Snowden's Death and Its Impact

The death of Snowden reveals the brutal truth about war and mortality, haunting Yossarian.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The mission to Avignon

The Flight The Dive Dobbs seizes the controls, causing a terrifying dive. Yossarian's headset is torn off. He hears Dobbs pleading for help for the bombardier. The Cry Snowden's voice comes over the intercom: "I'm cold." Yossarian crawls back to help him. The First Wound Yossarian finds Snowden with a leg wound. He treats it, thinking it is the only injury.

The secret revealed

The Horror The Second Wound Snowden points to his armpit. Yossarian opens his flak suit and sees a massive wound. Snowden's insides spill out. The Secret Yossarian realizes the secret: man is matter. The spirit gone, man is garbage. This is the ultimate truth of war. The Aftermath Yossarian vomits. He covers Snowden with a parachute. He is forever changed. The memory haunts him.

The lasting trauma

The Haunting The Naked Protest Yossarian refuses to wear a uniform. He is haunted by Snowden's death. He sees the world differently. The Recurrence Snowden's death is recalled whenever Yossarian faces danger. It motivates his refusal to fly. It is the core of his existential crisis. The Resolution Yossarian's decision to run away is partly a response to Snowden's secret. He chooses life over meaningless death.

During the Avignon mission

During the same mission, after treating the leg

After the mission, throughout the rest of the novel