In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the character Colonel Cathcart exhibits a strong aversion to the name Yossarian, which he finds unsettling due to its multiple "s" letters. This reaction underscores Cathcart's paranoia and tendency to view things through a lens of suspicion. To him, the name carries connotations of rebellion and challenges authority, reflecting his fears of subversion and dissent within the military ranks.

The way Colonel Cathcart perceives Yossarian's name illustrates the broader themes of fear and control prevalent in the novel. Names, like Yossarian’s, become symbols of resistance against the established order, suggesting that even the simplest identifiers can evoke deep-seated anxieties about loyalty and conformity in a bureaucratic environment. This paints a vivid picture of the absurdity and irrationality of war, which Heller critiques throughout the story.