浅析《第二十二条军规》中的黑色幽默-以人物异化分析为例

i1IntroductionJoseph

Heller

(1923-1999),

one

of

the

most

outstanding

Americannovelists

and

the

representativeof

black

humor,

wrote

six

novels,

threeplays,

a

dozen

short

stories,

reviews,

and

many

autobiographical

articlesas

well.

Hisfirst

andbest-known

novel

Catch-22

is

now

widelyrecognized

asone

ofthe

most

important

books

written

by

American

sinceWorld

War

II.

It

was

taught

inmany

university

courses

related

tocontemporaryAmericanliterature.The

term

"catch-22"

has

entered

theAmericanvocabularyto

expressthe

frustration

of

encountering

absurdobstacles.

There

appears

evenanotherterm

"catch-23"

derived

from

thatterm

torefer

tosomethingmuch

moreabsurd.Since

the

publication

of

Catch-22,

the

novel

has

received

both

sharpcriticism

and

high

praise

at

once.

It

becomes

the

focus

of

the

critics.

InThe

NewYorker,WhitneyBallietcomplains

that

"it

doesn"t

even

seem

tohave

beenwritten:

instead

it

gives

the

impression

of

having

beenshoutedonto.

the

paper"

(Balliet

247).

But

many

others

are

enthusiasticin

theirpraise.

Robert

Brustein

calls

the

novel

an

explosive,

bitter,

subversive,brilliant

book"

(Brustein

11-13)

in

his

review

in

The

New

Public.

JulianMitchell

joinsthechoruswith

the

observation

that

Catch-22

is

a

book

ofenormousrichness

and

art,

of

deep

thought

and

brilliant

writing"(Mitchell

801).

NormanMailer

remarks

that

Catch-22

is

the

debut

of

awriterwithmerrygifts"(Mailer

105).Catch-22

has

also

caused

much

discussion

and

argument.

Differentdefinitions

have

been

given

to

it:

war

(or

anti-war)

novel,

satire,

comedy,fantasy,

or

a

novel

of

social

protest.

Many

critics

have

made

theircommentson

it

fromvariousaspects,

Almost

allHeller's

critics.

