Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Catch-22. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Yossarian refuses a deal that would send him home as a hero in exchange for praising his colonels. After learning that his friend Orr secretly escaped to Sweden, he runs away to try to join him, dodging a knife-wielding woman as he goes.
Quick facts
– Book: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
– First published: 1961
– Type: A satirical war novel
– Tone of the ending: Darkly comic and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Yossarian, an American bombardier in World War II, wants to stop flying missions, but his colonels keep raising the number required. Catch-22 says that anyone who asks to be excused for insanity must be sane. Friends die one by one, and the death of the young gunner Snowden, whose wound Yossarian tried to treat, haunts him.
What Happens at the End of Catch-22
Yossarian refuses to fly any more missions. Colonels Cathcart and Korn offer him a deal: go home as a hero if he agrees to “like” them and support their policies. He first accepts, then is stabbed by Nately's whore, who blames him for her boyfriend's death. In the hospital he finally remembers Snowden's death clearly. He rejects the deal. When he hears that Orr, who kept crashing his plane, has turned up in Sweden, Yossarian realizes Orr was practicing escape all along and runs off to follow him.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Yossarian refuses to be used as propaganda.
- The full Snowden memory explains his despair.
- Orr's escape shows that getting out is possible.
- The ending is an act of personal rebellion.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Yossarian | Deserts to try to reach Sweden |
| Orr | Escapes to Sweden |
| Colonels Cathcart and Korn | Lose control of Yossarian |
| Milo Minderbinder | Keeps profiting from the war |
What the Ending Means
The ending says that the only sane response to a system without logic is to refuse it. Yossarian chooses his conscience over his career.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see the escape as hopeful, while others think it is a fantasy, since Sweden is very far away. The open ending lets both readings stand.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Bureaucracy. Catch-22 traps people in rules that cannot be beaten.
Survival. Yossarian's goal is simply to stay alive.
Conscience. He rejects a deal that would betray his dead friends.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Catch-22 as darkly comic and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Joseph Heller to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are darkly comic and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Joseph Heller closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1970 film and the 2019 Hulu series both end with Yossarian escaping, though the series changes his final scene.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Catch-22 with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about bureaucracy, and do you agree with Joseph Heller's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as darkly comic and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces bureaucracy and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Joseph Heller leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Catch-22 often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Catch-22 earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Catch-22 on Amazon
Books to Read After Catch-22
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- **M*A*S*H** by Richard Hooker
Related: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Catch-22 You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Catch-22?
Yossarian refuses a deal that would send him home as a hero in exchange for praising his colonels. After learning that his friend Orr secretly escaped to Sweden, he runs away to try to join him, dodging a knife-wielding woman as he goes.
Is the ending of Catch-22 happy or sad?
Most readers call it darkly comic and hopeful.
What does the ending of Catch-22 mean?
The ending says that the only sane response to a system without logic is to refuse it.
Is the ending of Catch-22 the same in the adaptation?
The 1970 film and the 2019 Hulu series both end with Yossarian escaping, though the series changes his final scene.
Who wrote Catch-22 and when was it published?
Catch-22 was written by Joseph Heller and first published in 1961.
Is Catch-22 worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy satirical war novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Joseph Heller prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Catch-22 before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.