Catch-22 Summary

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Here you will find a Catch-22 summary (Joseph Heller's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Catch-22 Summary Overview

In the latter part of the Second World War, an airman named Yossarian is assigned to an Air Force unit on the Pianosa island, close to the Italian coast in the Mediterranean. Yossarian, along with his comrades, is trapped in a surreal, chaotic reality shaped by red tape and hostility, being perceived as mere expendable assets by their blindly ambitious higher-ups. The unit is recklessly dispatched into violent combat scenarios and bombing sorties, where capturing high-quality pictures of detonations takes precedence over annihilating their objectives. The commanders persistently escalate the count of operations they must accomplish before repatriation, effectively ensuring nobody ever gets sent back. Nevertheless, Yossarian seems to be the only one cognizant of the ongoing war, with his insistence that countless people are out to kill him deemed insane by others. The narrative predominantly revolves around Yossarian's experiences, hence most occurrences are seen through his lens. Yossarian perceives the whole war on a personal level: he is incensed that his life is persistently hanging by a thread due to reasons beyond his control. His will to live is potent, and he is firmly resolved to either attain immortality or perish in the attempt. Consequently, he spends most of his time pretending to be ill in the infirmary, to evade the war. As the story unravels through its loosely linked sequence of recurring tales and anecdotes, Yossarian is continuously haunted by his recollection of Snowden, a comrade who perished in his arms during a mission that extinguished Yossarian's will to contribute to the war. Yossarian finds himself in ludicrous, absurd, desperate, and sorrowful situations—he witnesses comrades disappearing or dying, their unit getting bombed by its own catering officer, and higher ranking officers using their men as cannon fodder to bolster their own reputations. Yossarian discovers an ironic rule, referred to as Catch-22, which stipulates that one can be exempt from military duty on grounds of insanity. Grasping at this potential loophole, Yossarian asserts his insanity, only to learn that by declaring his insanity, he has demonstrated his sanity—since any rational person would declare insanity to avoid deadly bombing assignments. Simultaneously, other plots unfurl around Yossarian. His comrade Nately courts a prostitute from Rome despite her persistent indifference and constant interruptions from her kid sister. Tragically, just as she reciprocates Nately's affection, he is slain in his next mission. Upon receiving the unfortunate news from Yossarian, she holds him responsible for Nately's demise, attempting to stab him upon each subsequent encounter. Towards the climax, Yossarian, stricken by Nately's demise, declines to participate in further missions. He roams the streets of Rome, witnessing every imaginable human atrocity—violation, disease, murder. Eventually arrested for being in Rome without a permit, he is given an ultimatum by his superiors, Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn. He can either confront a court-martial or be honorably discharged and sent home, provided he endorses Cathcart and Korn and their policy mandating eighty missions for all squadron members. Despite the temptation, Yossarian realizes that agreeing would jeopardize other innocent lives. He opts for an alternate escape—deserting the army and absconding to neutral Sweden, thereby rejecting the military's dehumanizing system, the absurdity of Catch-22, and aiming to reclaim his own life.

chapter 1

Yossarian, an American serviceman, fakes a liver ailment to avoid the brutality of World War II and lands himself in an Italian military hospital. With the medics unable to verify his wellness or sickness, he remains in the hospital, baffling them. While there, he is tasked, along with other patients, to censor letters from soldiers to their families. Yossarian makes a game of this - modifying letters whimsically and signing them as “Washington Irving.” He shares the ward with his friend Dunbar, an incapacitated individual known as “the soldier in white,” and two nurses who detest Yossarian. One day, a friendly Texan is introduced to the ward, who insists that “decent folk” deserve extra votes, a view that irks other patients. Concurrently, Yossarian is visited by a chaplain, whose company he appreciates. However, the Texan’s presence and patriotic sentiments become too much for Yossarian and the other patients. They leave the ward within ten days of the Texan's arrival, having recovered from their illnesses and ready to return to active duty.

chapter 2

Emerging from the hospital, Yossarian reflects on the irrationality of the war that's consuming young lives. He recalls a dispute with his comrade, Clevinger, over this issue. Yossarian insisted everyone was out to kill him, but Clevinger countered that no one was targeting him specifically. Yossarian dismissed Clevinger’s notions of honor and nations, focusing on the fact that he's constantly under fire. His roommate, Orr, informs him that Clevinger is missing. He remembers a previous confrontation with Clevinger at the officers' club, where Yossarian declared his invincibility since he hadn't been killed yet. Suspicious of everyone after his hospital stay, Yossarian enjoys a sumptuous feast at Milo’s mess hall before speaking to Doc Daneeka. The doctor infuriates Yossarian by revealing that Colonel Cathcart has increased the required missions from forty-five to fifty for a soldier to be discharged. Yossarian had already completed forty-four missions when this rule was introduced.

