Chief Bromden has made it clear that he has a pretty serious mental illness which makes him view the world in a very unique way. One thing that he has avoided up until now though is how his life outside of the mental ward has influenced him. Let’s take a closer look at the significance of this flashback occurring now in the novel.
Reader #1-Bromden remembers something about his childhood. Before he remembers, he is about to sign the list for the fishing trip but he is afraid it will blow his cover that he is faking that he is deaf. This is clear in the text when: “Bromden wants to sign the list, but he is afraid to blow his deaf-and-dumb cover, realizing that he has to “keep acting deaf if [he] wanted to hear at all.” (Kesey part 3) This relates to the childhood memory he thought of. He remembered that when he was a child he spoke to people that came to his home, but they acted like he had not said a word. I think he thought of this memory because it relates to the fact that he is acting deaf. He is acting deaf because he doesn’t feel he will be heard if he speaks, and he hears more when he is deaf because people think he can’t hear anyways. Reader #2-The flashback to Bromden’s childhood was a significant moment for his character. This moment is important because it represents something that he remembers. He hasn’t had a memory of his childhood in a long time. It was about his Dad; he was selling land to three people. When Bromden spoke to them, they seemed like they didn’t hear him. Bromden thought back when, “About 10 years old” and he was “in front of the shack”(Kesey 210). This is meaningful to him because it was a memory with his dad and childhood that never occurs to him. Nothing has reminded him it until that moment. Reader #3-Chief Bromden has a flashback to his childhood. This flashback is when he is little a group of people come and are trying to take over his indian land. This is like the ward how McMurphy is trying to get rid of the nurse. His flashback explains his last name and the difficult childhood he had and how it might make him the way he is today. “As my sociology professor used to emphasize, there is generally one person in every situation you must never underestimate the power of” This is a good quote to relate to the ward and nurse ratched vs McMurphy. This flashback is meaningful to bromden, because it is the first time he has ever witnessed the brutality of people and what they can do. Reader #4-In Part III Chief has a significant experience, he is able to remember something from his past. This started with Chief remembering that he was not the one that started acting deaf, in fact he just felt he was never heard. This triggered a flashback to his childhood and the day the government came to his tribe’s camp to appraise the property so they could buy it and build a dam on the waterfall they were on. This flashback could have been triggered by the huge changes in the ward, or him asking himself why he chose to start acting deaf and mute. Either way this was an important and meaningful moment for Chief because he was “amazed that I’d remembered that. It was the first time in what seemed to me centuries that I’d been able to remember much about my childhood.”(Kesey 215). Reader #5-In the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Bromden had a flashback and remembered something. Bromden remembers that people came over to talk to his dad about buying the land.”But someone should inform them of the government's plans” (Kesey 212).This is significant because this is the first time he remembered something from his childhood. This is meaningful to Bromden because he is slowly starting to remember things from his past and about his family. Before he had his flashback he was going to sign something but he couldn’t so he can hide his deafness. Slowly Bromden is starting to regain some memories he has from his past.
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After Part II of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the people we encountered have become much more complex and have a lot more depth. What new things have we learned about human nature at this point?
Reader #4-There are many different people in the ward. Most of them are very quiet and some are very loud. Some of these people see the world as a scary place some people just don’t care. The thing that has stood out the most is the way that McMurphy is reacting to different things, and to Miss ratched. On page 159 it says ‘’He’d won his bet, He’d got the nurse’s goat the way he said he would, and collected on it,but that didn’t stop him from going right ahead and acting like he always had, hollering up and down the hall, laughing at the black boys, frustrating the whole staff, even going so far as to step up to the big nurse.’’ There they are talking about how McMurphy acts way different than any other person in the ward. He’s not afraid of the black boys or the big nurse, nobody else in that ward would ever do that because their scared of what’s gonna happen to them. McMurphy’s actions differ from any other person in the ward. He’s confident in what he says and what’s gonna happen, everybody else is just scared. You would think that if someone was placed in a mental ward, one of the main goals of the doctors and nurses would be treatment right? Well we all know that the ward in the novel might not be the greatest place to get that treatment. Despite this, we do see a lot of changes in McMurphy from the beginning of the story. Is it the ward causing this or something else? Let’s take a look at what is happening.
