John Yossarian

Capt. John Yossarian is a fictional character, the protagonist of Joseph Heller's satirical novel Catch-22 and its sequel Closing Time. In Catch-22, Yossarian might be a 28-year-old captain in the 256th squadron of the Army Air Forces where he could serve as a B-25 bombardier stationed on the small island of Pianosa off the Italian mainland during World War II. Yossarian's exploits are based on the experiences of the author: Heller was also a bombardier in the Army Air Corps, stationed on an island off the coast of Italy during World War II.

In Catch-22 the author introduces Yossarian as a soldier in World War II with an Assyrian heritage. His first name appears to be "John", since late in the novel Colonel Korn says to him "Call me Blackie, John. We're pals now."

The exotic name "Yossarian" was chosen by Heller to emphasize his protagonist's detachment from the mainstream military culture. Yossarian's name is described as being "an odious, alien, distasteful name, that just did not inspire confidence." It was "...not at all like such clean, crisp, honest, American names as Cathcart, Peckem and Dreedle."

As to the origins of the name itself, "Heller admitted in later years that the name 'Yossarian' was derived from the name of one of his Air Force buddies, Francis Yohannan – an Assyrian – but that the character of Yossarian himself was 'the incarnation of a wish' (Now and Then 175-6)."

Throughout the novel, Yossarian's main concern is the idea that people are trying to kill him, either directly (by attacking his plane) or indirectly (by forcing him to fly missions), and he goes to great lengths to stay alive.

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