chapter 3

Orr recounts to Yossarian a bizarre tale of his younger days when he enjoyed putting crab apples in his cheeks. Yossarian recalls an incident in Rome where Orr was attacked by a prostitute with her shoe. Orr's small stature is compared to Huple, a young boy living near Hungry Joe's tent. Hungry Joe has a habit of having loud nightmares when he's not due to fly the next day, disturbing the whole camp. His tent is near a road where soldiers occasionally meet girls and entertain them amidst the tall grass beside an open-air cinema. A U.S.O troupe, which performed at the theater in the afternoon, was sent by ambitious General P. P. Peckem in hopes of usurping General Dreedle's command over Yossarian's unit. Peckem's assistant, Colonel Cargill, used to work as a marketing executive for Wall Street companies, purposely failing to generate tax losses. His current role in the military mirrors his past job, failing to boost morale, especially amongst men who have completed their fifty missions and anxiously await home return orders before Colonel Cathcart increases the mission count. Yossarian feels unwell, but Doc Daneeka won't ground him. Daneeka suggests that Yossarian should follow Havermeyer's lead, a courageous bombardier. However, Yossarian views his fear as a healthy response. The narrator points out Havermeyer's peculiar hobby of shooting mice at night and how he once startled Hungry Joe into diving into a slit trench with a gunshot. These trenches had suspiciously appeared beside each tent the morning after mess officer Milo Minderbinder bombed the squadron.

chapter 4

The narration describes Hungry Joe's insanity, leading to Yossarian's attempt to guide him. However, Hungry Joe dismisses Yossarian as crazy himself. Doc Daneeka in contrast, believes his own situation is more dire than Hungry Joe's, citing the war's interruption of his prosperous medical profession. Yossarian's past mischief comes to light; he had once tried to disrupt an educational meeting held by Captain Black in his intelligence tent. His tactic - posing questions that defy answers. This led Group Headquarters to limit question-asking to individuals who didn't usually ask questions. The rule is issued by Colonel Cathcart and Lieutenant Colonel Korn, who also gave the green light to a skeet-shooting range, a sport at which Yossarian always misses. Dunbar, however, takes up skeet shooting precisely because he detests it. His peculiar theory is that by taking part in disagreeable activities, time slows down, in turn extending his lifespan. This theory is a subject of debate with Clevinger. Meanwhile, there's chaos among the officers in Rome, thanks to ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen's cryptic phone calls stating only "T. S. Eliot". His choice of words is a reaction to a colonel's memo remarking on the scantiness of profitable poets. Nonetheless, General Peckem misunderstands, thinking this is a secret message, which causes him a great deal of distress.

chapter 5

In a shared tent, Doc Daneeka, and Chief White Halfoat, an inebriated Native American, converse with Yossarian. Daneeka recounts his dishonest medical practice in Staten Island, focusing on a story about sexually confused newlyweds. Halfoat arrives and labels Daneeka as insane before sharing his family's saga of being unintentionally tracked by oil companies for their uncanny knack of settling on oil-rich land. This forced Halfoat's family into a life of constant relocation. Yossarian persistently requests Daneeka to ground him on grounds of insanity. Daneeka confirms the possibility of grounding him if he's crazy. Yossarian insists that he is indeed mad. Daneeka introduces him to Catch-22: a rule stating that a pilot can be grounded for insanity if he requests it. However, the paradox lies in the fact that a sane person wouldn’t want to fly dangerous bombing missions, thus questioning the sanity of the one making the request. Yossarian is intrigued and believes Daneeka, just as he had believed Orr about the existence of flies in Appleby’s eyes, despite it not making sense to him. Yossarian contemplates bombing missions and his despised role in the plane's nose, separated from the escape hatch by a narrow passage. He's perpetually scared during these missions and begs the pilot, McWatt, to dodge antiaircraft fire. He recalls a terrifying mission when Dobbs, the co-pilot, lost control and began shouting “Help him,” causing the plane to spin out of control. The chapter concludes with a mysterious revelation that Snowden was dying at the back of the plane.

chapter 6

Hungry Joe, despite having flown his required fifty missions, remains stranded as his homebound orders never arrive. His nightly screams are dismissed by Doc Daneeka, who is more concerned with his resentments about losing his clinic. Hungry Joe struggles with his uncontrolled passions and fruitless efforts to photograph naked women. To convince women to pose, he claims to be a renowned Life magazine photographer, a role he did play pre-war. As he completes his sixth tour of duty, Colonel Cathcart continually raises the mission count, keeping Hungry Joe from going home. His nightmares subside with each increase until he completes the increased number of missions. The narrator informs us about Colonel Cathcart's courage in assigning his men to perilous missions. Another squadron member, Appleby, mirrors this bravery in his Ping-Pong matches. Out of the blue, Orr, Yossarian's bunkmate, assaults Appleby during a game. This sparks a brawl, during which Chief White Halfoat breaks Colonel Moodus's nose, who is General Dreedle's son-in-law. Dreedle takes such delight in this mistreatment of his son-in-law that he repeatedly summons Halfoat to recreate the spectacle and relocates him to Doc Daneeka's tent to maintain his fitness. Yossarian receives a contradictory definition of Catch-22 from Ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen. This rule binds him to fly additional missions ordered by Colonel Cathcart, even though military regulations only mandate forty missions. The logic is that the regulations also stipulate Yossarian must follow all of Cathcart's directives, and Cathcart has once again increased the mission count, now to fifty-five.