Reader #1-In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest McMurphy changes the asylum forever. McMurphy has the opportunity to conform the the rules and save himself,but he chooses to fight for the men in the ward. After Cheswicks death McMurphy takes a turn when he realizes nurse ratched’s control is a life or death matter. McMurphy wants to change the ward and take away power from nurse ratched, but little does he know the danger hes in. McMurphy then totally loses it when Billy commits suicide and McMurphy tries to strangle nurse ratched to death. He goes to the hospital and when he comes out his spirits and parts of his brain are gone. McMurphy finally realized the danger in the ward and tried to change it. Reader #2-McMurphy’s behavior is starting to change as the book continues. However, the readers can really start to see the change as part II progresses. He used to talk out during the meetings, annoy the Big Nurse, and try to get the other patients to rebel against the authority figures. In this section though, McMurphy starts to come down and stops trying to get the best of Nurse Ratched. “He looked at McMurphy’s corner. Everyone did. McMurphy was there, studying the deck of cards that slid in and out of sight in his hands. He didn’t even look up”(Kesey 172). This shows that McMurphy didn’t care about the discussion, or try to get his way over the Nurse’s decisions. It’s not the treatment he is receiving that is bringing this change to McMurphy. The only thing that is making McMurphy change is the ward itself. He is starting to get “cagey” as Chief would describe it. He feels trapped in a corner like there is no hope of ever getting out of the ward. Reader #3-In part II of the book, McMurphy starts to act differently than he did before. Whenever he was assigned a chore he would do it very sloppy and not clean other areas of an object that he’s supposed to clean. But then, “The next day he surprised everybody on the ward by getting up early and polishing that latrine till it sparkled, and then went to work on the hall floors when the black boys asked him to.”(Page 172) Now the only thing that could’ve influenced McMurphy’s change is when he found out that the big nurse had the say in who and when someone gets released from the ward. This change seems to be voluntary due to him cooperating more respectively towards the big nurse and the staff. Now there’s not much benefit for McMurphy to be in the ward, except to get away from the farm he worked on as he said in part I, but one benefit might be to make new friends and see what’s life like for others possibly. So overall, McMurphy had changed the way he acted because of how he acted towards the big nurse, without knowing what she could do to make him stay at the ward for as long as she sees fit. Reader #4-McMurphy is starting to change, and it’s a lot different from the kind of attitude he normally has. He seems scared and frightened by the Big nurse. he seems upset when him and Harding speak about the Big Nurse and the shock shop. he says “ Then i just happened to find out about the way the nurses have the big say as to who gets discharged and who doesn’t.” (Kesey 193). He’s realizing that messing with the big nurse may not be the best idea if he eventually wants to get out of the ward. Mcmurphy is in the ward because he wanted to get away from the work he had to do before as punishment. He had goals of going to the ward and being able to experience something different, eat better food, and to have a good time messing around because he knew he wasn’t “mental” This change in him brought out a new side to him that he probably didn’t even think he had. fear. The words that Harding had to say were definitely influential in McMurphy’s attitude change. Reader #5-In part II, McMurphy is starting to change his character. “I know she's suspicious. I thought she might be too upset by the way McMurphy defied her to pay any attention to me, but she don’t look shook at all” (Kesey 152). McMurphy was not acting himself; he’s always happy, outgoing, and tries to make everyone feel the same as him. He’s perceived as a disturbance to the ward now. I think this attitude might be his response to the treatments he’s been having. I think they’re unnecessary for him to be receiving treatments. Some people in the ward thinks he needs to be placed in the disturbed ward, but some think he’s just ordinary with a bold personality. He might be acting different due to all the negativity he gets from the others. Reader #6-McMurphy is starting to change his actions and how acts toward the nurse. After he has a conversation with the lifeguard at the pool. He soon realizes what he has gotten himself into. The fact that nurse is still in charge, means he has to listen to her or never leave! the ward may help McMurphy appreciate life a lot more now that he knows how it feels to be controlled. I would say that although his attitude is changing because of the nurse, it is not forced. McMurphy decides to change voluntary, although if he keeps fighting her, the results would dramatically affect the outcome of his life. As much as I think he likes all the free benefits of the ward he can't stand the policy. McMurphys is not giving up or in hes learning. Reader #7-In part two of the Book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest a tragic event happens to Cheswick. When Cheswick Dies from keeping his fingers in the pool drain and drowns it was no one's fault. We know for a fact That Cheswick Drowned because in the text it states, “with the grate still clutched by his chubby pink and blue fingers, He was Drowned.” I do not believe that Cheswicks possible suicide was anyone's fault. I believe that the drowning of him was all because the conversation of the rationing of cigarettes. It isn’t McMurphy and Ratchets fault. Also i think this incident can be fuel by the mental problem he had. Whether it is deserved or not, when something bad happens people feel the need to look for someone to blame. After the tragedy involving Cheswick, there is a lot of uncertainty of who is at fault. While we may never know why this tragedy happened, let’s think about what might have influenced the event.
