Essay Q&A1. How are women treated in Catch-22? The maid in the lime-green panties in Rome sleeps with whichever men want to have intercourse. “Her allure stemmed from her accessibility; like Mt. Everest, she was there, and the men climbed on top of her each time they felt the urge” (143). This description is not …
BiographyJoseph Heller was born on May 1, 1923, in Coney Island, New York. His father died when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and two older siblings. When World War II began, Heller became a blacksmiths helper in Virginia. He then entered the Army, and finally the U.S. Air Force in …
“Theyre trying to kill me,” Yossarian told him calmly. “No ones trying to kill you,” Clevinger cried. “Then why are they shooting at me?” Yossarian asked. “Theyre shooting at everyone,” Clevinger answered. “Theyre trying to kill everyone.” “And what difference does that make?” p. 25 Yossarian explains to his friend why he is not crazy …
Opportunism vs. Idealism While some texts criticize idealism and others criticize pragmatism, Catch-22 criticizes both. Neither extreme makes sense. In the war, when everything is a matter of life and death, priorities become clearer. Joseph Heller makes the point that idealists are foolish and opportunists are awful. Nately is the most foolish of idealists, and …
Aarfy Aarfy is insensitive to his friends and terrible to women. He rapes and kills a maid and does not understand why this is a problem. He angers Yossarian because he always has a dopey smile on his face when he mocks other people. Captain Black Black likes to see other people unhappy. He sleeps …
Orrs Escape The image of Orr, paddling with a tiny oar in a lifeboat, escaping to Sweden has captured the imagination of generations of readers. Orr is not just fleeing the armed services; he is refusing to participate in a system with which he disagrees. This text was published in 1961, when the United States …
Chapter 41 – 42 Finally, the whole story of what happened to Snowden is revealed. Yossarian went to the back of the plane to help dress his wound. He did a good job stopping the bleeding and bandaging Snowdens thigh wound and told him he just had to hang on till they go to the …
Chapter 39 – 40 Yossarian goes to Rome without permission to look for the prostitutes little sister. He wants to help her, but as he roams the streets of Rome he gets depressed. He sees all sorts of helpless, victimized people that neither he nor anyone else tries to help. When he gets to the …
Chapter 35 – 38 Nately finishes the seventy missions required to be sent home. He chooses to remain and keep flying missions so he can be near the prostitute he loves, but even if he did not want to, it would not matter, because Colonel Cathcart raises the number of missions to eighty. Cathcart does …
Chapter 31 – 34 Natelys prostitute finally falls in love with him when he rescues her from men holding her captive and refusing to let her sleep. All she needs is a good nights sleep to wake up in love with Nately. She is angry and confused when he tries to get her to give …
