Colonel Korn Character Analysis in Catch-22

Cathcart’s assistant, Korn makes most of the strategic decisions that Cathcart then claims are his own. At the end of the novel, when Cathcart and Korn offer Yossarian a deal to be sent home, it is revealed that Korn has been more or less controlling his boss since the beginning of the war.

Colonel Korn Character Timeline in Catch-22

The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Korn appears in Catch-22. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...narrator. His commanding officers worry Yossarian asks too many questions; Colonel Cathcart and his assistant, Korn, make a rule that only soldiers without any questions are permitted to ask questions. (full context)

Yossarian’s night activity causes the higher-ups to believe the Army has advanced. Black reports to Korn who reports to Cathcart. No high-ranking officers seem to want to fly the bomb campaign... (full context)

...this. Cathcart wishes to promote Milo to thank him for his efforts as mess officer. Korn, his assistant, reminds Cathcart of the time they promoted Yossarian to Captain. (full context)

...order to cover their tracks, and make it appear that nothing went wrong, Cathcart and Korn decided to promote rather than reprimand Yossarian. Yossarian was surprised but accepted his new position. (full context)

...the campaign is his own self-interest and advancement in the ranks. Cathcart looks down on Korn—Korn’s family is middle-class, and Korn attended a state college—but without Korn he would be utterly... (full context)

...is upset that he didn’t make a stronger case on Yossarian’s behalf. He runs into Korn, who always makes fun of the chaplain for “only” being an Anabaptist. He calls the... (full context)

Korn asks where the chaplain got his plum tomato and seems not to believe it came... (full context)

...being surrounded by bushels of tomatoes in his office; they were purchased for him by Korn in an effort to corner the black market on tomatoes. Cathcart feels this might be... (full context)

...Moodus that, as general, he cannot order men shot. Dreedle seems surprised by this information. Korn takes Danby’s place in the meeting, having all the soldiers synchronize their watches. Korn delights... (full context)

Korn’s performance preceded the Avignon mission, the one that caused Yossarian to “lose his nerve.” The... (full context)

Dunbar, in particular, tells Korn, who stops by, that it would not be moral to kill non-soldiers without reason. Korn... (full context)

The chaplain runs into Korn outside the cellar, once he is released. He tells Korn he is horrified by the... (full context)

The chaplain finally gathers the courage to advocate on behalf of Yossarian, telling Korn that he will take the issue of the men’s number of missions all the way... (full context)

...vows not to fly any more missions. He announces this to Piltchard, Wren, Cathcart, and Korn. Cathcart suggests they disappear Yossarian, as they did with Dunbar, but Korn argues, instead, that... (full context)

...him in the night, congratulating him for the stand he is taking against Cathcart and Korn. Appleby and even Havermeyer, who loves flying missions, both tell Yossarian they hope he succeeds.... (full context)

...Aarfy, as Aarfy predicted. Yossarian is flown back to Pianosa and taken to Cathcart and Korn, who announce, swiftly, that Yossarian is to be sent home. (full context)

But there’s is a catch, of course—a catch-22. Cathcart and Korn tell Yossarian that he will be sent home only if he pretends that he is... (full context)

Korn, who takes this opportunity to ridicule Cathcart, and to demonstrate to Yossarian that he has... (full context)

...has been lying in wait for him once again. Yossarian is stabbed several times, until Korn and Cathcart emerge and frighten her off, thus keeping Yossarian from dying. (full context)

Yossarian is given total anesthesia and operated on. He wakes up to Korn, and then to the chaplain, visiting him once again in the hospital. The chaplain says... (full context)

...Yossarian informs the chaplain that it was merely Nately’s girlfriend. The chaplain says Cathcart and Korn have been telling the Nazi assassin story, making Yossarian sound like a hero. (full context)

Yossarian tells the chaplain of the deal he made with Cathcart and Korn in the previous chapter. The chaplain seems disappointed but tells Yossarian he must do what... (full context)

Major Danby arrives at the hospital and tells Yossarian that the deal with Korn and Cathcart is still on. Yossarian tells Danby he won’t accept it, that he should... (full context)

Danby says that, if Yossarian doesn’t accept, Cathcart and Korn will initiate a court-martial against him for his going AWOL to Rome. Yossarian believes he... (full context)

...missions—he can run away, deserting. He asks Danby how Danby can work with Cathcart and Korn, since Danby isn’t as cruel or self-interested as them. Danby replies that he’s only working... (full context)

...he would do in Yossarian’s place. Danby admits that being sent home by Cathcart and Korn is an attractive option, but it would make him a turncoat to his fellow soldiers,... (full context)