, however, to learn that Yossarian simply gives the fruit away. Giving violates Milo's most basic principle: extort as much as possible. He hopes to make huge profits from the black market syndicate he is creating. As Milo explains his ideas (which are very intricate, not to mention convoluted), he tears up a sheet that was originally stolen from McWatt. To Milo it's a symbol of business, but to McWatt and Yossarian (and probably the reader) it's just a torn sheet of paper. Milo's reasoning in this episode clearly illustrates Heller's distrust of the power and complexity of capitalism, and shows it through Milo's absurd logic. Furthermore, Heller writes in this chapter: "They were like Milo's disunited eyes, never looking at the same thing at the same time. Milo could see more things than most people, but he couldn't see any of them too clearly." All this suggests that Milo may be thinking of various economically profitable schemes that most people fail to see, but he fails to see what is truly important in life. In chapter 13, Milo receives the position of mess officer from Major ___de Coverly in exchange. for fresh eggs and butter. De Coverly also grants Milo planes to go to Malta and Sicily for food. Many other squadrons soon make the same deal, and Milo runs daily shuttles to get everything from artichokes to lobster tails. Milo is designed to be a modern-day sleazeball/businessman. He is quickly making his way to the top through manipulation and doesn't care who he hurts along the way. He is also obsessed with profit and constantly thinks about money. This is Heller's warning, that if we don't do something soon, to change "the system", we will all end up like profit-hungry Milo. In chapter 22, Milo humorously reveals how his private empire spread. Orr and Yossarian give up trying to grasp the intricacies of Milo's business, learning in the process that grateful civilians have given him everything from city mayor to assistant governor. Therefore, Heller isn't just parodying the complexity of what Milo is doing (because it's so convoluted..