chapter 7

Yossarian's pilot, McWatt, seems relentlessly happy despite the grim reality of war. His constant cheerfulness puzzles Yossarian, who considers McWatt, always polite, smiling and whistling show tunes, to be the most insane warrior in their unit. Doc Daneeka sends Yossarian a note about his liver condition, which instructs the mess hall to provide him with unlimited fresh fruit. Yossarian, fearing his liver might get better and force him to leave the hospital, avoids the fruit. Milo sees an opportunity and attempts to convince Yossarian to sell the fruit in the black market, but Yossarian declines. Milo confides in Yossarian about his ambition to provide the best meals globally in his mess hall and his worries concerning his cook, Corporal Snark, who previously poisoned his whole squadron by putting GI soap into the sweet potatoes. When Milo learns that a C.I.D. agent is probing a case of forgery involving the name of Washington Irving in censored letters, he becomes defensive. He assumes this is an effort to expose his black market dealings. Milo's plan is to form a syndicate among the men, an idea he attempts to demonstrate to Yossarian by pilfering McWatt's bedsheet, tearing it up and redistributing it. Yossarian is baffled by Milo's understanding of economics, which largely revolves around swindling his trading partners, followed by a claim of moral high ground.

chapter 8

Clevinger, despite usually comprehending war complexities, is baffled by Milo's scheme. Yossarian's memories drift back to their time in U.S. training under Lieutenant Scheisskopf, a man fixated on parades. Scheisskopf's wife and her friend Dori Duz were notorious for sleeping with all the men in his regiment. Clevinger, an object of loathing for Scheisskopf, is eventually brought to trial by a hostile colonel. The trial is a mess, as Clevinger struggles to proclaim his innocence amidst reprimands for incorrect forms of address. The hostility he faces from Scheisskopf and the colonel baffles Clevinger, as it surpasses any hatred he's experienced from enemy soldiers.

chapter 9

The story delves into Major Major Major's complex past. Named by his father as a joke, his peculiar name leads to an uncomfortable childhood. He's noted for his uncanny likeness to Henry Fonda and his academic prowess, which lands him under FBI surveillance for suspected communism. An IBM error results in him becoming a major on his first day in the army, perplexing his drill sergeant who then becomes his subordinate. Major Major gets assigned to aviation cadet training under Lieutenant Scheisskopf who, puzzled by the Major, hastens his training and sends him to Pianosa, home to Yossarian’s squadron. Major Major, now happy, is soon appointed as the squadron commander by a spiteful Colonel Cathcart, causing him to lose his peers who now kowtow to him. Previously an ordinary man with minimal friendships, Major Major spirals into a deep, uncomfortable gloom and isolates himself in his office. To alleviate his melancholy, he forges Washington Irving’s signature on official papers. He grapples with his relationship with Major —— de Coverley, his executive officer, unsure of their respective ranks. When a C.I.D. agent investigates the forgery scandal, Major Major denies all involvement, and the inept agent believes him. Another C.I.D. agent arrives to probe the first one. Major Major starts disguising himself when forging Irving's signature and occasionally uses "John Milton" for variety. One day, Yossarian confronts Major Major, pleading to be grounded. Major Major regretfully informs Yossarian that he is powerless to help.

chapter 10

Clevinger's aircraft is lost in a coastal cloud near Elba, assumed to be fatal. Yossarian, however, can't believe Clevinger's death, considering him mysteriously absent instead. We learn about ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen's history; he was often absent without leave back in America. His punishment was digging and filling up holes, which he saw as a patriotic duty. One time, he accidentally hit a water pipe causing a gush of water; everyone, including Chief White Halfoat who was present, took it for oil, so Halfoat and Wintergreen were transferred to Pianosa. Yossarian remembers Mudd, a soldier who died in battle before formally joining the camp. Mudd is a forgotten figure, but his belongings left in Yossarian’s tent were seen as “contaminated with death.” This triggers Yossarian's memory of the dangerous Bologna mission, where Colonel Cathcart had fearlessly put his men forward. Back then, even illness wasn’t enough to exempt soldiers. Dr. Stubbs, one of the medics, cynically questioned the purpose of preserving life when death was certain. Dunbar retorted that the aim was to prolong life, disregarding the certainty of death.

chapter 11

Captain Black is thrilled upon learning Colonel Cathcart's decision to send the men on the deadly Bologna bombing mission. He despises the men and revels in their horrifying assignment. His own ambition of becoming a squadron commander was thwarted when Major Major was chosen instead, leading him into a state of despair which only the Bologna mission could alleviate. Seeking revenge on Major Major, Captain Black commences the Glorious Loyalty Oath Crusade, demanding all men to pledge complex loyalty oaths even for simple tasks like eating. He excludes Major Major from signing any oath in an attempt to portray him as disloyal. However, this crusade ends abruptly when the intimidating Major —— de Coverley demands food in the mess hall, refusing to sign an oath, thereby putting a stop to the Glorious Loyalty Oath Crusade.