Reader #1-I think what happened to cheswick was a possible suicide, although things lead to believe it could have been an accident. He was the first to support mcmurphy's rebellion. He died after mcmurphy did not support cheswick when he took a stand against nurse ratched. This could prove it might have been a suicide. Because of mcmurphy not supporting him, he felt unlistened to and unimportant. I think if mcmurphy would've listened to him and helped him out, cheswick would still be here. Mcmurphy realized how powerful he actually is and might use this to his advantage later on. Reader #2-cheswick is one of the first acutes to side with mcmurphy against nurse ratched’s power. an acute is a patient that seems to be “curable”. cheswick committing suicide showed mcmurphy that he has a lot of power and control over the men. from that being said i believe that mcmurphy is most at fault for cheswick killing himself. charles says “But just as soon as we got to the pool he said he did wish something mighta been done, though, and dove into the water.” (kesy 187). like i said before mcmurphy is the main suspect in my list. his influence would have caused cheswick to commit suicide. Reader #3-Early in the book, we figure out that Cheswick is an acute. McMurphy and him became good friends, and played cards together. When McMurphy decided he was going to go against Nurse Ratched, Cheswick was right there to support him. Cheswick wanted to cause chaos in the ward one day about cigarettes with Nurse Ratched. Although, McMurphy wasn’t up for it. In the book it says Cheswick wasn’t mad at McMurphy for not supporting him, but then Cheswick jumped in the pool getting his fingers stuck in the drain and what it seems to be, drowned himself after saying he wishes “something mighta been done...” In my opinion it was definitely suicide. McMurphy never realized how much influence he had on these patients, especially Cheswick. The fact that Cheswick was his sidekick in a way, and McMurphy didn’t support him on that one little thing, really got to Cheswick I imagine. Reader #4-In this section of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, something terrible happens to Cheswick. When He dove into the pool, after getting out of disturbed, his fingers got stuck in the grate and he drowned. Nobody has ruled this as a suicide, but it is possible and should not be ruled out. Some motives for his suicide could be the feeling of betrayal or being sent to disturbed over cigarettes. Ever since McMurphy arrived Cheswick has been by his side supporting him. When McMurphy didn’t defend Cheswick while he was going off on the nurse about the cigarettes. This could have led to Cheswick to feel betrayed because McMurphy didn’t help him when he has always helped McMurphy. This,”Even Cheswick could understand [...] and didn’t hold anything against McMurphy for not going ahead and making a big fuss over the cigarettes.”(Kesey 174). But could the time Cheswick spent in disturbed have changed his mind? I guess we will never know. Reader #5-Chewicks death was a tragic event in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Before his death there was a big fuss about cigarettes. Cheswick was complaining about it but no one was supporting him, which he told McMurphy he was fine with. “Even Cheswick could understand it and didn’t hold anything against McMurphy” (174 Kesey). Even though Cheswick seemed like he didn’t care if anyone was supporting him I think he just wanted somebody to agree with him. Since no one agreed with him I think that triggered his death because he felt alone and had no body supporting him. Therefore, because of this event I think the other patients will have different outlooks on things that happens at the ward. Reader #6-In Ken Kesey’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” an incident happened when all the patients had to go to the pool for a day. Cheswick swam down to the bottom of the pool and held on to the grate so no one could pull him up. He unfortunately drowned and died. The mystery of his death questions whether it was an accident of a suicide. Cheswick was one of the more verbal patients and was willing to stand up to Nurse Ratched. Before Cheswick’s death, McMurphy began to give in on the rebellion with big nurse. Cheswick was angry at McMurphy for giving in. In the novel Cheswick says, “I ain’t no little kid to have cigarettes kept from me like cookies! We want something done about it. ain’t that right, Mack?”(Kesey 172). All McMurphy gave back was silence; He didn’t back up Cheswick. In my own opinion, I genuinely think McMurphy is at most fault because he betrayed Cheswick, at least that might have been the way Cheswick looked at the situation. Reader #7-Cheswick is one of the acute patients that was the only to support McMurphy when he had that conflict with Nurse Ratched, he was influenced by McMurphy that he protest against the ward policies and was hoping that McMurphy would help him. it doesn't work out and he gets the shock treatment. later in the book Cheswick was swimming in the pool when he had a accident and got stuck in the net. it was later found out it could have been a suicide. this tragic action caused McMurphy to finally think that he had a huge impact in the patient's life. Reader #8-In the beginning of the book, we find out that Cheswick is an Acute. This means they believe Cheswick is a curable patient. Also Cheswick was the first patient to stand by McMurphy when he was plotting to take down Nurse Ratched. One day Cheswick decided to take a swim, however he got his fingers stuck in grate covering the drain at the bottom of the pool. Ken Kesey wrote “and by the time they got a screwdriver and undid the grate and brought Cheswick up, with the grate still clutched by his chubby pink and blue fingers, he was drowned.” (175) When I read this part of the book, I thought this accident was actually Cheswick committing suicide. I think this because Cheswick was upset that McMurphy didn’t support him when he took his own stand against Nurse Ratched. This led to Cheswick’s accident because he looked up to McMurphy for being independent, but when Cheswick was independent McMurphy looked down on him so Cheswick felt bad about himself. Reader #9-Nurse Ratched sent cheswick down to the disturbed for a while. Cheswick went to the pool and told McMurphy that he understands why McMurphy no longer rebels against Nurse Ratched. Later Cheswick caught his fingers on the pool’s drain and drowned, his death is considered a suicide. I think it was McMurphy’s fault even though he didn’t intend to do it because he didn’t support cheswick’s argument against Nurse Ratched and that’s what triggered him. Cheswick was angry because he supported McMurphy when he rebelled against nurse Ratched and the one time he needed him he didn’t support him. Cheswick’s death gave McMurphy influence and opened his eyes to other things. Reader #10-Cheswick is one of the acutes in the ward and the first patient to support Mcmurphy in his rebellion against Nurse Ratched. In a group meeting Cheswick started to complain about the wanting the cigarettes and no one backs him up, not even Mcmurphy who was quickly backed up by Cheswick in the past. Later, at the pool Cheswick says, “But just as soon as we got to the pool he said he did wish something mighta been done, though, and dove into the water”, he then got his finger stuck in the pool grate and drowned himself. I think Cheswick killed himself because when no one stood up for him he realized that there was no hope for change in the ward because the only one who had the ability to change something in ward had given up because he wanted to get out. When Mcmurphy first rebelled he didn't realize that Nurse Ratched controlled when he could get dismissed from the ward. When Cheswick killed himself in the pool it made Mcmurphy realize how much influence he had on the people in the ward. The world can be a very tough place to live in. We all are fighting our own battles and life doesn’t make things easy for us. Because of that, sometimes we turn to things that make our struggles a little easier for us to deal with. Let’s take a look at how some of the characters in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest have been dealing with their struggles.
