Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale, sad, sickly face with his fist and knock him out of existence because he brought to mind all the pale, sad, sickly children in Italy that same night who needed haircuts and needed shoes and socks.
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In "Catch-22," Yossarian experiences a profound sorrow for a poor individual, feeling an overwhelming urge to lash out violently against a face that symbolizes deeper societal issues. This intense emotion reflects not just personal frustration but a collective empathy for the suffering of many, particularly the impoverished children in Italy.
This reaction showcases Yossarian's acute awareness of the harsh realities around him and his struggle to reconcile his emotions with the injustices he witnesses. His desire to eliminate the representation of such pain suggests a complex interplay between empathy and helplessness in the face of systemic poverty.
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