Major*4

I was excited to read this chapter the moment I saw it’s title: Major Major Major Major. The story itself is even more interesting: a young boy is given the name Major Major Major and is mocked all through his childhood. When he enters the army, he is made a Major simply because the officers think it would be funny. There is another man very much more qualified for the job, but how could the officers possibly give up an opportunity like this? Having a Major named Major Major Major Major? Then the story starts to get depressing. The Major hates being a Major. He is treated differently by all the other men who are suddenly a ranking below him. He is forced to sit in an office all day and sign papers. Everyone is complaining to him about one thing or another, and he has no idea how to solve any of the problems because as he and everyone else knows he really isn’t qualified for the job. Finally, there is no other solution. Major Major Major Major finds a way to prevent himself from ever having to see anyone ever again. He will eat all of his meals alone in his office. He will forbid anyone from seeing him if he is in his office. Only when he is not in his office will they be allowed to enter his office and talk to him. Hmmm… could this be a Catch-22? A man may not talk to Major Major Major Major in his office if he himself is in his office, and can only enter his office to talk to him when he is not in his office. The concept of Catch-22 is more evident in this book than I thought. It’s very interesting that the writer was able to incorporate this concept of Catch-22 so subtly.