How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #19
"Say uncle," they said to her.
"Uncle," she said.
"No, no. Say uncle."
"Uncle," she said.
"She still doesn't understand."
"You still don't understand, do you? We can't really make you say uncle unless you don't want to say uncle. Don't you see? Don't say uncle when I tell you to say uncle. Okay? Say uncle."
"Uncle," she said.
"No, don't say uncle. Say uncle."
She didn't say uncle.
"That's good!" (33.4-13)
The German officers have a twisted understanding of the word uncle. This compromises the integrity of meaning of words, and reminds us that Catch-22 absurdity is prevalent among the Germans as well as the Americans and Italians.
Quote #20
He [Milo] proved as good as his word when a rawboned major from Minnesota curled his lip in rebellious disavowal and demanded his share of the syndicate Milo kept saying everybody owned. Milo met the challenge by writing the words "A Share" on the nearest scrap of paper and handing it away with a virtuous disdain that won the envy and admiration of almost everyone who knew him. (35.13)
The scrap of paper with the words "A Share" means nothing because the enlisted men are not benefiting from Milo's syndicate. That each person admires Milo for handling the situation reveals his or her misplaced belief in words.
Quote #21
"Please," he urged her inarticulately with his arm about her shoulders, recollecting with pained sadness how inarticulate and enfeebled he had felt in the plane coming back from Avignon when Snowden kept whimpering to him that he was cold, he was cold, and all Yossarian could offer him in return was "there, there. There, there." "Please," he repeated to her sympathetically. "Please, please." (39.21)
Yossarian's repeated "please" means nothing to Nately's prostitute and does little to comfort her.