Reader #1-I believe people volunteer for several reasons. Ons is to help others: it is human nature to be kind to each other. That’s why we call humans who go against our nature monsters. Another reason is to get away from home life. Sitting around all day doing nothing and wasting your life feels pointless, probably cause it is. And we like to feel accomplished. We are prestigious creatures, wanting to get ahead in life and leave behind a legacy we will be remembered for. And finally, a third reason is to get brownie points and look good to others. We all want to impress someone, or at least have. Reader #2-Patients in the ward choose to stay in the ward rather than the outside world. Most of the acutes are in the hospital voluntarily and can leave whenever they choose. In the book, Billy Bibbit shows why he stays in the ward when he could actually leave. In the text, it says “McMurphy, completely perplexed, asks Billy Bibbit why he chooses to stay when he could be outside driving a convertible and romancing pretty girls. Billy Bibbit begins to cry and shouts that he and the others are not as big, strong, and brave as McMurphy.” I think that is the reason why patients choose to stay in the ward. They think the outside world is a scary place and that they need to be big and strong to handle it. They feel much safer in the ward and they are probably too afraid to admit that they uncomfortable with going outside to the real world and being on their own. Reader #3-A lot of people in the ward are there by choice rather than force. People might want to be there because they’re afraid of living in the outside world. McMurphy is awestrucken by the fact that people choose to be in the ward. That’s because he values being on his own, and having his own freedoms. When you're in the real world you have a lot of responsibilities and choices to make. One of the patients who is there voluntarily says this to McMurphy, “Well I’m not big and tough” (Kesey 195). By living in the ward, the people are giving all those hard decisions up, and handing them to the nurses and doctors in the ward. Not having to make choices is comforting to the patients who are living in the ward. Being in the ward might not be as bad as them living in the real world. Many of them need the help that is given to them, so by leaving the ward, they are also leaving help. When you're struggling from a disorder, help is one thing you definitely need. Reader #4-many patients at the ward love their environment because the outside world is a cold place, with cold people, and cold vibes. in the ward these patients feel safe, and sound. they are fed and not beat. instead abused on the streets they are enjoying their stay, in what they believe is the best thing ever. free food, free showers, and many friends to make. being homeless is tough, not being able to sleep, eat or have a social life. any one would rather have the treatment that those patients get than be out on the streets. Reader #5-A person would want to be in the ward because it provides food, shelter, and keeps them from having to do work. Mcmurphy for example, didn't want to work on the farm so he went to the ward instead. He claims to be completely fine, but he really does have issues. Some drawbacks of being in the ward are having no freedom, being completely controlled, being forced to take medicine and even living with time slower than normal. Some benefits of being in the ward are that you don't have to work, you have food provided, you have people that are going through what you are, you have free medical care and you don't have to worry about paying bills or money. Also you can make your own decisions and having freedom. You can go out and enjoy fresh air, live go have fun with your friends instead of being inside all day. Little things remind Chief of those enjoyable times outside he said “The sound reminded me of how I used to feel standing in the cold fall Friday night out on a football field, waiting for the ball to be kicked and the game to get going” (Kesey 198). Some drawbacks of being in the real world are having to work, money problems, buying food and clothes, and just living like a normal human not having everything done for you. Reader #6-I think that the patients would rather spend time in the ward because that is the only place they are able to get attention. For example, Billy Bibbit is a shy patient in the ward with a bad stutter. He is there voluntarily because he is afraid of the outside world. Another patient is Harding. He is hiding in the ward, voluntarily, because he doesn’t know how to deal with his homosexualality. Some drawbacks to being in the ward is that the patients are too busy dealing with all of the unreasonable rules that they can’t actually work on solving their own problems. ALthough, it is beneficial because the patients are able to escape the danger and judgment of the outside ward. I do not think some of the patients are there for the right reasons though. Running from your problems will solve nothing. Reader #7-I feel some people want to spend their time at the ward because even in the environment and conditions of the ward, they are ‘protected’ from the real outside world. While in this environment, I believe they have realized this is the safest place for them. Being in the ward compared to the outside world is so much better for many reasons. These reasons are: they don’t have to face reality, they don’t have to take care of themselves, and even come to the conclusion of being a “normal” human being. They want to stay because in the ward the word “normal” is being different and odd, unlike the outside world. For the ones who want to stay, it’s simply because it’s easier for themselves. Reader #8-In the late 1950s/early 1960s many things were considered taboo. Understanding of mental illnesses/disorders or anyone that didn’t fit the mold of a typical model citizen was minimal. If the patients are treated so poorly inside the asylum, which is supposed to help them, it would be even worse in