The Brothel in Rome

The rise and fall of the enlisted men's brothel, a haven for the men that is eventually destroyed.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Major -- de Coverley rents apartments

The Establishment The Apartments Major -- de Coverley rents two apartments in Rome, one for officers and one for enlisted men. They are staffed with maids and cooks. The enlisted men's apartment becomes a brothel. The Girls Yossarian brings girls to the apartment. They live there, providing sex in exchange for shelter and food. The place is a paradise of debauchery. The Regulars Nately falls in love with one of the whores. Hungry Joe photographs them. The old man and old woman oversee the chaos. It is a world apart from the war.

Nately's love affair

The Transformation The Good Night's Sleep After a long sleep, Nately's whore wakes up in love with him. She becomes possessive and jealous. Nately is ecstatic. The Conflict Nately tries to reform her, forbidding her to hustle. She rebels. The old man mocks Nately's idealism. The relationship is tumultuous. The Kid Sister Nately also bonds with the kid sister, planning to send her to college. He sees a future with them. But the war intervenes.

The brothel raided

The Destruction The Empty Apartment Yossarian finds the apartment smashed. The old woman tells him the M.P.s chased the girls out, citing Catch-22. All the girls are gone, including the kid sister. The Loss Yossarian is devastated. He tries to find the kid sister but fails. Milo abandons him to pursue illegal tobacco. The brothel's destruction symbolizes the end of innocence. The Aftermath Yossarian is arrested for being in Rome without a pass. He is returned to Pianosa. The brothel is never rebuilt.

After the fall of Rome

After Nately's whore finally sleeps well and falls in love

After Nately's death, when Yossarian returns to Rome