Post #1: There's Only One Catch, and it's a Catch-22!

This past week in English, we finished up our summer project, Catch-22, by Joseph Heller. We read and annotated over the summer and then when we got back to school, we discussed and wrote essays about the book. As a class, we discussed the many instances of irony, symbolism, and Snowden's death, but something we didn't really touch on how funny this book is. Most of the humor came from complete absurdity, but I digress. There were some points where I had to put the book down because my giggling was distracting me from the novel (and disrupting the whoever I happened to be sitting next to as well). So here, in no particular order, ten of the funniest bits of Catch-22, according to me:

Note- I own the Dell 1980s-ish edition. All page numbers correspond with my copy.

1. Chapter 33, where the officer's keeping Nately's Whore are harassed by Nately, Yossarian and a couple others. The officers all walk around naked, because Dunbar throws the officer's clothes into the courtyard.   

"General, we're in a very bad strategic position. We haven't got a stitch of clothing, and it's going to be very degrading and embarrassing for the person who has to go downstairs through the lobby to get some"

"Yes, Filpo, you're quite right," said the general. "And that's exactly why you're the one to do it. Get going." 

"Naked, sir?"

"Take your pillow with you if you want to. And get some cigarettes, too, while you're downstairs picking up my underwear and pants, will you?"

"I'll send everything up for you," Yossarian offered. 

"There, General," said Filpo with relief. "Now I won't have to go."

"Filpo, you nitwit. Can't you see he's lying?"

"Are you lying?"

Yossarian nodded, and Filpo's faith was shattered. 

2. T.S. Elliott. Or almost any other time Ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen opens his mouth. (Chapter 4)

3. Anytime Milo tries to explain investing and/or the syndicate to other characters. (Especially Chapter 7)

4. The fact that one of the characters is named Shithead. Schiesskopf roughly translates to Shithead in German. (Chapter 8)

5. Shithead's Parades and his extreme obsession with said parades. (Also Chapter 8)

6. Hungry Joe vs. Huple's cat. (Chapter 12)

7. Anytime anyone called someone else crazy or a "crazy sonofabitchinbastard" (page 156) or pazzo. Because all of the terms applied to all of the characters at some point.  (Chapter 5. The word crazy is used over 20 times.)

8. Thanksgiving. Or anytime anyone got even a little drunk. (Chapter 34)

9. The Anabaptist Chaplain continually being called 'Father'. (Chapter 36)

10. Anytime the higher-ups try to out-do and out-smart and out-perform each other. (Entire

Novel)

So there you have it. The whole book is pretty funny, but these were the parts that got me to at least chuckle quietly.

Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

D