“Yossarian was cold, too, and shivering uncontrollably. He felt goose pimples clacking all over him as he gazed down despondently at the grim secret Snowden had spilled all over the messy floor. It was easy to read the message in his entrails. Man was matter, that was Snowden’s secret. Drop him out a window and he’ll fall. Set fire to him and he’ll burn. Bury him and he’ll rot, like other kinds of garbage. That was Snowden’s secret. Ripeness was all.”
This quote is from pretty much the end of Catch-22, however occurs chronologically right before chapter 1, as this is the reason Yossarian goes into the hospital. The death of Snowden was mentioned many times throughout the novel, usually in conjunction with the dead man in Yossarian’s tent, though neither fully explained for a long time. Yo Yo only has one goal throughout the whole novel and it is to stay alive, as he believes everyone is out to get him, which is true. He spends more time figuring out how to delay missions and avoid flying than basically anything else in the novel.
Yossarian understands the inevitability of death when Snowden is severely injured while on a mission. He acts immediately, attempting to bandage Snowden’s leg and to comfort the young boy. Yossarian realizes that Snowden’s entire stomach contents have spilled out and right after, Snowden dies. In the quote, Yossarian sees the truth, that humans are just matter, and will eventually all rot away like garbage. It is somewhat positive though as the last part of Snowden’s secret is that Ripeness was all. Death is unavoidable, but a piece of fruit is best when eaten ripe. Snowden showed Yossarian how precious a life is in a world that doesn’t make sense.
Great American Novels 