Havecaughtmuchofthenovel'speculiarflavor,itsuniqueblendoflaughterandhorror,itsthematicintensityanditsunusualstructure.Therehavebeennumerousessaysonthenovel'sstructure,itsdebttootherworksofliterature,itshumorandlogic,itsmoralandethicalvalues,anditsreligiousthemesandmythicalovertones"(Nagel4).AndbyfarmostwritingaboutCatch-22hasfocusedonmoreportentousissuesofpolitics,philosophy,economics,andeventheology"(Green186).Still,manycriticsreviewitfromtheangleofexistentialism.Amongsomeotherrepresentativeviewpoints,AlanR.PratttakesCatch-22asanexampletoshowthestyleofblackhumorandtocompareexistentialistwithblackhumorist(Pratt3-39).2ThesocialandculturalbackgroundofblackhumorTheemergenceofaliteratureisconnectnotanisolatedphenomenon,butareflectionofthesocialandcultural.Fundamentally,anyliteratureisthedistillationandsublimationofreallife,cannotleavethereallife.Therefore,blackhumorisalsotheproductofthesocialandculturalbackgroundatthattime.2.1TheoriginofblackhumorBlackhumorwasbornintheUnitedStatesinthe1960s,whentheAmericanwaswasasceneofchaos.Americanwritersusetheirkeenobservationandextremistattitudetore-examinethesocialrealityoftheUnitedStates,andusedafunnyandself-deprecatingandmorbidhumorouswritingtechniquetoreleasetheirangerandfear.Hencethebirthofagenreofmodernistliteraturenamedblackhumorwasappeared.BlackhumorrepresentativeworksincludeCatch-22,Gravity’sRainbow,Slaughterhouse-Fiveandsoon.ThemoodandplotreflectedinblackhumorousnovelswereconsistentwiththesocialemotionintheUnitedStatesatthattime.Therefore,peoplealsoregardedblackhumornovelsastheminiatureoftheUnitedStatesinthe1960s.2.2ThesocialandculturalbackgroundofblackhumorAftertheendoftheKoreanwar,thereweremanysocialconflictsandlaborconflicts;ontheotherhand,McCarthyismformedastiflingatmosphereinthewholesociety.Intheearly1960s,theUnitedStateswasinvolvedintheVietnamwar.ThelossofthewarandthetragiccasualtiesoftheAmericanarmymadetheanti-warsentimentofthewholecountrywereinhighspirit,andthesituationwasquiteturbulentandthesocialwasquitechaotic.Facingthereality,thethoughtofwesterndemocracywasdoubtedbysomepeople,thetraditionalmoralconceptwasabandoned,eventhetruthoflifeandthoughtsweredoubted.Inthiscase,outoftheinnatefearofthecommunistrevolutionandunderthesocialbackgroundofbeingatalossforwhattodo,thusthemiddleandsmallbourgeoisieintheUnitedStatesproduceda"black""humor"thatcombinesridicule,attack,revelationandsatire,fantasyanddenialofreality.2.3CharacteristicsofblackhumorAccordingtoHolman'sEnglishLiteratureHandbook,blackhumorisdefinedastheuseofmorbidandabsurdsubjectsinmodernfictionanddramaforthepurposeofdarkdramaticeffect;Friedman,knownasthecommanderofblackhumor,believesthatblackhumorisacombinationofblackthingsandhumorousthingsaboutthoughtsandemotions.Itishumorousanddesperate,however,youcanlaughwhenyouaredisappointed.AmericanscholarAldermanbelievesthatblackhumorisacomedythatputpain,joy,fantasticfactstogetherwiththereactionofcalmness,toleranceandtenderness.Inaword,blackhumorisaspecialkindofhumor,theimportantfeaturesofblackhumoraredesperate,crazyanddeeplycynical.3BlackHumor—takingthealienationasanexample3.1ReasonsofalienationoftheCharactersintoMan-beastsCrazywarmachines,bossybureaucraticmachinesandabsurdrulesandregulationsdistortpeople'snormalpsychologyandmakesomepeoplebecomeassavageasbeasts.3.1.1TheoppressionofthebureaucracyThereisaclassofpeopleintheCatch-22whobelongtotherulingclass.Theyruthlesslypersecuteotherstosatisfytheirowndesires.Hellerevencreatedmoreridiculousofficer,thefirstisGeneralScheisskopf.GeneralScheisskopfwasamilitantfigurewhoseonlytalentwasdirectingmechanicalplatoons.HisbiggestidealistowinintheparadecompetitiontogettheGeneral'sappreciationandgetaredbanner.ToallbutGeneralScheisskopf,theawardsimplymeansthat"thewinnerhasdonesomethingthatisnobenefittoanyone,maybejustmeansbetterthananyoneelse."Butasagratuitousreward,heboughtboxesofsoldier'schocolatesandarrangedtheminamilitaryparadeuntilallthechocolatemeltedinhishands.So,hetookoutasetofplasticcowboy,extremelyskilledputthemintoarowwithtwelvepeople.Later,hefeltthatthemodelshouldstillbealivingperson,soheorderedhiswifeintheroombytherequestofthelinetowalk."Walkingnaked?"