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. Oh, my God!
In this scene from Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," a humorous misunderstanding unfolds between a colonel and a corporal. The colonel, frustrated with the corporal, insists he wants to hear someone else's last line. The corporal, however, misinterprets the request and keeps reading back the same line. This creates a cycle of confusion and tension, highlighting the absurdity of their communication.
The colonel's anger escalates as he realizes that the corporal is not following his orders correctly. This exchange emphasizes the themes of miscommunication and the chaotic nature of military bureaucracy present throughout the novel, illustrating how even simple requests can turn into frustrating situations in the absurd world they inhabit.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
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!
