along with the women, retain some ability to think and try to live out decent values. Yossarian puts it undramatically nearthe end: 'I wouldn't want to live without strong misgivings' (p. 441).Yossarian is sometimes hysterical, as when he screams at McWatt to take evasive action from German anti-aircraft flak after bombs away. He even strangles him atone point. He also has ideas of reference. Since the impersonal forms of persecution have such life-threatening effects, they might as well - better - be seen asvendetta rather than anonymous (p. 170-71). But for the most part he lives in the depressive position, for example, with compassion for insensitive, boisterous newflyers. 'And it wasn't their fault that they were courageous, confident and carefree. He would just have to be patient with them until one or two were killed and therest wounded, and then they would all turn out okay' (p. 343). He was also very clear about how very mixed his motives were for refusing to fly any more missions,and he could candidly admit that it didn't make fully logical sense (p. 392). So, even though he managed to live in the depressive position more than the others, helost it from time to time. Nevertheless, when they thought he was crazy he was usually nothing of the sort, as his interview with the psychiatrist hilariously shows (pp.297-8). He admits to all the symptoms he is accused of having. He is unable to adjust to the idea of war, has a morbid aversion to dying, suffers from survivalanxieties, is depressed by misery, humiliation, ignorance, slums, violence, greed, crime, corruption. The list of symptoms covers a page, and Yossarian - in touch withall this pathology - freely admits he is crazy in an these ways (pp. 297-8). He was even obsessed by death and dreamed and daydreamed about it (pp. 312, 339,340). All of this is most ironic, since he was the squadron's most admired hero, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for going over Ferrera tw...
