Chaplain Tappman
Encyclopedia
Chaplain
Captain Albert Taylor Tappman (A.T. Tappman) (usually simply referred to as "The Chaplain") is a fictional character in Joseph Heller
's novel Catch-22
. He was called Chaplain R(obert) O(liver) Shipman in the first edition
.
minister from Kenosha, Wisconsin
, who is tormented throughout the novel by his atheist assistant, Corporal Whitcomb. While easily intimidated by the cruelty of others, the chaplain is a kind, gentle and sensitive man who worries constantly about his wife and children at home. He is the only character in the book Yossarian
truly trusts, and interestingly the novel opens with:
He is timid and shy, and only through his friendship with Yossarian does he feel comfortable. In particular he enjoys the company of Yossarian and his friends at the staff club, until he is thrown out by Colonel Cathcart
after General Dreedle is embarrassed by him.
Also of note is that the Chaplain and Yossarian have the first characteristic Heller-like circular dialogue in the novel:
of the novel, the Chaplain identifies himself as "Chaplain Tappman", and is apparently embarrassed by the unfortunate rhyme. This may have been a gratuitous joke thrown in by the writer, Buck Henry
, which was subsequently adopted by later editions of the book in the USA. British editions retain the name "R.O. Shipman".
that have been dispatched to the squadron are convinced that the Chaplain has been intercepting Major Major Major Major
's mail and signing documents Washington Irving
or Irving Washington. Yossarian has been abusing his duty of censoring letters sent home by the enlisted men, and signing those names to the letters he vandalises
, except once where he signs "I yearn for you tragically. A. T. Tappman, Chaplain, U.S. Army". (Note that Yossarian's duties involve censoring enlisted men's letters; the chaplain is an officer.) This vandalism brings the C.I.D.
down to the base.
Later on, Major Major Major Major begins signing those names to official documents, after he discovers that when he does, he never sees them again. Before they would always return with more attached documents to deal with.
These suspected acts of protest result in the Chaplain being interrogated at length by the C.I.D. investigators
in the final chapters of the book. They find him guilty of all his "crimes"; since they're his crimes, he must have committed them. They also find him guilty of all the charges against him that they haven't thought of yet. Then they release him. This is actually worse than being jailed, because he never knows when he will be grabbed again.
When Yossarian tells the Chaplain that someone came into his hospital room to torment him with the words "We've got your pal!", the Chaplain replies "Well, I'm your pal and they've certainly got me." At the end of the novel, all Yossarian's other friends are dead, or, like Doc Daneeka
, reduced to bureaucratic zombies. Only the Chaplain remains, and he has definitely been got (although in the last paragraphs he announces his intent to "stay here and persevere").
in the 1970 film adaptation of the novel
directed by Mike Nichols
.
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
Captain Albert Taylor Tappman (A.T. Tappman) (usually simply referred to as "The Chaplain") is a fictional character in Joseph Heller
Joseph Heller
Joseph Heller was a US satirical novelist, short story writer, and playwright. His best known work is Catch-22, a novel about US servicemen during World War II...
's novel Catch-22
Catch-22
Catch-22 is a satirical, historical novel by the American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953, and the novel was first published in 1961. It is set during World War II in 1943 and is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century...
. He was called Chaplain R(obert) O(liver) Shipman in the first edition
First edition
The bibliographical definition of an edition includes all copies of a book printed “from substantially the same setting of type,” including all minor typographical variants.- First edition :...
.
Character overview
He is a naïve AnabaptistAnabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
minister from Kenosha, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, who is tormented throughout the novel by his atheist assistant, Corporal Whitcomb. While easily intimidated by the cruelty of others, the chaplain is a kind, gentle and sensitive man who worries constantly about his wife and children at home. He is the only character in the book Yossarian
Yossarian
This article is about a "Catch-22" character. For the meerkat from "Meerkat Manor", see List of "Meerkat Manor" meerkats - Yossarian.Capt. John Joseph Yossarian is a fictional character and protagonist in Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22 and its sequel Closing Time...
truly trusts, and interestingly the novel opens with:
- It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him.
