The Hero and the Authority in Catch 22 and the Iliad

Abstract The Iliad of Homer is regarded as one of the major sources of Joseph Heller’s war satire, Catch-22. The link between the two texts is multi-faceted and multi-layered. The present study explores one aspect of this link, the relationship between the hero and the authority. To do so, the sources of authority in each case are pointed out as manipulative forces which threaten the individuality of the characters, demanding obedience and conformity. Yossarian, Like Achilles, is distinguished from his comrades as more a hero than an antihero mainly because of his unique sense of individuality and personal worth.