Catch-22

Now that Chapters 12-20 have recounted the Great Big Siege of Bologna and followed Yossarian to the hospital (back to where the novel opened), the narrative now jumps back to the chronological “present” month in 1944.

Increasingly, Colonel Cathcart is concerned about the “menacing problem” (173) of Yossarian and his frequent complaints. Not only does Yossarian continually harass the colonel about the mission quota, but that impudent incendiary also somehow appeared naked during a medal ceremony, humiliating the colonel; Cathcart is astounded that this same troublemaker could also be awarded a medal for bravery. Yossarian has also caused other men to moan during an earlier mission briefing.

Korn has persuaded Cathcart to grow tomatoes and sell them on the black market. The colonel also has a large secret farmhouse in the hills, which Korn arranged for him and which the two of them sometimes use as a waystation for their black-market goods. Cathcart hates spending time there. He’s unsure whether the farmhouse is legal, but he accepts Korn’s assurance, and he is “in no position to disagree” (174). While cataloging the pros and cons of his recent actions, Cathcart wonders whether Yossarian is to blame for all the drawbacks.