Catch 22
by Joseph Heller
Notes by Julie Harper
Chapter 10
Deals with the theme of the insignificance of human beings on the planet. One
can die and the death is hardly noticed by others.
Presents the anti-hero of the text… Wintergreen. He has no loyalties to anyone
other than himself.
Anti-hero – a person in a novel who lacks noble qualities and whose experiences
are without tragic dignity.
There is no dignity or glory associated with the job of digging holes.
However though an anti-hero Wintergreen does manage to enter the language
games that exist in the novel. He justifies his service to his country as he does
his job well and seemingly takes pride in the work. The work of digging holes
does ensure his safety and therefore he manages to escape from the war to a
certain extent.
The novel is clearly trying to deal with the human predicament… and thus there
is a constant repetition of events. It deals with a search for meaning, a desire to
escape reality whilst clinging to the virtues of love and loyalty. The questioning of
the irony of being a doctor for mortal people (143) Collect all references to death.
The earth is compared to a charnel house – a place where bodies and bones are
deposited.
At the end the chapter explores the theme of sanity further. The question is
raised whether insanity is the sanest action in a time of war.
Chapter 19







What are the ironies about colonel Cathcart’s character?
List the five main points.
What has the reader learnt about him previous to this chapter?
Explain the reference to religion on page 242. How does this add to the
theme of religion in the novel?
From this extract what do you learn about the chaplain’s character?
How does Heller further the theme that decisions are made on a random
basis?
Why may the reader loose faith in the officers in the war at this point?





How does Cathcart deal with the Chaplain’s question? (Page 251)
What does this reveal about Cathcart’s speech: ‘get in touch if you need
anything.’
What role has the Chaplain taken on at this point?
What were Yossarian’s thoughts on the chaplain when he first met him?
(Chapter 1)
What does Cathcart advise the chaplain to do with Yossarian? How is this
ironic considering the earlier comments on religion in this chapter, and the
comments on page 231?
Chapter 20
Note how this chapter continues from the last focusing on the Chaplain’s feelings
of guilt at not changing Cathcart’s mind. As he contemplates his guilt and wishes
he had spoken out ‘with courage’ he meets Colonel Korn.

What have you learnt about the relationship between Korn and Cathcart?
The Chaplain’s ineffectuality is reinforced at this point through the narrative
structure. Following his dismissal by Cathcart in chapter 19 he is immediately
given the opportunity to voice his concerns to the colonel however he says,
‘Everything is working out.’


What does Corporal Whitcomb represent?
As a leader how could the Chaplain have controlled Whitcomb’s behaviour
towards him? What does this reveal about human nature?
Note that although Colonel Korn believes that the Chaplain staying with his men
would bring them closer together Colonel Korn does not reside in a tent.

What more do we learn about the officer’s feelings about religion? How is
this similar to the way the chaplain perceives he is viewed in chapter 1?
In this chapter Heller reinforces the insignificance of the individual as Korn
dismisses the dead as merely an inconvenience. He also considered the
emotional state of his men to be a menial task.


How does Heller humanise the chaplain?
At this point the narrative structure returns to the start of the novel. Who
was signing the name Washington Irving’s name on correspondence?
Who is now signing the name?
In conclusion to this chapter we see a seemingly good man ponder on his
helplessness. He recognises the unhappiness in the world and his own inability
to do anything about it. The reader became aware of this earlier in the chapter
when he demonstrated his inability to speak out against the colonels.
Chapter 23
The chapter opens with reference to Milo’s dealings with the red bananas and
then links back to the time that Nately met his whore again.
Find previous references to Nately’s whore.
The discussions then opens on paying for sex. Nately is in love/ lust with his
whore – she claims that if he really loved her he would let her leave. (306)
Irony – ‘Hungry Joe burst in and everything was alright again’. His supposed
insanity seems to bring sanity to the place again.
Find references to Hungry Joe’s insanity in earlier chapters.
Note the debate over what it means to ‘win the war’ it is true that Italy has been
occupied by many nations. In the old man’s terms winning the war merely means
losing the least amount of men possible.
The issue of time is debated next as the old man points out the short-sightedness
of Nately’s statement that ‘America is not going to be destroyed’ there is a sense
of inevitability about the fact that all great kingdoms fall.
Reference to Keats - Hyperion
Satire on the fact that America believes that it is a great nation and will never fall.
The old man then mocks America’s greatness by comparing it to a frog!
Note that during this discussion Nately seems to have forgotten his girl whilst the
other men are playing with theirs.
Nately then states…
Page 312 ‘you talk like a madman’ yet what the old man has said makes perfect
sense – the important thing is always to be on the winning side and be protected
by great nations. Loyalty isn’t important when you wish to survive. Similar
philosophy to ex.P.F.C Wintergreen – pg. 79.
The old man claims he is a very moral man this brings into debate the question of
what it is to be moral. Immediately after this he snatches a flag from a little girl.
Note the time leap to the incident with Major De Coverly. Pg.173
Satirises the war ‘ imagine a man his age risking what little life he has left for
something so absurd as his country.

What is country?
These Catch 22 notes were found free at www.englishresources.co.uk