He is timid and shy, and only through his friendship with Yossarian does he feel comfortable. In particular he enjoys the company of Yossarian and his friends at the staff club, until he is thrown out by Colonel Cathcart
Colonel Cathcart
Colonel Cathcart is a character in Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22.A full colonel, he is a group commander at a U.S. Army Air Corps base in Pianosa and is obsessed with becoming a general...
after General Dreedle is embarrassed by him.
Also of note is that the Chaplain and Yossarian have the first characteristic Heller-like circular dialogue in the novel:
- "You're a chaplain," he exclaimed ecstatically. "I didn't know you were a chaplain."
- "Why, yes," the chaplain answered. "Didn't you know I was a chaplain?"
- "Why, no. I didn't know you were a chaplain."
Name versions
In the original version of the book, Chaplain Tappman was called "Robert Oliver Shipman". In the 1970 film versionCatch-22 (film)
Catch-22 is a 1970 satirical war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel, it was the work of a talented production team which included director Mike Nichols and...
of the novel, the Chaplain identifies himself as "Chaplain Tappman", and is apparently embarrassed by the unfortunate rhyme. This may have been a gratuitous joke thrown in by the writer, Buck Henry
Buck Henry
Henry Zuckerman, better known as Buck Henry , is an American actor, writer, film director, and television director.-Early life:...
, which was subsequently adopted by later editions of the book in the USA. British editions retain the name "R.O. Shipman".
C.I.D. investigation
The C.I.D. investigatorsC.I.D. Investigators
The C.I.D. Investigators are characters in Joseph Heller's classic novel Catch-22.-Overview:While the protagonist Yossarian is in the hospital during the opening of the novel, he is forced to censor letters written by enlisted men in the same hospital. This soon becomes monotonous and he begins...
that have been dispatched to the squadron are convinced that the Chaplain has been intercepting Major Major Major Major
Major Major Major Major
Major Major Major Major is a fictional character in Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22.-Fictional character biography:He has the surname Major, and at birth his father gave him the first and middle names Major and Major, informing the mother that he had named the boy 'Caleb' in accordance with her wishes...
's mail and signing documents Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
or Irving Washington. Yossarian has been abusing his duty of censoring letters sent home by the enlisted men, and signing those names to the letters he vandalises
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
, except once where he signs "I yearn for you tragically. A. T. Tappman, Chaplain, U.S. Army". (Note that Yossarian's duties involve censoring enlisted men's letters; the chaplain is an officer.) This vandalism brings the C.I.D.
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
down to the base.
Later on, Major Major Major Major begins signing those names to official documents, after he discovers that when he does, he never sees them again. Before they would always return with more attached documents to deal with.
These suspected acts of protest result in the Chaplain being interrogated at length by the C.I.D. investigators
C.I.D. Investigators
The C.I.D. Investigators are characters in Joseph Heller's classic novel Catch-22.-Overview:While the protagonist Yossarian is in the hospital during the opening of the novel, he is forced to censor letters written by enlisted men in the same hospital. This soon becomes monotonous and he begins...
in the final chapters of the book. They find him guilty of all his "crimes"; since they're his crimes, he must have committed them. They also find him guilty of all the charges against him that they haven't thought of yet. Then they release him. This is actually worse than being jailed, because he never knows when he will be grabbed again.
When Yossarian tells the Chaplain that someone came into his hospital room to torment him with the words "We've got your pal!", the Chaplain replies "Well, I'm your pal and they've certainly got me." At the end of the novel, all Yossarian's other friends are dead, or, like Doc Daneeka
Doc Daneeka
Doc Daneeka is a fictional character in the novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.Doc Daneeka is the squadron physician and a friend of the novel's protagonist, Yossarian. "Catch-22" itself is first explained in the novel when Yossarian asks Doc Daneeka to excuse him from combat duty...
, reduced to bureaucratic zombies. Only the Chaplain remains, and he has definitely been got (although in the last paragraphs he announces his intent to "stay here and persevere").
Film
Chaplain Tappman was portrayed by Anthony PerkinsAnthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was an American actor, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Friendly Persuasion and as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho , and its three sequels.-Early life:...
in the 1970 film adaptation of the novel
Catch-22 (film)
Catch-22 is a 1970 satirical war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel, it was the work of a talented production team which included director Mike Nichols and...
directed by Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols is a German-born American television, stage and film director, writer, producer and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate...
.