Yossarian and Nately

Yossarian and Nately form one of the novel's most poignant friendships, a bond that begins in the hospital and deepens through shared experiences in combat and Rome. Their relationship is defined by a stark contrast in temperament: Yossarian, cynical and survival-obsessed, and Nately, a wealthy, idealistic nineteen-year-old who believes in honor and country. Despite their differences, Yossarian becomes a reluctant protector and confidant to the younger man, a role that culminates in tragedy and lasting guilt.

First Meeting and Early Dynamics

Yossarian first learns of Nately through the chaplain, who visits him in the hospital and mentions that "Lieutenant Nately sends his regards" . Yossarian is disappointed to hear they have a mutual friend, immediately labeling Nately "a bit loony" . This early skepticism sets the tone for their relationship: Yossarian sees Nately as naive and dangerously idealistic, a young man who has not yet learned to fear the war. Nately, in turn, is drawn to Yossarian's rebelliousness, even as he tries to restrain him. At the officers' club, Nately repeatedly pleads with Yossarian to stop provoking fights, whispering "Yossarian, please" and begging him to "cut it out" . Yossarian's argument with Clevinger about the war—where Yossarian insists "They're trying to kill me" and Clevinger counters that "They're trying to kill everyone" —establishes the philosophical divide that Nately will later come to understand.

The Bond Deepens: Rome and the Whore

The relationship intensifies during their rest leaves in Rome, where Nately falls hopelessly in love with a bored prostitute. Yossarian becomes an unwilling confidant and advisor, listening to Nately's maudlin lamentations and lending him money when he runs out . Yossarian's advice is practical and cynical: "Why don't you just pay her some money to let you spend the rest of the day with her?" . When Nately's whore rejects him, Yossarian tries to comfort him, saying "Don't worry about it. You'll probably be able to find her again" . Nately's response—"Please don't call her that" —reveals his romantic idealism, which Yossarian both mocks and envies. Their friendship is tested when Yossarian punches Nately in the face on Thanksgiving Day, breaking his nose . The blow is a result of Yossarian's blind rage at a prank involving machine-gun fire, but it also reflects his frustration with Nately's refusal to see the war's absurdity. Nately, however, does not hold a grudge; he checks into the hospital and later beams in "frightened surprise" when Yossarian comes to apologize .

Nately's Death and Yossarian's Guilt

Nately is killed in a mid-air collision over La Spezia , a death that devastates Yossarian. The chaplain, upon hearing the news, sees Yossarian's "vivid, beaten, grimy look of deep, drugged despair" and understands immediately that Nately is dead . Yossarian's grief is compounded by guilt: he had tried to dissuade Nately from flying more missions, but Nately insisted, saying "I've got to fly more missions. Otherwise they'll send me home" . Yossarian had even prayed for Nately not to volunteer , but his prayers went unanswered. The guilt manifests violently when Yossarian breaks the news to Nately's whore in Rome. She attacks him with a potato peeler, screaming "Bruto!" , and Yossarian realizes she holds him responsible for Nately's death. He does not defend himself, understanding that "Why the hell shouldn't she?" . Her relentless attempts to kill him become a physical manifestation of his own guilt.

The Legacy of the Friendship

Nately's death becomes a turning point for Yossarian, hardening his resolve to refuse further combat missions. When Major Danby argues that Yossarian should accept Colonel Korn's deal to be sent home a hero, Yossarian refuses, saying "I've got friends who were killed in this war. I can't make a deal now" . Nately is among those friends, and Yossarian's refusal to betray his memory is a moral stand. The relationship also shapes Yossarian's final act: his decision to run away to Sweden is partly motivated by a desire to save Nately's whore's kid sister, a twelve-year-old girl left alone in Rome after the brothel is raided . Yossarian tells Danby, "There's a young kid in Rome whose life I'd like to save if I can find her. I'll take her to Sweden with me if I can find her" . This impulse to protect the vulnerable, to break the chain of inherited tragedy, is a direct legacy of his friendship with Nately, who had loved the girl's sister. In the end, Yossarian's escape is not just an act of self-preservation but a continuation of the protective role he had played for Nately, now extended to the next generation.