(JosephHeller1961:89)askedthewife,whoonlyknewhowtosatisfyherfilthycarnality.ThisisagreatsatireontheabsurdityofGeneralScheisskopfandhiswife.Toimprovehismarchingstyle,heeventriedtonailtwelvemeninarowinastraightlinewithatwo-inch-thick,four-inch-widewoodenstick,ortodrivenickel-alloynailsintothemembers'femurs.Thenheusedsteelwiretoattachthenailstothewriststopracticethegaitwithoutswinginghisarms.Intheend,thisideawasnotputintopractice,notbecausehethoughtthestrategywastoocruel,buthethoughtthatifsomeonefaintedduringthemarch,thewholeteamwouldfalldowninanimproperposture,whichmightaffectthescoreofthesquadron.Hisnewgimmickwassosuccessfulthathewashailedasa"militarygenius"andwentfromstrengthtostrength.Itcanbeseenthattheintentionoftheruleristoeliminatetheindividualityandfreewillofhumanbeings.Turninghumanbeingsintorobotsisactuallythestranglingofhumansouls.ThesecondoneisColonelCathcart.ColonelCathcartwasapower-hungry,moody,deceitfulfool.Hewasveryproud,becausehehadbecomeaColonelandaCommanderwhenhewasonlyinhisthirties:butatthesametimehewasdepressed,becausehewasstillaColonelwhenhewasinhisthirties.Inordertocurryfavorwithhissuperiorandgetpromotedtoahigherposition,heignoredthedeathofhispilotsandendlesslyincreasedthenumberofflightsfrom32to40to70.Hisactionsfrightened,fatiguedandoftenkilledthepilotsontheirlastflights.ToimpresstheGeneral,hedistinguishedhimselfamongtheColonels.Hebelievedthatitwasworthtousethelifeofasoldierfortherankofgeneraloneday.Thelivesofhissoldiers,andevencivilians,werehistoolstoachievehisgoals.HehadorderedhistroopstobombanunfortifiedvillageonhissidewiththereasonofcitingbarricadesfortheGermansbutnotallowinganyadvancenoticeoftheirevacuation.Sowhenpeoplewithchildrenwerecheerwith"ontheirown"troops,theyareinexplicablybombardedby"ontheirown"."Wedon'tcareaboutroadblocks,"ColonelCohensaid."ColonelCathcartwantedtotakeahighresolutionaerialphotographofthemission,whichhecouldproudlydistributethroughvariouschannels"(JosephHeller1961:127).Asanofficer,ColonelCathcartwassupposedtoputsoldiersandciviliansunderhisprotection,butheslaughteredthemforfameandgain.ColonelCathcartrepresentsnothinglessthanafearsomebureaucraticmachinethatabusesitspower.Theyarenotworriedaboutthewar.Onthecontrary,theyusethewartotheiradvantage.Itisridiculous.3.1.2ThelureoftheeconomyHelleralsocreatedanotherkindofcharacter,Milo.TheimageofMiloalsoimpressedthereadersdeeply.Hewasoriginallyjustahumblelieutenantpilot,buthewasgoodatseizingtheopportunitybroughtbythewar,becametheflightbrigadecanteenmanager,toimprovethecanteenmanagementandfoodhetookchargeofaflyingteamtravelaroundtheworld,engageinspeculationandprofiteering.Healsoused"justice.truth,liberty,fraternityandpatriotism"asapretexttoturnthewarwhichagainstfascistGermanyintoanopportunityforpersonalenrichment.HeestablishedtheM&MEnterprisesFineFruitsandProduce,whichinturndevelopedintoaninternationalsyndicate.EvenAmerica'senemy,Germany,isinthisorganization."TheGermansarenotourenemies,"hedeclared...Yes,weareatwarwiththem.ButtheGermansarealsomembersofoursyndicate.Asourshareholders,Ihavearesponsibilitytoprotecttheirrights.Maybetheystartedthewar.Maybetheydidkillthousandsofpeople,buttheypaidtheirbillsfarmorecheerfullythansomeofourAlliesIknow(JosephHeller1961:236).Incapitalistsociety,everythingismaterialized.Onlycapitalhaspersonality,andMiloisthepersonifiedcapital.InMilo'seyes,moneyiseverythingandmakingmoneyishisonlypurposeinlife."Makingmoneyisnotagainstthelaw,"itwashislogic.Aslongasitwasaprofitablebusiness,hewouldnothesitatetodoit.Inordertomakemoney,henotonlysignedacontractwiththeAmericanauthoritiestobombtheGermanroadandbridge,butalsosignedacontractwiththeGermanauthoritiestoattackhisownthenhugeprofitsweremadefrombothsides.Becauseincapitalistsociety,moneyisomnipotent,moneymeanseverything.Sohedaredtotakerisk,colludingopenlywithhostileGermanytomakehugeprofits.OnceMiloflewawaytoEnglandwithfourGermanplanesfullofcargo.Aftergettingofftheplane,hefoundthatthearmywasgoingtoseizethefourGermanplanes."IsthisRussia"Miloassailedthemincredulouslyatthetopofhisvoice."Confiscate?""SincewhenisitthepolicyoftheAmericangovernmenttoconfiscatetheprivatepropertyofitscitizens?Shameonyou!Shameonyou!Shameonallofyouforeventhinkingsuchahorriblethought.""Theyarenosuchthing!"Miloretortedfuriously(JosephHeller1961:238).Thoseplanesbelongtothesyndicate,andeverybodyhasashare.Confiscate?Howcanyoupossiblyconfiscateyourownprivateproperty?Confiscate,indeed!I'veneverheardanythingsodepravedinmywholelife.'Andsureenough,Milowasright,forwhentheylooked,hismechanicshadpaintedouttheGermanswastikasonthewings,tailsandfuselageswithdoublecoatsofflatwhiteandstenciledinthewordsM&MENTERPRISES,FINEFRUITSANDPRODUCE.Rightbeforetheireyeshehadtransformedhissyndicateintoaninternationalcartel.Inacapitalistsociety,sinceprivatepropertyissacrosanct,themeansbywhichindividualsacquireprivatepropertyshouldalsobesacrosanct.ThiswonderfullogicofMilo'siscomedowninonecontinuouslinewiththelogicofCatch-22.Milo'sgraspofthisrulebookissoprofoundthatinaworldruledbythisrulebook,Milocanbeabletoachievesuccessonewayoranother.Hesymbolizesthemonopolycapitalgroup,whichcangiveupeverything,includingthemotherland.Justice,andevenhumannaturetomeetthegreed.ReaderswillnotfailtobeamusedbyMilo'scrazymoney-makingbehaviorandgreatsuccess,butwhenlookingbackandsavoritcarefullywillfeeltastedeepsorrow,theworldishowabsurdandterrible,ahedgebetweenkeepsfriendshipgreen,evilstandfirmlybeforejustice,truthyieldstofalsehood,allbecomeunreasonable,thefutureofthehumanissobleakthesearethepowerofblackhumor.AsHellerhimselfsaid,"Iwanttomakepeoplelaugh,andthengobackandlookateverythingtheylaughedatwithfear."(GuoJide2001:18)3.2ResultsofalienationoftheCharactersintoMan-InsectsInthissociety,therearemanyinsignificantpeoplewhoaretrampledonatthebottomandpushedaroundbyothers.Theylosetheirinitiative,passivityanddragoutalife.Eventuallytheybecomeasweakasaworm3.2.1SpiritualcrisisDifferentwiththiskindofcontrolclasswasthelowerclass.Thelowerrankswerealsooverwhelmedbythehorrorsofwarandplungedintoaseriousmentalcrisis.Havermeyerfiredashotatamouse,withhisownwithafourorfivecaliberpistol.Havermeyershootsmouseeverynightwith,whenheseeshisfurrybodyspatteredwithbloodhewillalwaysgigglinghysterically.McWattwentwildtorelievethetensionofthebattle.Heoftenflewhisplanesolowthathiscomradeswerefrightened.Thisriskybehavioraddsacertainthrilltohisboringlifeandcomesataterriblecost.Samsonwascutinhalfbyanairplanepropellerduringoneofhisadventures.Becauseofremorsefulandguilty,McWattendeduphisownlifebycrashingintoamountain.WhileHungryJoe,ontheotherhand,becameamadmanduringwaitingfortheordertoreturn.Everytimewhenhefinishedhisflightandwaitedfortheordertoreturnhome,hesufferedalot.Hehasnightmareseverynightandscreaminghystericallyinhisdream.Thenextdayhewouldwalkoutofthetentlistlesswithalookofhorrorandguilt.However,everytimewhencolonelCarterincreasedhisflightsandsenthimbacktothebattlefield,hestoppeddreaming,justwitharelievedsmileandwentbacktohisusualstateoffear,andovertimearulewasworkedoutthatifHungryJoewasgloomy,itwasallright;ifhewascheerful,itwassomethingboring.ThestrangereactionofHungryJoewasentirelytheresultofbrutalwarandoppressivemilitaryinstitutions.WhileHellercriticizedandstoletheabsurdbehaviorsofmilitarypersonnel,healsoshowedsympathyfortheirspiritualplight.3.2.2CollapseoffaithUnderthiskindofenvironmentmanypeoplesufferingspiritstress.ForinstanceMajorwasonceanenthusiasticyoungmanwhosparednoefforttopositionhimselfinsociety,butbecauseofthecrazinessandabsurdityoftheCatch-22,heunexpectedlybecameareclusive,tangibleandgodlessdocumentsigningmachine."Fromnowon,"captainBlack,whohadalwayscovetedthelieutenant'sjob,hedeclaredrebelliously.'Well,youfellowscanstandaroundandletthemifyouwantto,butI’mnotgoingto.I'mgoingtodosomethingaboutit.FromnowonI'mgoingtomakeeverysonofabitchwhocomestomyintelligencetentsignaloyaltyoath.AndI'mnotgoingtoletthatbastardMajorMajorsignoneevenifhewantsto'(JosephHeller1961:137)Soon,thisvigorouspledgeofallegiancemovementwillbepopularthroughouttheheadquarters.Peoplemustswearallegiancebeforetheyeatorhaircut.Inthismovementliesthelogicof"catch-22":Themoreyousignyourallegiance,themoreloyalyouaretoyourcountry.Majorisnotallowedtosignallegiance.Majordidnotsignthepledgeofallegiance.Majorisdisloyaltohiscountry.(JosephHeller1961:124)SomajorwasanenemynotonlyofcaptainBlack,butofthenation.Hecannotbenursedwhenhewasinjured.Hecan'tgetfoodwhenhewashungryAfterthedisaster,hemadeuseofthelogicof"catch-22",madearulethatpeoplecouldonlycametoseehimwhenhewasnotthere.ThenMajordisappeared,becamearecluse,onlywastohideinhisofficeandforgeWashingtonIrving’sautograph.Eventually,mantoinsects.Yossarianwasamanofintegrity,honesty,courage,idealsandpatriotism.Duringthewar,hewasreprimandedforhisbraveryinleadingsixaircrafttoblowupBridgeswhichhadnotbeendestroyedinsixdaysorninebombings.Everythingwasfarfromsosimple.Suchsituationmadehimthoroughlyawareofthewar.Hecannolongerbelievedinwhichwascalledbrave,justice,truth,fraternityandpatriotism,heonlysawpeopleracktheirbrainsfortheirownprofit.AsYossariansaidtomajorDanbywhenhedecidedtofleethebattle,"whenIlookedup,Iseepeoplecashingin.Idon'tseeheavenorsaintsorangels.Iseepeoplecashinginoneverydecentimpulseandeveryhumantragedy"(ChengAimin1998)ThisgreatlyfrustratedYossarian'spatriotismandmadehimacowardwithnoideals,nofutureandonlyadesiretosavehisownlife.So,oneachmission,hedoesn'tcareifhehitsthetarget.Hehadalreadymadeuphismindtoliveforeverordieforeternity.Everytimeheflew,hisonlymissionwastoreturnalive.Inordertosavehisownlife,hedideverythinginhispowertodoanythingthatmightsavehislife.InordernottogoonthebombingmissiontoBologna,atmidnight,Yossariantouchedthewoodwithhishand,crossedhisfingersandmiddlefingers,andslippedlightlyoutofthetentandmovedupthebombingroutetocoverbologna.HealsoinstructedcorporalSnarktoputlaundrysoapinthepotatoes,causingthesquadrontohavediarrheaanddelayingthebombing.Finallyforcedtoflytobolognatocarryoutthemission,whenhedidnotevenhavethecouragetoflytothetargethoveringoveraround,hefoundanexcusefortheintercomoutoforderKidSampsonflewtheplaneback.Hepretendedtobeillandwenttothehospitaloverandoveragaintoavoidflyingmissions.Evenwiththeexcusesofwhenhewasonabombingmission,hewasalwaysbombardedbystrangers.Soheconcludedthattheymustkillhim.Forthis,Clevingerarguedwithhim,thinkingthathemustbemad.'They're

