preview

John Yossarian Quotes

Decent Essays
Open Document

John Yossarian
Yossarian at first appears to be a paranoid and weak character. He believes that everyone is trying to kill him, and pretends to be sick in the hospital to avoid combat. His main goal throughout the war is to survive, and to escape the military.
“‘They’re trying to kill me’” (9).
Yossarian learns that Orr is alive and decides to run away to Sweden to escape the war.
Through Yossarian’s character, Heller satirizes the fact that not everybody involved in war is a hero. Although Yossarian contributes to the war effort and does his share, deep inside he is truly traumatized by the war and cannot bring himself to be brave. Unlike the others who put themselves on the line in battle, Yossarian’s paranoia causes him to hide in hospitals, pretending to suffer from sickness.
Chaplain
The Chaplain is …show more content…

Korn continues to manipulate and control Cathcart, but he does not want to go to a higher rank because he wants Cathcart to be his scapegoat for any wrong decisions.
Heller criticizes the power struggles that occur within the military. Korn, Cathcart’s inferior, manages to take control of Cathcart’s job without anybody noticing, and he does not admit to it because he is afraid of being blamed for anything wrong.
Clevinger
Clevinger is an optimistic character, which causes Yossarian to dislike him due to their opposite personalities. Yossarian believes him to be crazy because he does not believe that everyone is out to kill him, while Clevinger believes that Yossarian isolates himself from others too much.
“As far back as Yossarian could recall, he explained to Clevinger with a patient smile, somebody was always hatching a plot to kill him” (12).
Clevinger disappears after his plane flies into a cloud.
Hellinger satirizes those who find positivity in time of war. Clevinger, ironically, kept a positive mindset throughout, but he ultimately disappears, his future unknown.

Get Access