Catch-22

“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind.”

Early Chapters (1-10)

The novel opens with Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier stationed on the fictional island of Pianosa during World War II. He is desperate to avoid combat missions, as the war seems endless and the bureaucracy absurd. The infamous “Catch-22” rule prevents him from being grounded: if he is sane enough to ask to stop flying, he is deemed sane enough to continue. Meanwhile, his squadron faces increasing mission quotas set by Colonel Cathcart, who seeks promotion. Yossarian’s friend, Doc Daneeka, explains the paradox of Catch-22 but can’t help him escape it.

Middle Chapters (11-25)

Yossarian navigates the absurdity of military life, encountering eccentric characters like Milo Minderbinder, a mess officer who runs a black-market syndicate, and Major Major Major Major, a commander who only allows visitors when he’s out. Yossarian fakes illnesses, censors letters, and witnesses the deaths of comrades like Snowden, whose traumatic demise haunts him. The narrative jumps between past and present, revealing how the war erodes sanity. Meanwhile, Milo’s profiteering grows unchecked, even bombing his own squadron for profit.

Later Chapters (26-42)

As the war drags on, Yossarian’s desperation intensifies. He refuses to fly more missions after witnessing Snowden’s death, but Colonel Cathcart raises the required number anyway. Yossarian seeks help from Chaplain Tappman, who is powerless against the system. After a failed attempt to flee to Rome, Yossarian is offered a deal: endorse Cathcart’s policies and go home, or face court-martial. In the end, he chooses desertion, escaping to Sweden, symbolizing his rejection of the war’s insanity.

Key Ideas

• The absurdity of bureaucracy and war, where logic is twisted to serve power.
• The inescapable paradox of Catch-22, trapping individuals in lose-lose scenarios.
• Satire of capitalism and militarism through characters like Milo Minderbinder.
• The dehumanizing effects of war on soldiers and civilians alike.
• The struggle for individual survival against oppressive systems.

Notable Adaptations