Topic > Catch-22 Plot Summary

Catch-22 begins with Yossarian faking a liver ailment to stay in the hospital and avoid returning to combat. While Yossarian is there, the chaplain visits him and he likes it. The chaplain is also comfortable talking to him, and Yossarian invites him to come back again. The narrator then introduces a wide range of characters, which include: Clevinger, a Harvard graduate who ends up mysteriously disappearing while flying; Orr, Yossarian's wily roommate; Milo, a mess officer who eventually creates a successful business; Havemeyer, who likes the danger of missions; McWatt, who likes to fly dangerously low; Nately, who is the son of a rich businessman and has fallen in love with a prostitute in Rome; and Chief White Halfoat, a Native American officer determined to die of pneumonia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Yossarian goes to ask Doc Daneeka to ground him, but he refuses and tells him it's because of Catch-22. Dr. Daneeka says that those who are insane can be grounded if they ask, but because Yossarian asked it proves that he is sane enough to fly. Only those who are willing to keep flying are crazy enough to stay on the ground. While General Dreedle and Peckem argue with each other and don't care at all about winning the war, Colonel Cathcart continually increases the number of missions his men carry out. they are required to fly. Being in his squadron, Yossarian finds this to be unfair as other squadrons are not required to do this, Cathcart and his assistant Colonel Korn do not care. Colonel Cathcart worries about being promoted to general while Colonel Korn focuses on promotion to full colonel. Cathcart volunteers his men to carry out a dangerous mission in Bologna, and Yossarian tries to avoid the mission for as long as possible. However, Yossarian ends up flying there anyway and barely manages to survive as his plane as his plane is constantly bombed by anti-aircraft fire. After the mission, Yossarian quickly leaves for Rome and briefly spends the night with Luciana. As the story progresses, unfortunate events continue to happen as characters begin to disappear or die. Dunbar disappears after causing chaos at the hospital yet again, McWatt flies into a mountain after accidentally killing Kid Sampson by flying his plane too low above the lake, and Nately, Dobbs, and Havermeyer are killed during their mission to La Spezia. I am devastated to hear that these disappearances and deaths are becoming more and more frequent. He also sees the price of the increasing number of missions on Yossarian and goes to meet with senior officials such as Colonel Korn and Cathcart. However, they ignore his requests and, in the end, the chaplain is even tried and investigated for the case of forgery of the writing "Washington Irving" on official documents. He is eventually freed, but as time passes his faith in God begins to be questioned. He ultimately decides to believe in God and continue to oppose his superiors to help Yossarian and the other soldiers. After seeing his friends disappear one after another, Yossarian begins to change his mind. At first he was content to avoid his duties. However, as the story progresses, he begins to feel that the increased number of missions is unnecessary, especially since the war is nearing its end. After returning to Rome for one last visit and seeing it in total destruction, Yossarian decides not to fly any more missions. Many soldiers begin to hear about it, including Colonel Cathcart and Korn.