1) I chose boots as a central item of clothing. Boots, in the context of war, are common. They unify all military men and represent a stereotype of power. Power, however, leads to stratification thus diminishing this unity. Men of all ranks march heavy and project their overactive sense of pride yet the boots worn by men so similar may represent vastly different authority levels. To clarify, authority itself is not an issue. It is the underlying hypocrisy and absurdity and ultimately, blind jingoism that stirs up controversy. Through Yossarian’s thoughts, I intend to uncover the insanity of power, the pointlessness of war, and injustice.
2) The poem begins with Yossarian imagining himself at a pub, discussing the war with the bartender while having a few brews. He pours his heart out and speaks his mind, exploring every nook and cranny. He questions the system and men who run it. He doubts the purpose of war and expresses his fears to the bartender. He asks him questions as if the…show more content… One world where a few “lucky” individuals are thrust into power, guided by the invisible hand of bureaucracy that continues to defy logic and reasoning, exemplify incompetence. On the other hand, in a nutshell, the second world is weak and expendable. He explains to the bartender how the fate of soldiers lies in the inadequacy of men who are simply handed power without fulfilling any set of criteria. These men, overly confident government puppets, evidently decide who lives and who dies. Squeaky clean boots stand aside as men are sacrificed in the name of the great American nation. Blood is spilled and immediately forgotten, as if a soldier’s existence is reduced to a mere mission. “Yossarian lost his nerve on the mission to Avignon because Snowden lost his guts” (p.172)
He recalls the death of Snowden, a traumatic experience that perfectly embodied the reality of war. It leaves you gutless, both figuratively and