the outside world. They would be completely ostracized in society, probably seen as the equivalent of an animal, and treated accordingly. These patients have already tried their luck living among others who operate differently than them and that’s why they’re in the asylum to begin with, it’s where they feel comfortable. "Sure!" It's Billy, turned from the screen, his face boiling tears. "Sure!" he screams again. "If we had the g-guts! I could go outside to-today, if I had the guts. My m-m-mother is a good friend of M-Miss Ratched, and I could get an AMA signed this afternoon, if I had the guts!" (Kesey 2.7.65) Here McMurphy realises that he, probably the most sane, is one of the few actually committed to the hospital while the other patients, young as some of them are, are there by choice because it’s all they know and they’re scared of being anywhere else. They don’t realise how manipulative and harmful the environment really is to them because they envision the outside as much worse. They let McMurphy try to rebel against Nurse Ratched knowing how much he had to lose. Even though many of the characters in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest are mentally ill in some fashion, they also reveal many truths about human nature and how we work. What are some of the universal truths that we see in the story?
Reader #1-In the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey describes a fog that has us all wondering. Chief claims that the fog that surrounds chief constantly is “made” by nurse ratched. Chief is schizophrenic and see’s things that aren't really there, we recognize that the fog may be medically induced, and is a fog in the mind, other than literal fog. Personally i think that maybe the fog is to distract the patients so then they can't get more power than nurse ratched or “rise up in rebellion” against nurse ratched, but also keeps them satisfied with their lives and keeps them from thinking anything real. Chief explains “ the men hide behind the fog because it's comfortable.” Reader #2-Everyone in this world is diffrent, some face struggles harsher than others and require more help than others. These individuals have a greater struggle in the world even if it comes down to social, academic work and everyday basic needs. The book One flew over the cuckoo’s nest teaches us the struggle people face. We learn that these individuals are sometimes the saddest out there, but they are also the most kind in the world. Reader #3-Respect. That word resonates when you say it. Or at least it does if you’re in a box canyon, which you aren’t for 99 percent of your life. But everyone wants to be respected, and for others that comes in different ways. Conquerors want to be known and feared. Kings want to be praised and looked up to. Teachers want us to listen. Students want to be heard. We must give the respect to others, as it is given to us. We’re all here together for like 80 some years apiece. Don’t be a jerk while you’re here. Be nice and others will be nice to you. Reader #4-People want to be respected. It’s a basic desire. People can sometimes get shut down and ignored if they are treated right. This can lead to random outbursts and inappropriate actions. This could seriously impact the lives of daily people. They stop performing as well, don't participate, and neglect work if they don't feel listened to. People that feel unlistened to will or tend to work together and get along better than those who are heard. People that are respected and listened to are often able to vent and share ideas amongst themselves. This leads to more open minded people. People in the ward have a hard time being listened to and acknowledged since there are so many of them. A lot of them feel unlistened to. I think this will cause conflict later on. Reader #5- There are different kinds of people in ¨One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” that the author gives clear examples to his readers. everyone is pretty much put in their own groups depending on mental illness. The patients that can’t really function on their own stay at one side and are called the walkers and the ones that can move and are energetic are the acutes. everyone sees them the same but there really not. they all act differently and show their emotions differently. like when mcmurphy first came in the story he acted like he was all that but he still had a mental illness and also with Chief Bromden, he acted like he couldn't talk so no one would bother him or speak to him. everyone is different no matter what disability or illness they have. Reader #6-during the book many themes can be brought upon the story. one is that all humans ill or not, struggle, some struggle to stay sane, others academically and some with emotions, or keeping friendships. all humans are different but not a single on has it easy. and their struggles are what shape them into who they are, making them strong, smart, sad, a liar, and cheater, a jerk, or anyone. they fit their personalities to better cope with their problems. and that was is being shown alot in this novel. everyone being who they arent to cover up or make up for what they truly are. Reader #7-There are many different themes and people in the book.. Some people in the story don’t even talk and are scared of nurse ratched and some people are very outgoing and don’t take anything seriously like McMurphy. In the book McMurphy says ‘’ I tell ya, I can’t figure it out. Harding, what’s wrong with you, for crying out loud? You afraid if you raise your hand that old buzzard’ll cut it off’’ in the book some people are scared to do anything because their scared of what’s gonna happen, but McMurphy doesn’t care at all, he wants everything to be done his way. The actions that people do as a whole is that they mostly work things together and sometimes it doesn t go to well. The people in the ward see the world a little differently, they dont expect much more than what they have in the ward. Reader #8-In the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest, the