chapter 12

Continual rain delays the Bologna mission, with the men wishing it would persist. Yossarian, hoping to avoid the mission, deceives commanding officers by suggesting Bologna has been taken. He also induces diarrhea in the squadron by contaminating their meals. The rain resumes shortly after. Elsewhere, ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen vies with Milo in the underground market, offering Yossarian a cigarette lighter. He's shocked to learn Milo has monopolized the global Egyptian cotton trade, yet can't sell any. The prospect of bombing Bologna leaves the men in a state of dread and discomfort. Clevinger and Yossarian engage in a heated debate over Yossarian's responsibility towards the mission. By the second week of delay, the men are as gaunt as Hungry Joe. During one evening, Yossarian, Nately, and Dunbar, accompanied by Chief White Halfoat, embark on an alcohol-fuelled drive, ending in a jeep crash and the realization that the rain has ceased. In the tents, Hungry Joe attempts to kill Huple's cat, claimed to be the source of his nightmares. The men insist on a fair fight between Hungry Joe and the cat, ending with the cat's escape. Satisfied, Hungry Joe goes to sleep, only to be plagued by another feline nightmare.

chapter 13

Major —— de Coverley, an imposing figure with striking white hair and a fierce gaze, is feared by all and spoken to by none. His main role is to secure accommodations in conquered cities for his fellow soldiers on leave. Perplexingly, he's often seen in initial invasion photographs, baffling both adversaries and allies. Despite his powerful presence, Yossarian successfully tricks him, causing —— de Coverley to enter enemy-held Florence from where he hasn't returned yet. Milo, however, did manage to get —— de Coverley's approval to transport eggs using Air Force planes. In a previous incident, Colonel Cathcart awarded a medal to Yossarian. Yossarian had shown courage by taking two runs at a target, leading to the death of Kraft, a fellow young pilot, during the second attempt. Rather than reprimanding Yossarian for his recklessness, the superiors chose to award him a medal to avoid potential backlash.

chapter 14

When finally given permission to bomb Bologna, Yossarian has lost his will to engage. He feigns a malfunction in his plane's intercom and instructs Kid Sampson, his pilot, to return. They reach the abandoned airstrip just before sunrise, their moods gloomy. Yossarian dozes off on the beach and is awakened by the return of the planes. Not one has been damaged. He assumes that the city was spared due to cloud cover, anticipating another mission. However, he's mistaken. The city was bombed by the Americans without resistance, hence no casualties occurred.

chapter 15

Captain Piltchard and Captain Wren scold Yossarian and his crew without much effect for their retreat earlier and notify them about their need to bomb Bologna again due to their previous miss. Yossarian, assured of facing no antiaircraft fire, is shocked when the sky is filled with shrapnel. He quickly instructs McWatt to adopt dodging tactics and argues with the unusually upbeat Aarfy until the bombs are released. Despite many in the squadron losing their lives, Yossarian survives and their aircraft lands unscathed. Without delay, Yossarian heads for an urgent rest break in Rome.

chapter 16

Yossarian encounters Luciana, a stunning Italian lady, in a Roman bar. He treats her to dinner and dance, earning an invitation to her bed, but not immediately—she promises to visit his room the next morning. When she arrives, she refuses to sleep with Yossarian until she tidies up his messy room, criticizing him for his sloppiness. Eventually, she consents to sleep with him. Overcome with love, Yossarian proposes marriage to her. However, she declines, labeling him as insane because he's willing to marry a non-virgin. She reveals a scar, a memento of an American bombing raid on her town. Suddenly, Hungry Joe bursts in with his camera, forcing Yossarian and Luciana to get dressed quickly. They step outside amidst laughter, set to part ways. Luciana hands Yossarian her phone number, certain that he'll discard it because he's proud that a beautiful girl like her would sleep with him without charge. He questions her assumption but, once left alone, does exactly as she'd predicted—tears up her number. Regret soon follows his action. Upon discovering that Colonel Cathcart has increased the mission count to forty, a distraught Yossarian decides to head directly to the hospital.

chapter 17

Yossarian is back in the hospital, preferring its structured encounters with death over the chaos that comes with war. He's haunted by a past mission where Snowden died, pleading, “I’m cold.” His hospital mate, Dunbar, is also puzzled by the fully plaster-cast man known as the soldier in white. The patients debate life's randomness - some live, some die, some fall ill, and some remain healthy without any discernible reason. Previously, Clevinger attempted to justify this randomness, but Yossarian was preoccupied with his own survival. Later, Yossarian and Hungry Joe gather names of deadly illnesses they could potentially fake. Despite their efforts, Doc Daneeka often dismisses their claims and refuses to remove them from duty. Yossarian is told that following his fifty-five scheduled missions, his situation might be reconsidered.

chapter 18

Yossarian pulls a ruse during his initial hospital visit as a private, feigning stomachache. When the doctors declare him healed, he fakes a peculiar condition another soldier has, declaring he "sees everything twice." He passes Thanksgiving in the hospital and pledges to do the same every year. However, he breaks this promise when he spends the following Thanksgiving debating God with Lieutenant Scheisskopf’s wife in bed. After asserting he no longer has the double-vision ailment, he's asked to impersonate a deceased soldier whose family is unaware of his death. Dressing as the late soldier, Yossarian meets the soldier’s family who have come to visit him. The soldier's father implores Yossarian to inform God that it's unjust for young men to die prematurely.

