Catch-22 (chapter41)SNOWDEN

——Joseph Heller

CONTENTS

Brief Introduction

Chapter Summary

Characters

Themes Symbolism

Analysis

Action Still

Brief Introduction

About the Novel

Catch-22 is a satirical, historical novel by the American author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel, set during the later stages of World War II from 1943 onwards, is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century.

Summary

Catch-22 follows Captain John Yossarian in his exploits as a bombardier in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Yossarian has one wish: to survive the madness of wartime culture. He's convinced that everyone is trying to kill him, a notion that sometimes arises in a war where…everyone is trying to kill one another. Yossarian has to survive the dangerous combat missions he flies, while Colonel Cathcart continues to increase the number of missions his men must complete.

Yossarian awakens in the hospital where several incompetent doctors quibble over performing unnecessary surgery on Yossarian's wound. The chaplain visits and praises Yossarian for protecting Colonel Cathcart from a Nazi assassin. Yossarian recognizes the lie and tells the chaplain that it was Nately's whore who stabbed him, not a Nazi murderer. The chaplain is disappointed when Yossarian explains Colonel Cathcart's despicable bargain. Yossarian redeems his honor when he decides against the deal.

Chapter41 Summary

Chapter41 Summary

A mysterious man in a bathrobe seizes Yossarian in the night and torments him by repeating, "We've got your pal, buddy. We've got your pal." Disturbed, Yossarian lies awake in a cold sweat and thinks of Snowden. Neatly bandaging the large wound in Snowden's thigh, Yossarian thought the poor kid was in the clear. Upon closer inspection, though, Yossarian realized a chunk of flak had ripped through his side. Covered in Snowden's gory entrails, Yossarian would long be haunted by Snowden's dying whimpers and his own inability to comfort or cure him.

Plot Summary

Yossarian wakes up in the hospital, just as two incompetent

surgeons are about to start cutting into him.

The chaplain visits and praises Yossarian for protecting Colon

el Cathcart from a Nazi assassin. Yossarian recognizes the lie

and tells the truth. The chaplain is disappointed when Yossaria

n explains Colonel Cathcart's despicable bargain. Yossarian re

deems his honor when he decides against the deal.

Conversation

the strange man with the mean face comes back and repeats h

is message: "We've got your pal, buddy." Yossarian, scared, tr

ies to strangle him, but the man escapes.

Strange man

come back

He remembers a time he felt similarly scared and helpless, i

n the plane above Avignon, as he helped Snowden dress hi

s wounds.

Remember

Snowden

Awaken in the hospital

Characters

A paranoid bombardier who

thinks everyone is trying to kill

him .

Behave insanity and

rebelliously to refuse flying

combat missions by all

means possible

John Yossarian

A member of Yossarian's flig

ht during a mission,

Acts as catalyst for the funda

mental change in Yossarian's

mentality and outlook.

Snowden

An Anabaptist minister who is

shy and self-conscious. has a

burst of confidence at the

end.

He vows to stand up to

authority and to persevere.

Chaplain

Major Themes

In Catch-22, Heller exaggerates and juxtaposes character traits and situations for a purely comic effect. Absurdity

Hypocrisy

Even though the logic of Catch-22 seems contradictory and irrational, it makes sense and can be applied logically in the world of the novel.

Heller goes to great lengths to point out the incompetence, pettiness, and corruption within the bureaucratic ranks. In Catch-22, the bureaucracy shows more brutality towards their own men than they show towards the enemy. Power

Fear

War and constant death tend to breed fear. Characters in this novel have no trust or faith, and live in constant fear of betrayal

Symbolism

The hospital as a symbol of shelter and safety

Snowden's guts as a symbol of man's mortality

The increasing number of missions as a symbol of injustice and absurdity

Milo Minderbinder as a symbol of capitalism and greed

Analysis

Catch-22

Setting

Genre Tone

Writing Style Pianosa, an island off the coast of Italy

Satire and Parody; War Drama Satirical, Mocking

Verbose, Repetitive

Action Still

Action Still

　　

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