Yossarian's deal with Colonel Korn

Yossarian's deal with Colonel Korn is the novel's climactic confrontation between individual survival and institutional corruption. After Yossarian refuses to fly any more combat missions, Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn summon him to Group Headquarters and propose a bargain that would send him home in two weeks as a decorated hero—if he agrees to become their pal, say nice things about them, and keep silent about the reasons for his discharge. The deal is a trap disguised as a rescue, and Yossarian's initial acceptance, followed by his dramatic reversal, marks the moment he chooses authentic freedom over a comfortable lie.

The Offer and Its Catch

Colonel Korn, lounging on a corner of Colonel Cathcart's desk, greets Yossarian with the words "We're sending you home" and immediately acknowledges the catch: "Catch-22? Of course." The catch is that Yossarian must publicly pretend to like them. "Join us. Be our pal. Say nice things about us here and back in the States. Become one of the boys." Colonel Cathcart, lumbering about the office, blurts out that he would like to tie Yossarian hand and foot and throw him aboard a plane on every mission, but Colonel Korn silences him with a flick of his hand. The deal is presented as the only alternative to a court-martial for desertion from duty—a charge they could make stick because Yossarian went to Rome without a pass. Colonel Korn admits the deal is "odious" and "absolutely revolting," but predicts Yossarian will accept it quickly.

The Terms of Capitulation

The bargain is meticulously detailed. Yossarian will be promoted to major and given another medal. Captain Flume is already working on glowing press releases describing his valor over Ferrara, his deep and abiding loyalty to his outfit, and his consummate dedication to duty. He will be sent home a hero, recalled by the Pentagon for morale and public-relations purposes. He will live like a millionaire, with parades in his honor and speeches to raise money for war bonds. In return, Yossarian must tell the men that he had been informed in confidence that he was being returned to the States and that he was unwilling to risk his life for another mission or two—just a minor disagreement between pals. The official report will say he stopped a Nazi assassin from killing Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn, when in fact Nately's whore was trying to kill Yossarian himself. Colonel Korn explains that they cannot simply send him home for refusing to fly more missions and keep the rest of the men there; that would hardly be fair. The men are already unhappy because Yossarian has given them hope, and the blame is all his.

Yossarian's Acceptance and Immediate Aftermath

Yossarian arrives at his decision with a swift grin: "It's a deal!" He shakes hands with Colonel Korn, who tells him to call him Blackie, and with Colonel Cathcart, who tells him to call him Chuck. They are all pals now. Colonel Korn puts his hands on both their shoulders and says, "Exit smiling." Colonel Cathcart invites Yossarian to dinner that night in the group dining room. Yossarian waves goodbye fondly to his new pals and saunters out onto the balcony corridor, almost bursting into song. He is home free; his act of rebellion has succeeded; he is safe, and he has nothing to be ashamed of to anyone. But as he starts toward the staircase, a private in green fatigues salutes him, and when Yossarian returns the salute, the private turns into Nately's whore and lunges at him murderously with a bone-handled kitchen knife, catching him in the side below his upraised arm. He sinks to the floor with a shriek, and Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart dash out to save his life by frightening her away.

The Reversal: Yossarian Breaks the Deal

In the hospital, the chaplain brings Yossarian the news that the official report says he stopped a Nazi assassin from killing Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn. Yossarian reveals the deal to the chaplain, who is appalled. "But that's terrible! That's a shameful, scandalous deal, isn't it?" Yossarian agrees: "Odious. I think 'odious' is the word we decided on." The chaplain urges him to do whatever he thinks is right, and Yossarian declares, "I'm not going to do it." He cannot bear the thought of saving Colonel Cathcart's life: "That's one crime I don't want on my record." Major Danby later visits to confirm that the deal is still on, but Yossarian insists he is breaking the agreement. "I'm breaking my word." Danby warns that they will court-martial him for incompetence over Ferrara, insubordination, refusal to engage the enemy, desertion, rape, black-market operations, sabotage, and selling military secrets—all with witnesses they can produce. Yossarian remains defiant.

The Escape and Its Meaning

The chaplain bursts in with electrifying news: Orr has washed ashore in Sweden. Yossarian realizes that Orr planned it all along—he practiced getting shot down, rehearsed for it on every mission, and even paid the girl to hit him over the head with her shoe to make his escape credible. Yossarian decides to run away to Sweden himself. Major Danby protests that it is impossible, a geographical impossibility, but Yossarian is determined. He will try to find Nately's whore's kid sister in Rome and take her with him. Danby, after a moment's hesitation, urges him to go, pressing a thick wad of Italian currency into his hand. "It must be nice to be in Sweden now," Danby observes yearningly. Yossarian jumps out the door, narrowly missing Nately's whore's knife, and takes off. The deal is dead; Yossarian has chosen the uncertain, dangerous path of genuine escape over the comfortable prison of a corrupt bargain.