theme of needing control over others is shown. McMurphy, being the one who needs to have power over Nurse Ratched, shows the universal truth about people. That being: humans need to feel that they’re in control to be content. The author illustrates this in the book, “McMurphy walks past the window where she’s glaring out at him and grins at her like he knows he’s got her whipped now. When he tips his head back and winks at her she gives that little sideways jerk of her head” (Kesey 142). McMurphy is happy that he has her bent out of shape over something he did. He wants her to know that he won’t back down without a fight. He’s not just fighting for truth, he's fighting for control, and that's just what he will get. Reader #9-A universal truth about human nature that represents what we have read in the novel so far is: everyone has a different mindset, and different perspectives on the way they see and think about things can determine who you are as a person. In the book, we have come face to face with many peculiar people, there is no doubt about that, but we see them differently because they think and act differently than we do. This concept goes to show the overall truth and concept in this book. We as human tend to judge people because they do not have the same thinking mentality of us, for example; McMurphy says, “..in the nurses’ station i can see the white hands of the big nurse float over the controls.” When he says this, he knows the nurse wants them to all act and be a certain way because she sees them as differently, but she only see this because they aren't like her, they don’t think and see things like her. Everyone has their own mindset, and this helps define who we are as humans. Betting on something isn’t always the greatest idea. Winning is great and all, but there’s also a pretty good chance that you will lose. McMurphy makes a bet that almost becomes a turning point in the story. Let’s explore the tension that this bet causes in the ward.
Reader #1-From the moment McMurphy got to the ward; Nurse Ratched did not like him. She knew there was something bad about him, and that he would turn the ward upside down. The bet made their relationship is going to worsen because he was determined to make her snap. As the novel progresses the Nurse Ratched tries to figure out what is wrong with McMurphy and how to get him out of the ward. “He isn’t extraordinary. He is simply a man and no more, and is subject to all the fears and all the cowardice and all the timidity that any other man is subject to”(Kesey 157). Nurse Ratched proves that she is not going to let McMurphy change and go to a different ward. She will not let him get to her, and is determined to get him to obey her. Later in the novel this is going to change the way people will think of the Nurse and the ward. The relationship between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched is going to test the wards strength. Reader #2- McMurphy discusses the ward with the other patients. He asks them why they act the way they do. when he realizes the only person in his way is nurse ratched he makes a bet with the other patients to be able to get under her skin. this is a turning point in the novel because nobody has ever dared to go against the nurse before. They all believe she is unbeatable and no-one can overthrow her schedule. "that is exactly what the new patient is planning: to take over. He is what we call a 'manipulator,' Miss Flinn, a man who will use everyone and everything to his own ends." This quote said by the nurse is ironic, because how she describes McMurphy is exactly how she actually how she acts toward the patient's.this might cause a war later on in the book between these two kingpins and im sure it will be a even match up. The Fog is an important symbol in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Not only that, but The Fog also has an important meaning to the Chief. Let’s explore why this Fog is so incredibly meaningful.
Reader #1-One of the major symbols in the novel is the “fog machine”. “I’m not cold anymore. I think i’ve about made it. I’m off to where the cold can’t reach me. I can stay here for good. I’m not scared anymore. They can’t reach me, just the words reach me, and those are fading.”(Kesey 138). This quote is a description of Chief Bromden, of what it feels like to be in the grasp of the fog. Bromden appears to be the only one in the ward who sees the fog. The first time he experienced the fog he said he felt lost inside it, and screamed out to be found. This continually landed him in for shock treatment, until he learned to surround himself in the fog. In the fog, time no longer exists, and reality is clouded over. The fog is the state of being that Nurse Ratched forces on the patients to subdue them, keep them in a mind numbing state, and make them more agreeable. The patients also seem to accept the fog as a means of escape, McMurphy seems immune to the fog, and has the ability to drag people out of it. In my opinion “the fog” is relatively a good thing for the patients because sometimes they may need to lose control of reality in order to get better in an odd way. Reader #2-Whenever Chief has mentioned the fog, there was no explanation as to the origins of it. But finally, Chief explains a little bit more about the fog as said from the text, “We had a whole platoon used to operate fog machines around airfields overseas. Whenever intelligence figured there might be a bombing attack, or if the generals had something secret they wanted to pull, they fogged the field.” (Page 130) So whenever Chief sees the fog come up into the ward, it’s usually when he wants to remain hidden and safe from the others. Chief feels that the fog is a safe area from the reality of life in the ward. Now when chief explains how some of the other patients, more towards chronics, seem to be in the fog with him, they are not really experiencing it as Chief is. So from this, it seems that the fog seems like a good thing, but it seems like