chapter 19

Colonel Cathcart, fueled by ambition, intimidates the chaplain into leading a prayer before each bombing mission, a concept he borrowed from the -Saturday Evening Post. However, he discards this idea when the chaplain warns that God may retaliate if they exclude the enlisted men. The chaplain hesitantly brings up the grievances some men have against Colonel Cathcart for frequently increasing the number of missions they need to complete, but Colonel Cathcart pays no heed to him.

chapter 20

Returning home, the chaplain crosses paths with Colonel Korn, the cunning, skeptical right-hand man of Colonel Cathcart. Colonel Korn openly ridicules Colonel Cathcart and questions the authenticity of a plum tomato gifted to the chaplain by Colonel Cathcart. Upon reaching his tent in the forest, the chaplain confronts the antagonistic Corporal Whitcomb, a non-believer and his aide, who blames the chaplain for stalling his professional progress. Corporal Whitcomb informs the chaplain about a C.I.D. investigator who suspects him of falsely signing official documents with the name Washington Irving and of pilfering plum tomatoes. Unfortunate chaplain is gloomy, feeling powerless to make a positive difference in anyone's life.

chapter 21

Yossarian's actions, particularly his protest against the increased mission demands and his appearance at his medal ceremony in the nude following Snowden's demise, have caught Colonel Cathcart's attention. Yossarian, still affected by Snowden's bloody death in the rear of the aircraft, refused to don a uniform again. His dread of possibly not being able to enjoy the company of beautiful women again due to the hazardous Avignon mission led Yossarian to start a wave of moaning during the briefing. Colonel Cathcart wishes to find a solution to Yossarian's disruptive antics, hoping it would impress his superior, General Dreedle. However, General Dreedle's primary concern is his men's survival in sufficient military numbers while he travels with a voluptuous nurse. He is also constantly troubled by his son-in-law, Colonel Moodus, whom he detests and occasionally instructs Chief White Halfoat to punch. The narrator shares an incident where Colonel Korn attempted to undermine Colonel Cathcart by giving an ostentatious briefing to awe General Dreedle. However, General Dreedle was far from impressed and confessed to Colonel Cathcart that Colonel Korn's antics nauseated him.

chapter 22

The mystery surrounding Snowden's death is revealed. It's the shocking event that makes Yossarian lose his courage. On a mission after Colonel Korn's extravagant briefing, Snowden dies due to Dobbs' reckless flying. As Snowden succumbs, he begs for Yossarian's help, claiming he is cold. Dobbs is an inept pilot and emotionally unstable, and later confides in Yossarian about his intention to murder Colonel Cathcart before he increases the mission count again. Dobbs views this drastic step as his only recourse against Cathcart's recklessness. But when Dobbs seeks Yossarian's endorsement, he fails to get it, leading him to abandon his scheme. In another incident, Orr, Yossarian, and Milo embark on a supply run. During their journey, Orr and Yossarian start to comprehend the enormity of Milo’s illicit dealings and his global reach: he holds key political positions in several regions and is even worshipped as a deity in some African areas. His syndicate, whereby everyone gets a cut, has turned around their economies, earning him their adulation. Regardless, Orr and Yossarian are compelled to sleep in the aircraft while Milo luxuriates in grand palaces. They are abruptly roused in the middle of the night for Milo to speedily transport his shipment of red bananas to their next destination.

chapter 23

Nately finally finds his prostitute in Rome after a lengthy search. He encourages Yossarian and Aarfy to hire her friends, but Aarfy refuses, claiming he doesn't pay for such services. Nately's prostitute shows annoyance towards Nately, hurling insults at him. Hungry Joe joins them and the group leaves Aarfy, heading to the apartment where the women reside. There, they encounter numerous undressed girls. Hungry Joe is conflicted, either to absorb the sight or retrieve his camera. Nately gets into a debate about national pride and morality with an elderly resident in the building. The old man asserts Italy's superior position, since its occupation means no more Italians are losing lives in the war. He also mentions that America may not survive as long as frogs, which have existed for 500 million years. Nately, a patriot, fumbles to defend America's global dominance and the principles it upholds, but is unsettled by the old man's resemblance to his father. Nately's prostitute shows disinterest and leaves him to argue with the old man. When Nately eventually gets to be with his prostitute the next day, her younger sister interrupts them quickly.

chapter 24

Milo's influence expands massively by April, dominating the global black market and a significant chunk of the world economy. He utilizes air force planes from around the globe for his supply shipments, bearing the "M & M Enterprises" logo. While Milo claims everyone owns part of his syndicate, he ironically arranges for the Americans to attack the Germans and the Germans to retaliate against American planes. The same German guns Milo contracted even brought down Mudd, causing Yossarian to bear a grudge against him. Milo seeks Yossarian's aid to dispose of his vast stockpile of unsellable Egyptian cotton threatening to collapse his business. One evening, Milo's planes start to assault his own camp after securing a contract with the Germans. The surprise attack wounds and kills several men. The majority desire to dismantle M & M Enterprises, however, Milo reveals their enormous profits, leading most survivors to forgive him. As Yossarian observes Snowden's funeral from a tree, naked, Milo approaches him about his cotton problem. Milo hands Yossarian chocolate-coated cotton, attempting to pass it off as candy. Yossarian suggests Milo request the government to purchase his cotton, an idea Milo finds impressively smart.

