Those people who have read “Catch-22” will know that it is a multi-faceted novel, being part anti-war, part comedy and part satire.
This excerpt from the novel deals with the Great Loyalty Oath Crusade that overtakes the military unit. This is kind of an extension to some of the ideas that George Orwell introduced into “1984”, where loyalty to the state (represented by the imaginary patriarchal image of Big Brother) was prized above all else.
My observation on loyalty oaths is that they are generally symbolic features of closed organizations and dictatorships, where unquestioning unconditional loyalty is demanded and expected. A proliferation of loyalty oaths is, in my opinion, an indicator of a slow move towards a more closed, judgemental and conformist society.
