Now, where were we? Read me back the last line.''Read me back the last line,' read back the corporal who could take shorthand.'Not my last line, stupid!' the colonel shouted. 'Somebody else's.''Read me back the last line.' read back the corporal.'That's my last line again!' shrieked the colonel, turning purple with anger. 'Oh, no, sir,' corrected the corporal. 'That's my last line. I read it to you just a moment ago. Don't you remember, sir? It was only a moment ago.
In this excerpt from Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," a humorous and chaotic exchange occurs between a colonel and a corporal. The colonel, frustrated and angry, demands the corporal to repeat the last line he just heard, but the corporal misinterprets the request. Instead of acknowledging the colonel's last line, he insists on referring to his own, creating a confusing and comical situation. This reflects the absurdity and miscommunication prevalent in military settings, a central theme in the book.
The interaction highlights the struggles with authority and the breakdown of communication that often arise in bureaucratic systems. The colonel, overwhelmed by anger, cannot grasp the corporal's perspective, while the corporal remains unaware of the colonel's frustration. This scene encapsulates the book's exploration of the illogic of war and the pitfalls of rigid hierarchical structures, ultimately showcasing Heller's critique of military life.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
