Catch-22

by

Joseph Heller

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Catch-22: Chapter 37 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Peckem is not able to celebrate his victory for long, however. He learns that Scheisskopf has also been promoted to general. Scheisskopf is now in charge of Special Services—Peckem recently transferred to combat command.
Scheisskopf appears only to rise in the military hierarchy, perhaps because his would-be opponents are not threatened by him, and have no problem, therefore, supporting his advancement.
Themes
Paradox and Impossibility Theme Icon
War and Bureaucracy Theme Icon
Communication and Miscommunication Theme Icon
Self-interest, Altruism, and Morality Theme Icon
Peckem also learns, to his great dismay, that combat command has been placed under the control of Special Services. This means that, not only is Scheisskopf a general, he is Peckem’s commanding general. And Scheisskopf’s first order is that everyone, in all groups, march in weekly parades. Peckem is horrified.
As it turns out, all of Dreedle’s and Peckem’s planning comes to naught—they are both superseded in the ranks by Scheisskopf, who appears to care only for parades, and not for the advancement he so effortlessly achieves.
Themes
Paradox and Impossibility Theme Icon
War and Bureaucracy Theme Icon
Communication and Miscommunication Theme Icon
Gallows Humor Theme Icon
Self-interest, Altruism, and Morality Theme Icon
Quotes