trying

to

kill

me,'

Yossarian

told

him

calmly.'No

one's

trying

to

kill

you,'

Clevinger

cried.

'Then

why

are

they

shooting

at

me?

Yossarian

asked.'They're

shooting

at

everyone,

Clevinger

answered.They'retryingtokilleveryone.''And

what

difference

does

that

make?'

Clevinger

was

already

on

the

way.(JosephHeller1961:125)

OneoftheclassicscenesisdoctorDaneeka’ssayingtoYossarian,"there'sacatchinthat,andthat'sCatch-22.Catch,theconcernforone'sownsafetyinthefaceofimminentandrealdangeristherationalactivityofthebrain.Orrwascrazy,hecanstoptheflight,however,whathemusttodoistomakearequest,butoncehemakearequest,andheisnolongeramadmanhehascontinuedtoperformtasks.IfOrrcontinuetoperformaflightmission,heiscrazy,butifhestopflight,thatmeanshewascompletelynormal,however,ifhewasnormal,sohemustgotoperformaflightmissionifheperformmission,heiscrazy,foryouwillnotgobyflightbutifhedoesn'twanttogotoflight,soheisnotamaniac,Youhavetogo.(JosephHeller1961:264)Theclauseofcatch-22ismoreconcise,evendeeplymoved,soYossarianblewhiswhistleinawe.Therewasnootherwayforhimtoreturnhomeduringtheheavyflymissions.Inordertosavehislife,hehadtotakeanuncooperativeattitudewiththeauthorities,refusedtocarryouttheflightmission,andaskedtoreturnhome.Hisrequestwasfinallyaccepted,butwithonecondition:tojointhegangofcolonelCathcart,andthentheypromotedhimtotherankofmajor,gavehimamedal,andsenthimhomeasahero,andtheneithertovarnishtheCathcartortosendhimtocourtmartial.ForthesakeofhislifeYossarianhadfoolishlyagreedtothatcondition.ForawhileherealizedthatitwasadirtydealandthathecouldnotcolludewiththeCathcarttocheatthemeninthesquadronandencouragethemtoflymoremissionsuntiltheydied.SoYossariandecidedtoabandonthedeal,desertedandfledtoSweden.Asanarmyofficer,Yossariandidnotseriouslyperformhismilitarydutiesandcarryoutordersfromhissuperiors.Onthecontrary,hedidnothesitatetoresorttoallmeansinordertosurvive.Itisreallyfunnyforthereaders,butafterlaughing,theywillsuddenlyrealizetheabsurdityandmadnessoftheworld,andthentriggerthethinkingofthepessimisticanddesperatesociety.3.2.3HelplessnessoflifeWhenitcomestoprostitutes,"decentpeople"arealwaysafraid,butwhocansaythattheychoosethiswayofmakingalivingwithoutsomesocialresponsibility?Peopleareideal,moral,andknowdisgrace,nooneiswillingtoselltheirsoulandbody.Thewarbrokeupfamilies,separatedfamilies,nohome.Mencouldjointhearmytofight,andtherewerelegitimatecareerstochoosefrom,butmostwomenhadnoworktodo.Someofthemselltheirchildrenandlivingpoor.Othersbecomeaprostituteinadesperatesituationforliving,theyselltheirflesh,buthideatornheart.Nottheydonotneedreallove,ahappyfamily,astablelife.However,theharshrealitygivesthemdisappointment.Natelylovewithprostitute,theyareeagertobuildafamilybutunfortunatelyNatelywaskilledbythewar,justleavehisloveralone.Loveandmarriageisoneoftheindispensablepartsoflife,withoutlove,marriage,humanbeingswilllosethebasisofexistence.Similarly,anovelwilllosesitsrealvalueifitdoesnotboldlyandrealisticallydepictthereallifeofhumanbeing.Truelovebrightensanovel,thereisnoneedfordeliberatepornography,butordinaryandsimpleloveessential.InCatch-22,Heller,forallhissatire,inalotofexplicitpornographyisalsopersonal.Thislove,thoughpartialtosex,wasapowerfulresponsetothesocialandchaoticsituationofthetime.Warmakespeoplecan'tgetlove,anormalmarriageandfamily,thecourseoftheirlovecanonlybelimitedto:loveandsexandbreakup,intheendbe

