Catch-22 Isolation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

Yossarian winced and closed his eyes so that he would not have to look at his brother John. He began to feel sick.

"Now see how terrible he looks," the father observed.

"Giuseppe," the mother said.

"Ma, his name is Yossarian," the brother interrupted her impatiently. "Can't you remember?" (18.114-117)

In his charade as the dying Giuseppe saying goodbye to his family, Yossarian almost begins believe he is Giuseppe. He refers to John as "his brother" and even feels bad for causing him pain. On the other hand, the family believes he is their Giuseppe. The brother even claims to recognize Yossarian's name. The two identities seem to merge until they almost become indistinguishable.

Quote #11

The chaplain lived alone […]. Sounds of revelry traveled to him at night from the officers' club and kept him awake often as he turned and tossed on his cot in passive, half-voluntary exile. (20.26)

Colonel Korn isolates the chaplain from the enlisted men by forcing him to live alone on the outskirts of the camp. This alienates the poor, shy man from the officers who would do well to be influenced by his faith and virtue. But the chaplain is too timid to protest.

Quote #12

[Aarfy:] "We used to ostracize everyone, even each other." (23.9)

Ostracizing means excluding people. This causes isolation and alienation because those ostracized often feel left out and targets of discrimination.