# Help me read 'Catch-22'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 7, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084 "2008-06-07T01:14:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084/41 "2008-06-10T00:19:35Z")

</div>

What about Orr? At least he was taking concrete steps (albeit somewhat wasteful of matériel) towards his survival. And in the end, he is the one who gives Yossarian the impetus to make his own break for freedom.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084/42 "2008-06-10T00:19:43Z")

</div>

It is possible that Orr is also as sane as Yossarian.

He supposedly escapes to Sweden. Possibly his constant crash landings and the rowing incident are practice for his final escape. He pretends to be crazy like Yossarian to escape notice but isn’t so insistent on seeking a discharge he knows is not coming. He makes comments suggesting he has a plan, which Yossarian ignores until later. IIRC he says something about finishing the stove before a particular times, which is when he finally disappears.

Edit: curse you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084/43 "2008-06-10T00:23:20Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror]  
It is possible that Orr is also as sane as Yossarian.

He supposedly escapes to Sweden. Possibly his constant crash landings and the rowing incident are practice for his final escape. He pretends to be crazy like Yossarian to escape notice but isn’t so insistent on seeking a discharge he knows is not coming. He makes comments suggesting he has a plan, which Yossarian ignores until later. IIRC he says something about finishing the stove before a particular times, which is when he finally disappears.

Edit: curse you!  
[/QUOTE]  
Great minds, etc., etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084/44 "2008-06-10T01:40:55Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=Shoeless]

I’ve also seen the movie once or twice although it’s been a number of years. Believe it or not, it actually does help me keep some characters straight by remembering who played them in the movie.  
[/QUOTE]

I support that the movie is well worth watching. I wasn’t disappointed in it at all, it’s actually rather faithful to the book. Yossarian’s response to the tower direction that opens the movie is perfect.

The camera pans down a row of Liberators (right?) Each pilot gives a thumb and a nod. Pan down to Yossarian in the nose, sharply presenting an upraised middle finger.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-read-catch-22/452084.md?page=2)