it’s just making Chief loose more of himself and be nothing more but a mindless walking janitor. But the one thing that seems to be trying to pull Chief and the other patients out of the fog would be McMurphy. For when he goes and opposes the big nurse and asks the patients for a vote to watch a seasonal sports match on T.V., all the chronics and vegetables and such were the only ones who would not come out of the fog to help McMurphy, all except Chief who raised his hand in for the vote. Reader #3-The “fog” represents the safety blanket that everyone is under. Mcmurphy is trying to get the patients out of the fog that’s holding them back. Bromden is the one who observes him doing it all. he says “That's what Mcmurphy can’t understand, us wanting to be safe. He keeps trying to drag us out of the fog, out in the open where we’d be easy to get.” (kesey 128) FOr many of the patients, the fog is where they feel safe and protected. They don’t want anyone to disturb that fog because they know that removal from it could put them in danger. Chief is also scared about being taken out of the fog because he doesn’t want to blow his cover. ALthough he did have a breaking point when he raised his hand when Mcmurphy told him to. The fog can be both good and bad. It’s good because it’s useful when someone needs to hide away from something. But, it’s bad because it holds someone back from doing what they actually feel. The fog is the mask of their insecurities. And many of them have never stepped out of that fog because they’re scared of the consequences that might follow. Reader #4-The fog that Chief sees is a medically induced state that is a fog of the mind rather than an actual fog.The fog keeps the patients from acting out and makes them satisfied with their lives. As Chief says, “the men hide behind the fog because it is comfortable.” This means that the patients won’t rebel because of this mentally induced state. The fog represents the control and fear that Nurse Ratched has over the ward. Chief hallucinates the fog and he is the only one who sees it, but everyone experiences the effect of it. Chief used to be afraid of the fog because they used it in the war to reduce visibility and he use to scream when he saw, hoping to be found. Reader #5-what is the fog? the fog is all in chief's head. but he thinks the big nurse controls the fog, he says that everyone hides in the fog because it’s comforting chief says “you had a choice: you could either strain and look at things that appeared in front of you in the fog, painful as it might be, or you could relax and lose yourself” (kesey 131). to me this is showing what chief thinks about the fig and why it’s comforting. The drugs that the nurse gives the patients is what the fog is, and they think the feeling you get from taking them is comforting. Reader #6-The fog represents an escape from the real world. Chief Bromden sees it when he takes his medication and begins to hallucinate. Bromden likes the fog because he feels like it takes him away from everything so he doesn’t have to deal with anything, but he believes the staff works the fog machine through the vents of the ward. Chief Bromden states “ I know how they work it, the fog machine” (Kesey 130) Chief Bromden however, is not the only one who experiences the fog. Each patient sees it but Chief Bromden is the only one who refers to it in the story. In my opinion, the fog is a bad thing because it’s just a way for the patients to escape what is actually happening in the real world. Due to them escaping to the fog, the patients will never be able to get better because they will be living in the fog which is a safe place for them. Reader #7-The fog represents a get away, Chief Bromden sees it when it comes into the ward. He thinks that Nurse Ratched and other workers have them everywhere in the facility. Chief “uses” to escape from the atmosphere and everything going on around him. He is not the only patient who experiences it,but he is the only one that knows it’s going on. The other patients brains’ aren’t comprehensive enough to acknowledge it. To Chief Bromden, the fog seems like a good thing. He thinks he can use it to escape from reality. Although, from Nurse Ratched’s perspective, it’s just another way she can control the other patients without them knowing. If all the patients realized that, it would definitely be a bad thing in their minds. Reader #8-The fog represents an escape from reality. Chief sees the fog when he wants to go to a safe place and ignore reality. Other patients experience the fog, but they don’t call it the fog like chief does. McMurphy is “getting all the patients out” of the fog. He wants them less vulnerable. In chapter 13, the fog is talked about when it says, “ Nobody complains about the fog. I know why, now: as bad as it is, you can slip back in it and feel safe. That’s what McMurphy can’t understand, us wanting to be safe. He keeps trying to drag us out of the fog, out in the open where we’d be easy to get at.” (Kesey chapter 13) Reader #9-“The fog” Chief Bromden claimed was made by Nurse Ratched. The fog represents how the Nurse makes the ward and her attitude unclear. One can infer that the fog was not literally there in the ward. We can predict that it’s a symbol of rebellion against Nurse Ratched. The Chief says that the rest of the patient's hide behind the fog because it makes them uncomfortable. “I kept looking at anything that appeared out of the fog as long and hard as I could, to keep track of it, just like I used to do when they fogged the airfields in Europe” (Kesey 131). This shows how characters in the ward try their best to stay out of “the fog.” The question is, will they ever get out? Reader #10-Throughout the novel, the Fog has played a huge role in symbolizing a few different things. In real life, fog is something that clouds our vision of seeing the outside world. In the book, then fog represents an escape from reality. Chief usually sees the fog either due to his medication, out of fear, or when he is trying