CHAPTER 4: DOC DANEEKA

Summary

Doc Daneeka is unhappy about being called upon to do service in the war. He prefers staying at home and making money as a doctor. He lives in constant dread of being transferred to the Pacific theater. He hates flying but must spend some flight time every month to receive his pay. He has his name forged on McWattÂ’s flight log for trips to Rome. This gets Daneeka into trouble later, when McWatt crushes his plane and Daneeka is believed to have been on board.

Educational sessions are held for the men, at which they are allowed to ask questions. But the Air Force top brass are alarmed when Yossarian asks a question about Snowden, who had been killed in a mission over Avignon; the educational sessions are subsequently stopped.

Ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen, in the mailroom, identifies himself as T. S. Eliot on the phone to Colonel Cargill. Thus an entire new set of questions start circulating amid the higher officers. General Peckem is furious as he believes it is a prankster.

Notes

Daneeka is forced to fly although there is no real need. The rules are exposed as ludicrous. Daneeka has a mercenary mind. He prefers money to patriotism. The educational sessions are another bureaucratic flop. YossarianÂ’s questions are becoming more and more problematic and the authorities are unable to answer them. In this chapter, we get to know about General Dreedle and General Peckem, two inept officers whose orders are absurd.

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