separatedandnoresult.YossarianandnurseDaneeka,Natelyandhiswhore,aren'tthereelementsofloveintheirrelationship?Yethisorherloveisaloveofpain,aloveofdespair,indoingsojusttoconsoletheirwoundedsouls.Reality,withitscruelandmercilesspower,castsashadowovertheirlives,forcingthemtodespairandlosetheirminds.Ifweunderstandthehistoricalbackgroundatthattime,itisnotdifficulttoseethatHeller'spornographicdescriptioninthisbookisnottodescribethepornographyitself,buttoraiseavarietyofthought-provokingissuestosociety.Itwouldbeunwise,therefore,todenythesignificanceoftheloveepisodejustsimplybyvirtueofone'shabitualmorality,withoutunderstandingtheauthor'sthoughts.Catch-22asamodelofblackhumor,itswritingtechniquesnaturallyusethemaincharacteristicsoftheschoolworks.Thereisnothingludicrousabouttheseoutlandishstatements,butrathertheycontainanumberofseriousmessagesthatpromptthereadertothinkandexplore.Inviewofthis,wemustadmitthat,liketheotherworksoftheblackhumor,althoughtheCatch-22appearsasanti-rationalandanti-moral,byitsnature,itincorporatesalltherationalityandmoralityofHellerwhoisadecentAmerican.4TheInfluenceofblackhumorinHeller’sworkThroughreadingtranslatedworks,contactingwithcommentaries,orthroughtheuniversityforum,anumberofuniversitieshavesuccessivelyheldaperiodof"writers'class".Fromemotionalworkstorationalcomments,blackhumorhasslippedintothecontemporaryChineseandAmericanliteraryworldlikeablackspirit.ApartfromitsimpactonChineseandAmericanreaders,ithashadawideimpactonnovelistswhoarebothreadersandcreators,especiallyyoungandmiddle-agednovelists,whoarecreativeandloveliterature.Thiskindofinfluencenotonlyshowinthehighappraisaltotheblackhumornovelandtheadmirationtotheauthor,inevitably,butalsoshowinsomechangesintheircreationtendencyandwritingtechniquepresentedbythework.4.1TheinfluenceinAmericancultureAsanaestheticform,"blackhumor"belongstothecategoryofcomedy,butitisalsoakindofabnormalcomedywithtragiccolor.Theemergenceof"blackhumor"wasassociatedwiththeunrestintheUnitedStatesinthe1960s.Theabsurditiesofcontemporarycapitalistsocietyandthecontradictionsof"comedy"arenotcreatedbywritersoftheirownwill.Theyarereflectionsofthatsociallife.Althoughthiskindofreflectionhascertainsocialsignificanceandcognitivevalue,thewritersalsoattackedalltheauthorityincludingtherulingclass,theystressedthatthesocialenvironmentisdifficulttochange,sotheworksoftenrevealthemoodofpessimismanddespair."Blackhumor"writersdarestofacethedarknessofsocial

reality,revealthenatureofcapitalistsociety,weshouldaffirmthisprogressthinking,however,duetothe"blackhumor"thewritertreatssocietyandlifewithcynicalattitude,intheworkstheyexudetheasenseofpessimismanddespair,thisislimitedbythewriter'sclass."Blackhumor"alsorevolutionizeslanguage.Theyhaveabandonedthetraditionofbeautifullanguage,rejectedtheconciseandimplicitlanguagestyle,andmadethecontentofthenovelchaoticandillusorybybeingunconventionalinlanguagestyle,draggingandwordyinsyntaxandvagueinrepetition.Inthisrespect,JohnBarthisthemostprominent.Hisrepetitionofcertainsentencesandimproperuseofpunctuationgivepeopleanabruptandfunnysense,whichisalsoaprominentfeatureof"blackhumor"literature.Thecontentof"blackhumor"literaturealsodeterminesitslanguageform.Theseartisticfeaturesof"blackhumor"novels,whicharedifferentfromtraditionalnovels,makeblackhumorliteraturepopularinashorttimeandbecomeanimportantliterarytrendinAmericanliterature,aswellasothermodernistssuch