Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living... in the midst of violence. Although the Chaplain's a religious man, it's hard to maintain faith when you're living in the thick of World War II.
Visiting… Pianosa, Italy, where the 256th Squadron is currently located and fighting on the Italian front.
Profession… chaplain to the 256th. Because he doesn't do any actual fighting, a lot of people think the Chaplain has it pretty easy, but nothing could be further from the truth. True, the Chaplain doesn't kill anyone, but it's not easy trying to give spiritual counsel to a group of cynical, often shell-shocked soldiers.
Interests… distracting himself from the war. As a religious man, the Chaplain can't exactly engage in the common pastimes of drinking, gambling, and whoring. He worries constantly about his wife and children, and wonders how they’re able to get on without him.
Relationship Status… happily married. The Chaplain loves his wife dearly, describing her as "intuitive, gentle, compassionate and responsive," and he hates the fact that his wartime duties are keeping him from his family.
Challenge… retaining his faith in the face of violence and cruel bureaucrats. If it weren't bad enough that he's stuck in a warzone, the Chaplain is constantly bullied by his superiors, who seem to take great pleasure in making the mild-mannered man uncomfortable.
Personality… moral, but timid and full of self-doubt. The chaplain wants to do the right thing, but he often lacks the courage to stand up to his superiors. The Chaplain’s painfully aware of his own cowardice, and it’s caused him no end of self-hatred and self-doubt – helped along by his bullies. Still, in the midst of a brutal war, it's refreshing to see someone so genuinely devout and principled.
Get to Know him in...
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A bombardier in World War II tries desperately to escape the insanity of the war. However, sometimes insanity is the only sane way cope with a crazy situation. Catch-22 is a parody of a "military mentality" and of a bureaucratic society in general.
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Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he's assigned, he'll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.
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Pianosa Island, Italy, World War II. Bombardier John Yossarian tries to fulfill his duty, maintain sanity and return home as soon as possible, but incompetence and bureaucracy constantly stand in his way.
