In this intense moment from Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the character Snowden expresses his vulnerability, shivering and proclaiming his coldness. Yossarian, witnessing the dire situation, is also consumed by a profound chill that reflects his despair. As he looks at Snowden's body, he confronts a grim realization about human existence and mortality.

The visceral imagery reveals the harsh truth that without life, the human body is reduced to mere matter, subject to the same fate as any organic waste. Snowden's fate symbolizes the fragility of the human spirit, underscoring a bleak commentary on life and death. The passage encapsulates the existential themes of the narrative, suggesting that when stripped of spirit, humanity becomes nothing more than trash, reinforcing the notion that life and its essence are transient.