chapter 25

The clergyman feels alienated as he isn't treated as an equal and his presence discomforts others. His leadership as a spiritual guide is inefficient, making him feel increasingly unhappy. His only solace are the divine visions he's experienced, including the image of a nude man in a tree at a funeral (this man being Yossarian). He is haunted by nightmares of his family dying violently while he's away. He attempts to discuss the escalating mission counts with Major Major but is denied access unless Major is absent. During a second visit attempt, he meets Flume, Chief White Halfoat’s former bunkmate, who is so terrified of being murdered in his sleep, he's taken to residing in the woods. The clergyman later finds out that Colonel Cathcart has rewarded Corporal Whitcomb with a promotion for an idea that the colonel thinks will get him featured in the Saturday Evening Post. The clergyman's attempts to socialize at the officers' club are routinely thwarted by Colonel Cathcart. Doubts begin to cloud the chaplain's mind, leading him to question everything, including his faith in God.

chapter 26

Nately falls for a prostitute while she's semi-naked among a crowd of uninvolved enlisted men. Despite his cash offers, she loses interest in him. Aarfy offends Nately by calling her a derogatory term. Coincidentally, Aarfy is navigating the flight when Yossarian gets injured by flak. In the hospital, Yossarian and Dunbar deceive others by switching identities, making others move beds for them. Dunbar assumes the role of A. Fortiori. Their ruse is discovered by Nurses Cramer and Duckett, the latter of which leads Yossarian back to his bed.

chapter 27

During a morning in the hospital, Yossarian acts inappropriately with Nurse Duckett, causing a commotion. He attempts to argue that he's insane, citing a recurring fish dream. He's set up to meet Major Sanderson, the resident psychiatrist. Yet, Sanderson seems more absorbed in his own dilemmas than those of Yossarian. During his hospital stay, his friends, including Dobbs who offers to murder Colonel Cathcart, visit Yossarian. Eventually, after Yossarian confesses his fear of being murdered and his inability to cope with the war, Major Sanderson deems him insane and orders him to be sent home. However, a previous identity confusion between Yossarian and Dunbar results in A. Fortiori being sent home instead. In anger, Yossarian approaches Doc Daneeka for help. But Daneeka refuses to ground him due to his insanity, rhetorically asking who would fight if all the crazy men got sent home.

chapter 28

Yossarian urges Dobbs to murder Colonel Cathcart, but Dobbs, having completed his sixty missions, anticipates returning home and sees no need to kill Cathcart. He suggests Yossarian seek Orr's help instead. Orr has recently crashed his plane again, this time due to faulty life jackets caused by Milo removing CO2 tanks for his ice cream sodas. Orr is now back, busy fixing a stove in their shared tent, and recommends Yossarian accompany him on a mission to learn crash landing tactics. Yossarian, however, is more concerned about a possible second mission to Bologna. Orr's constant noises annoy Yossarian to the point where he fantasizes about killing him, finding the thought soothing. During a conversation about women, Orr states they dislike Yossarian who retorts by calling them insane. Orr mentions Yossarian's reluctance to fly with him and offers to explain a past incident involving a naked girl and a shoe in Rome. Yossarian dismisses the offer humoredly. Orr’s subsequent mission results in another crash, this time resulting in him going missing after his raft drifts away.

chapter 29

The crew is unhappy to discover that General Peckem has added Colonel Scheisskopf, previously Scheisskopf, to his team. Peckem believes this acquisition will boost his power, outshining his competitor, General Dreedle. Scheisskopf is upset he can't bring his wife and that his usual afternoon parades are canceled. He quickly annoys his peers at Group Headquarters, prompting Peckem to bring him to an inspection of Colonel Cathcart’s team briefing. In the initial briefing, the crew grumbles upon hearing they must decimate an unprotected village without knowing the true motive— to flaunt superior aerial photography from their bombing patterns to General Peckem. Cathcart is taken aback by the sudden competition from another colonel when Peckem and Scheisskopf show up. Despite battling nerves and self-doubt, Cathcart leads the briefing and congratulates himself on handling the stressful situation well.

chapter 30

During a bombing sortie, Yossarian is overwhelmed by a distressing flashback of Snowden's death, causing him to panic. He threatens to kill McWatt who indulges in reckless tricks, unless he obeys orders. Despite fearing a backlash from McWatt, Yossarian finds him only worried about Yossarian's wellbeing post-mission. Yossarian has started dating Nurse Duckett and takes pleasure in their intimate moments on the beach. During their quiet times, he ponders about those who've perished in water, particularly Orr and Clevinger. Unexpectedly, McWatt, while humorously flying low over the beach, accidentally hits Kid Sampson with his plane's propeller, causing a gruesome scene. Back at the military base, the tragic incident engrosses everyone's attention. McWatt, however, instead of landing, continues to ascend in his plane. Despite Yossarian's desperate pleas for him to descend, he is certain McWatt will meet his end. And he does, by crashing into a mountainside. The incident greatly disturbs Colonel Cathcart, who, in response, increases the mission count to sixty-five.

