Chaplain Tappman Character Analysis in Catch-22

The group’s chaplain, Tappman is a shy man who loves his wife and family, loves God, and wonders what exactly he is to do in the military. Although he is initially bullied by men like Cathcart, Korn, and Captain Black, Tappman decides that they cannot shake his faith or his commitment to helping his fellow officers to fly their missions safely and return home. The chaplain ends the novel encouraging Yossarian to flee.

Chaplain Tappman Quotes in Catch-22

The Catch-22 quotes below are all either spoken by Chaplain Tappman or refer to Chaplain Tappman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

What displeased Corporal Whitcomb most about the chaplain, apart from the fact that the chaplain believed in God, was his lack of initiative and aggressiveness.

Related Characters: Clevinger, Corporal Whitcomb, Chaplain Tappman

Related Symbols: Catch-22

Page Number and Citation: 212

Explanation and Analysis:

Goodbye, Yossarian . . . and good luck. I’ll stay here and persevere, and we’ll meet again when the fighting stops.

Related Characters: Chaplain Tappman (speaker), John “Yo-Yo” Yossarian

Related Symbols: Catch-22

Page Number and Citation: 463

Explanation and Analysis:

Chaplain Tappman Character Timeline in Catch-22

The timeline below shows where the character Chaplain Tappman appears in Catch-22. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...up creatively blocking out large portions of the letters. He signs one letter “A. T. Tappman, Chaplain,” and signs his own name as “Washington Irving” or “Irving Washington.” (full context)

A chaplain (Chaplain Tappman, as it turns out) arrives to speak with Yossarian, and to ask if... (full context)

...on the Washington Irving plot. Major Major, however, escapes their detection. The CID men believe Tappman, whose name was forged by Yossarian on one document, might be the true culprit. (full context)

The chaplain replies that this will be difficult to accomplish; most prayers make reference to God in... (full context)

As he leaves Cathcart, the chaplain is upset that he didn’t make a stronger case on Yossarian’s behalf. He runs into... (full context)

Korn asks where the chaplain got his plum tomato and seems not to believe it came from Cathcart. He implies... (full context)

Whitcomb feels that the chaplain lacks aggressiveness and “initiative.” Although Whitcomb is an atheist, he wants to expand the power... (full context)

Whitcomb asks about the chaplain’s meeting with Cathcart, and becomes offended that the chaplain won’t give him many details, and... (full context)

The chaplain tends to experience the world in three ways. First, he has feelings of déjà vu:... (full context)

The chaplain wonders which of these three ways of seeing applies to the vision he had, a... (full context)

Whitcomb tells the chaplain that he has been forging and censoring letters in the chaplain’s name, to “help” him... (full context)

The chaplain sees a naked man in the tree, while performing Snowden’s funeral service, and wonders who... (full context)

The chaplain begins having a crisis of faith. He wonders whether God exists, and whether he is... (full context)

The chaplain asks Yossarian whether he has ever had this feeling of déjà vu before, and what... (full context)

The chaplain is devoted to his beautiful, kind wife, and to his children. He begins worrying that... (full context)

The chaplain decides to advocate on behalf of Yossarian to Major Major, arguing that the soldiers should... (full context)

The chaplain walks back through the woods and runs into Whitcomb, his assistant, who claims just to... (full context)

Frustrated, the chaplain makes his way back to Major Major’s office and demands to see him. Sergeant Towser... (full context)

Walking back out into the woods, the chaplain, exhausted at this point from physical exertion, runs into Flume, Chief White Halfoat’s former tent-mate,... (full context)

...into Whitcomb again, who in the interim has been promoted to sergeant by Cathcart. The chaplain doesn’t understand how this is possible; Whitcomb informs him that he, Whitcomb, gained Cathcart’s support... (full context)

Later on, the chaplain begins going to the officers’ club more. Dreedle sees this and remarks on it to... (full context)

...get drunk at the club and, while making fun of Moodus, he notices that the chaplain is still present. He becomes angered that he is being “judged” by a member of... (full context)

During the hospital visit, Yossarian runs into the chaplain, who has faked an illness (Wisconsin shingles) in order to gain bed-rest. The chaplain, according... (full context)

The chaplain deeply grieves the death of Nately, with whom he had become friends. When the planes... (full context)

At this moment, members of the CID find the chaplain and whisk him away to a secret location, urged on by Black and Whitcomb, who... (full context)

The CID officers escorting the chaplain claim that, although they don’t know what the chaplain did, he must have done something... (full context)

...asked to provide a handwriting sample, but the CID officers claim this sample isn’t the chaplain’s handwriting, even though he has written it in front of them. They argue that the... (full context)

The chaplain denies all these charges as completely ridiculous. They claim that they want to “beat his... (full context)

The chaplain runs into Korn outside the cellar, once he is released. He tells Korn he is... (full context)

The chaplain finally gathers the courage to advocate on behalf of Yossarian, telling Korn that he will... (full context)

The chaplain says he has spent a lot of time praying—he is trying to reclaim his faith.... (full context)

Yossarian tells the chaplain of the deal he made with Cathcart and Korn in the previous chapter. The chaplain... (full context)

The chaplain also tells Yossarian that Hungry Joe has died—in his sleep, of constant nightmares. This means... (full context)

The chaplain leaves. Yossarian wakes up in the middle of the night and hears a sinister man... (full context)

...desert and go to Sweden. This is where Yossarian resolves to go. He orders the chaplain and Danby to get his clothes and ready him for departure. (full context)

The chaplain, who entered the room during Yossarian’s conversation with Black, is greatly excited for Yossarian’s escape.... (full context)

...Yossarian is making a courageous choice, and gives him some money for the journey. The chaplain wishes Yossarian a bon voyage and continues to plan, aloud, how he’ll punch Captain Black,... (full context)

Catch-22

Chaplain Tappman Character Analysis

Chaplain Tappman Quotes in Catch-22

Chapter 20 Quotes

Chapter 42 Quotes

Chaplain Tappman Character Timeline in Catch-22