This is a brief listing of charcters in the book. If you need a blank chart for studying or character cards go here.
Character
Description
(Aarfy)Yossarian's navigator who pretends he can't hear Yossarian during the bomb runs.
Aarfy is later exposed as both cruel and criminal. He represents the insensitive man who will
probably succeed in civilian life - has no feelings or morals, so he can't be hurt.
A member of Yossarian's squadron who angers Orr while playing ping-pong.
They refer to him as having flies in his eyes.
The nasty intelligence officer for the squadron who frustrates Nately by
procuring Nately's whore. Just like
Senator Joseph McCarthy, hunting for Communists everywhere. Black = evil.
He is Peckem's subordinate in Special Services. His special talent is to turn
even sure successes into failures.
A full colonel who wants to be general in General Dreedle's outfit. Colonel Cathcart
keeps raising the number of missions and fears "black eyes" while hoping for
"feathers in his cap."
A members of Yossarian's squadron who has a dopey brain. He conducts
the educational sessions, is prosecuted by the Action Board, and dies in the Parma bomb run. One
dictionary meaning of the word "cleave" is to cling or hold fast to something. Clevinger holds
fast to the idea that military justice is fair and does not question his absurd trial.
The one-eyed procurer of R&R facilities for the officers and enlisted men. His Jehovah bearing
puts an end to the Great Loyalty Oath Campaign. Moses on the outside and as hollow as the Soldier in White
on the inside. He succeeds because appearances make the man, particularly commanding ones. His only admirable act -
the breaking of the Loyalty Oath Campaign - is done for the wrong reason.
She usually accompanies Nurse Duckett, especially when Duckett has beach dates with Yossarian.
The group operations officer, threatened with being shot by General Dreedle.
He later argues with Yossarian over idealism and helps Yossarian to leave.
The medical officer who first explains Catch-22 to Yossarian. He has arranged
to be listed on flight schedules, but doesn't fly. His "theme" is "What about me?"
The co-pilot who takes the controls from Huple on the Avignon mission
and who proposes Colonel Cathcart's assassination.
The blunt, irascible commander of a wing in the Meditarranean theater
of operations.
A ward nurse at the hospital at Pianosa who has a brief affair with Yossarian.
Yossarian's companion in the hospital who tries to make time pass slowly and who
is "disappeared" after the second episode with the soldier in white. He is a partially aware rebel,
like Yossarian. He cultivates boredom to increase his life span.
Lt. Scheisskopf's wife's promiscuous friend.
The officer who shares a trailer with Chief White Halfoat until the Chief threatens
to slit his throat and he moves into the woods.
The phrase a fortiori is used by logicians in reference to a
conclusion considered more certain than the premise it's based on. He is,
however, involved in illogical switches.
One of the two enlisted men who runs Doc Daneeka's medical tent, whose chief
"cure" is painting patients' gums and toes purple.
The half-blooded Indian from Oklahoma who obligingly punches Col. Moodus
in the nose for Gen. Dreedle and who "knows" he will die of pneumonia.
The lead bombardier who won't take evasive action. He takes Mudd's
pistol to his tent next to Yossarian's and shoots field mice.
Hungry Joe's roommate who's cat eventually kills Hungry Joe. He is the under-aged
pilot on the mission to Avignon.
The lustful squad member who invents the "famous photographer" line and has nightmares whenever
he's not scheduled to fly.
The assistant to Col. Cathcart. He is, by far, the most clever
of the two.
The pilot killed over Ferrara on the second run ordered by Yossarian.
He wanted "only to be liked."
The girl with the scarrred back whom Yossarian meets at the Allied Officers'
club and proposes marriage to.
A pilot, first Clevinger's and then Nately's roommate who heedlessly buzzes the squadron,
eventually killing Kid Sampson.
The squadron commander who will only see people when he is not in to see them.
Identity crisis - all kinds of disguises to escape responsibility and reality.
The mess officer turned syndicate head who masterminds a black market and
bombs his own men for profit. American capitalist, con-man extraordinaire - Everyone
has a share of the syndicate.
Gen. Dreedle's hated son-in-law who is taunted by the General's nurse and
punched by Chief White Halfoat.
The name of the dead man in Yossarian's tent, in turn the
reference to a pile of belongings eventually tossed out by
Yossarian's four new roomies.
The squadron member from a wealthy home, who loves a whore,
and argues with the diabolical old man. He is killed on the La
Spezia mission along with Dobbs.
The "satanic' man who wounds Major ____ de Coverley in the eye.
He runs a house of prostitution and changes his politics to meet the current situation.
Yossarian's "tinkering" roommate who nearly always has to ditch his plane.
His successful arrival in Sweden renews Yossarian's faith. Existentialist who
understands the system - knows that choices are available.
The general in charge of special operations, who, along with Col.
Cargill, plots to take over Gen. Dreedle's command.
They enjoy their work organizing combat missions.
One of Yossarian's pilots. Eventually he is killed by McWatt in a macabre accident.
A caricature of the extremes of the Freudian school of psychoanalysis.
Eventually General scheisskopf, he begins as the parade-crazy
assistant with the promiscuous wife.
An obnoxious corporal who puts soap in the men's food to prove they will eat anything.
The whole bandaged body in the hospital asserted to be Lieutenant Schmulker.
1) a symbol of death
2) a silent sounding board allowing people to get opinions off their chest
by talking at him
3) a puppet - one who is manipulated by the Establishment
4) a conforming, accepting, successful student - what goes in, comes out
5) a non-Existentialist embryo
A squadron gunner who dies in Yossarian's arms as Yossarian patches the wrong wound.
His "secret" haunts Yossarian unitl nearly the end. Innocent, pure, short-lived Snowden, whose death
returns him to his mother's womb, which he never really left.
A dedicated flight surgeon who willingly certifies men as unable to fly,
and is sent to the Pacific as punishment.
The kindly chaplain who befriends Yossarian.
The second of the two medics working under Doc Daneeka.
The chaplain's antagonistic and atheistic assistant, who dominates the submissive chaplain,
who starts the letter of condolence game, and is responsible for the CID investigation of
the chaplain.
The continually promoted and busted mail clerk at Twenty-seventh Air Force
Headquarters, who virtually runs the 27th by intercepting messages and forging answers.
Understands the world of Catch 22, but uses it mainly or solely for his own benefit.
Yossarian receives most of the attention of the novel, both as captain in the squadron,
a bombardier on flights, and a culprit/vistim of catch-22.