chapter 31

Upon discovering that Doc Daneeka is supposedly deceased in the plane accident, Colonel Cathcart increases the mission count to seventy. In reality, Doc Daneeka is alive since he paid Yossarian to manipulate the records, making it appear he was on the fatal flight with McWatt to accumulate flight time. The news of his apparent death leaves Doc Daneeka shocked, and his wife in the US, who receives the death notification from the military, devastated. However, the prospect of lifelong monthly payments from various military sources and significant life insurance payments from her husband's policy lifts her spirits. Her friends' husbands start showing interest in her, leading her to dye her hair. In Pianosa, Doc Daneeka is excluded by the troop who attribute the increased mission frequency to him. He's barred from practicing medicine, making him feel as if he's dead in a way. He urgently writes to his wife, pleading with her to inform the authorities he's still alive. She ponders over this possibility, but when she receives a standard condolence letter from Colonel Cathcart about her husband's death, she relocates her children to Lansing, Michigan, leaving no forwarding address.

chapter 32

As winter sets in, Kid Sampson’s legs still litter the beach, untouched. Yossarian’s mind echoes with images of Kid Sampson’s legs and Snowden every dawn. Orr's absence ushers in four naive twenty-one-year-olds as Yossarian's new roommates, their youthful antics earning them his deep animosity. Despite his attempts to recruit Chief White Halfoat to intimidate the newcomers, Halfoat chooses to wait out his impending death from pneumonia in the hospital. Yossarian's protective instincts towards his men grow stronger until they thoughtlessly burn Orr’s birch logs and abruptly remove Mudd’s possessions from the tent. This sudden expulsion of the deceased Mudd triggers Yossarian's flight response, causing him to escape to Rome with Hungry Joe. This occurs just before Nately’s prostitute experiences a peaceful sleep for the first time, awakening to the realization of her newly discovered love.

chapter 33

In Rome, Yossarian yearns for Nurse Duckett and unsuccessfully hunts for Luciana. He joins Nately in an attempt to save his prostitute from some military officers who are keeping her hostage in their hotel room. After the successful rescue and a restful night, Nately's prostitute develops strong feelings for him, and they spend time together in bed until her younger sister joins them. Nately daydreams about taking both sisters back to the U.S., raising the younger one as his child. However, when he suggests that his prostitute should stop selling herself, a fierce argument breaks out. Despite the interference from others, Nately insists that they could all live in his father's suburb. He also wants his prostitute to cut ties with the elderly man at the hotel, making her more infuriated. After Nately departs, she misses him and becomes enraged with Yossarian for breaking Nately's nose with a punch.

chapter 34

Yossarian shatters Nately’s nose during a Thanksgiving fracas, provoked by Milo's intoxicating everyone on inexpensive whiskey. Awakened by the noise of machine guns, Yossarian initially panics, only to find out it was a jest. In his anger, he seeks revenge with his own gun, ending up hurting Nately who tries to intervene. The next day, guilt-ridden Yossarian visits Nately in the hospital. There, they encounter the chaplain who's made up a disease named Wisconsin shingles to get admitted. The chaplain seems happy, having learned to twist vice into virtue. However, their encounter with the mysterious soldier in white triggers a sudden uproar. Dunbar's alarm turns into a ward-wide scream fest. Nurse Duckett informs Yossarian about a conversation she overheard, of doctors planning to make Dunbar “disappear”. Alarmed, Yossarian searches for Dunbar, but he's nowhere to be found.

chapter 35

Chief White Halfoat dies of pneumonia while Nately completes his seventieth mission. Yossarian implores Nately to not take on additional mission, but Nately is determined to stay until he can bring his beloved prostitute home. Yossarian seeks assistance from Milo, who subsequently approaches Colonel Cathcart to get assigned for extra combat missions. Milo, who has been revealed as a dictator-like manipulator, seeks to increase his power. Posing as a remorseful soldier, he slyly requests Cathcart to assign him to riskier combat roles. Milo suggests that in his absence, someone else would have to manage the syndicate. Cathcart offers to help along with Colonel Korn. However, after Milo briefs him about the complex operations of the syndicate, Cathcart admits that Milo is the only capable person to run it and bans Milo from participating in any more combat missions. Cathcart also hints at increasing the required number of missions to eighty and insinuates that other soldiers might have to take on Milo's missions. Moreover, if any of them wins a medal, it would be given to Milo. The following day, an emergency siren signals the start of a new mission. This turns out to be an exceptionally lethal one, resulting in the death of twelve men, including Dobbs and Nately.

chapter 36

Grief-stricken by Nately's demise, the chaplain learns the news at the airstrip where the crew members come back from their assignment. Abruptly, military police apprehend him, accusing him of a vague crime. A colonel accuses him of forging a letter, the only proof being a letter Yossarian had deceitfully signed in the chaplain's name while in the hospital. The colonel further accuses the chaplain of theft and pretending to be Washington Irving. The attendees foolishly judge him guilty of unmentioned crimes they assume he's perpetrated, and instruct him to continue his duties while they deliberate his punishment. Infuriated, the chaplain confronts Colonel Korn over the rising mission quotas. He threatens to involve General Dreedle, but Korn gleefully informs him General Peckem has assumed command. Korn states that he and Colonel Cathcart have the power to dictate mission numbers—they even reassigned Dr. Stubbs, who had offered to ground anyone with over seventy missions, to the Pacific.

chapter 37

General Peckem's triumph turns bitter almost immediately. As he assumes the role of General Dreedle's previous command on day one, he discovers that Scheisskopf has risen to be a lieutenant general. Scheisskopf is given the reins of all combat operations, effectively becoming General Peckem's superior. Furthermore, his intention is to have each man under his command participate in marching parades.

chapter 38

Yossarian decides to walk backward to prevent anyone from surprising him from behind, and he adamantly rejects flying additional combat missions. Hearing about Yossarian's rebellion, Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn sympathetically send him to Rome, considering the loss of his friend Nately. In Rome, he informs Nately's prostitute about Nately's demise, and she retaliates by trying to kill him with a potato peeler. Her younger sister also attempts to harm him. After being attacked, Yossarian seeks refuge in a Red Cross facility. Upon his exit, he's once again ambushed by Nately's prostitute. She persistently follows him back to Pianosa, but he eventually drops her in a parachute at a remote location from his plane. Yossarian maintains his backward walk and word reaches others about his refusal to partake in further combat missions. Many soldiers express their support and hope he manages to avoid punishment. His superiors try to persuade him to continue flying by offering him safer missions, but he continues to refuse as it would mean endangering others. Upon learning from Captain Black that Nately's prostitute and her sister have been evicted by the military police, Yossarian becomes concerned for their welfare.

chapter 39

Milo and Yossarian head to Rome, where Milo's upset with Yossarian for declining further combat assignments. Rome is demolished, and the prostitutes' housing complex is deserted. An elderly lady, a former resident, is grieving. She discloses to Yossarian that the soldiers drove the women away under the pretense of Catch-22, which means “they have a right to do anything we can’t stop them from doing.” When asked if they provided her with a written copy of Catch-22, she reveals another Catch-22 rule—they aren't obliged to show it. Yossarian is aware that Catch-22 is fictional, but its perceived reality is all that matters. Milo agrees to help Yossarian locate a missing younger sister, but gets sidetracked by the lucrative illegal tobacco trade. He disappears, leaving Yossarian alone to explore the horrific night scene filled with cruel and repulsive acts: men attacking dogs and children, a soldier in uncontrollable convulsions, a woman assaulted, and human teeth scattered on the pavement. Upon returning to his apartment late at night, Yossarian discovers Aarfy has violated and murdered a housemaid. Military police storm in, apologize to Aarfy for the interruption, and arrest Yossarian for unauthorized presence in Rome.

chapter 40

Upon his return to Pianosa, Yossarian is offered a proposal by Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn. They are eager to have him sent back home, but Catch-22 is a hindrance. Their proposition is simple: Yossarian must feign affection for them, a promotion to major will be his reward, and he will be granted permission to return home. However, this comes with a caveat: he must endorse their ideals. Aware that this arrangement is a grave betrayal to his squadron, who must still endure eighty missions, Yossarian nonetheless convinces himself to accept. The thought of returning home brings him immense happiness. But as he exits Colonel Cathcart’s office, he encounters Nately’s prostitute in disguise as a soldier, who proceeds to stab him repeatedly until he loses consciousness.

chapter 41

In the medical ward, several doctors debate over Yossarian while a heavy-set, furious colonel questions him. Eventually, they anesthetize Yossarian and perform surgery. Upon waking, he senses Aarfy and the chaplain have visited him. He confides in the chaplain about his pact with Cathcart and Korn, firmly stating he won't proceed with it. He has a foggy memory of a sinister man snarling, “We’ve got your pal,” post-surgery. He confides in the chaplain again, speculating his “pal” might be a fallen comrade. He acknowledges his lone surviving friend is Hungry Joe, only to be informed by the chaplain of Joe's death—while asleep, smothered by Huple’s cat. Subsequently, Yossarian's consciousness is jolted by an intimidating man in hospital attire who sneers, “We’ve got your pal.” On inquiring about his pal's identity, the man cryptically replies that Yossarian will discover soon. He attempts to confront the man, who escapes and disappears. This triggers a vivid recollection of Snowden’s demise. A pale-faced Snowden whines, “I’m cold.” Yossarian attempts to comfort him, trying to bandage Snowden’s leg injury, convinced he will survive. However, when Yossarian unzips Snowden’s flak suit, Snowden's internal organs tumble out. The horrific sight reminds Yossarian of a harsh truth: “The spirit gone, man is garbage.” He contemplates the physicality of man, realizing that without spirit, man will decompose like waste.

chapter 42

While recuperating in the hospital, Yossarian tells Major Danby about his refusal to take the offer from Cathcart and Korn. He doesn't want to devalue himself or dishonor his deceased comrades. Yossarian reveals his intention to flee, but Danby responds with pessimism, which Yossarian accepts. Suddenly, the chaplain arrives with news of Orr's unexpected emergence in Sweden. Yossarian is thrilled, realizing Orr might have been scheming his escape the entire time. His hope rekindled, Yossarian asks the chaplain to bring him his clothes, deciding to leave the army behind and seek refuge in Sweden, far away from war's insanity. As he makes his exit, he is once again the target of a knife attack by Nately’s prostitute, leading him to flee into the open.