to escape what is truly happening around him. It is Chief's safeplace. He can hide here and ignore reality. Besides for Bromden, other patients are kind of lured into the fog by nurse Ratched's harsh ways and treatments. McMurphy helps by “dragging” patients out of that fog, back into reality. For Bromden, the fog is a good thing, (although sometimes frightening). He is able to escape everything and let go. The fog is what is covering up the real world from all of the patients. The truth is being hidden from the patients, using the fog. Reader #11-The fog is a common occurrence in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. This fog represents a time of comfort, satisfaction with life, and solitude. Chief often sees this fog when he is alone or content. Chief doesn't quite know how to feel about the fog. He doesn't hate it and doesn't like it, he just tolerates it. Although Chief thinks everyone can see this fog, for example when the fog rolled in on the first day that McMurphy arrived he thought he was just ignoring the fog. This fog is most likely a recurring hallucination from his schizophrenia. This fog is not necessarily a bad occurrence for Chief. It allows him to relax and have time to himself(which is hard to get on the ward). Chief even goes as far as wanting to stay in the fog(his comfort zone) when he says” He keeps trying to drag us out of the fog, out of the open where we’d be easy to get at”(Kesey 128) Reader #10-In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest the fog is very significant. Bromden says “even the spies on the base couldn’t see what went on- they fogged the field” (Kesey 130). I think they use the fog when something big is going to happen and they don’t want the patients to know what they’re doing. The hospital staff uses it to hide their secrets in the ward from the patients. Bromden tries to stay away from it as much as possible so he doesn’t get too deep in it and get lost. Based on that I think the fog is a bad thing because the patients can’t see and they deserve to know what’s happening around them. The fog is going to be a symbol of importance throughout the book. Reader #11-the significance of ‘The fog” in terms of Chief Bromden is that it keeps him or other patients living there lives like they want to. Chief Bromden is believed that “the Fog” is made by nurse Ratched. Chief says that men hide behind the fog because it’s “comfortable” but they are just scared to live there life. Chief sees the fog around every patient. It keeps all the patients satisfied and it doesn't let the know if certain things are real or not real. The Fog can be viewed as good and bad. But I see this as a benefit to the patients because they don't experience anything that could be harmful to them. Reader #12- Imagine a safe space where you’re comfortable, worry free, and taken care of. For the patients of the ward, this is essentially what the “fog” provides them with. Since we know Chief is schizophrenic, we can assume this fog isn’t literal but a metaphor. Chief describes it as something the staff controls and exists in the vents but it’s one of the few methods of control he’s comfortable with. What it probably is, literally at least, is a medicinal dosage Nurse Ratched uses to keep patients from turning against her and disguising some of the brutal behaviors that go on in the ward. “When the fog clears to where I can see, I’m sitting in the day room. They didn’t take me to the Shock Shop this time. I remember they took me out of the shaving room and locked me in Seclusion. I don’t remember if I got breakfast or not.” (1.2.1 Kesey) Here Chief shows a state of disorientation and uncertainty due to the “fog”. This fog is something that constantly surrounds them and if they think nothing is wrong, they won’t feel the need to fix anything. They’ve been content with it because it provides security even though Chief finds it a bit frightening sometimes. This isn’t exactly the best thing for the patients though they may feel like it. It represents the big nurse’s ability to humiliate and alter the minds of the patients. McMurphy’s plan to corrupt Nurse Ratched will essentially take the patients out of the fog. Everything that we encounter is not always as it seems. It could be a person that is nice to your face and then talks behind your back, a flower that looks pretty and colorful but is actually poisonous, or a fluffy, cute animal that is actually deadly. This is also true in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. While the ward is portrayed in one way to the world, there are a lot of things happening beneath the surface. Let’s see what some of those things are.
Reader #1-There are a lot of main events in part 1 of this book, the first one is the arrival of Mcmurphy. He changed the way the ward works, switched the way things are controlled and he brought laughter into the ward. Another one is Mcmurphy’s first meeting when Pete Bancini got angry in the meeting and threw on of the black boys against the wall. Also one more big event is when Mcmurphy makes a bet with the acutes that he can get inside Nurse Ratched’s head without being sent away he said “I can get the best of that woman---before the week’s up---without her getting the best of me(Kesey 73). Some important characters are Chief Bromden, Mcmurphy, Nurse Ratched, Harding, Bibbit, the Doctor. What is odd about the setting is how controlled it is, Big Nurse has every single aspect of it in the power of her hands. She needs everything to be flowing smoothly but it almost seems like she doesn't want anyone to get out. That she enjoys controlling them so much that she makes it almost impossible for them to improve. We know that the ward is like a train that goes the exact same route every day, never changing, until Mcmurphy comes. Everything is not as is seems, Chief sees the ward as a big lie. They lure patients in thinking it’s a democracy, but it is far from it. One of the big themes throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is control. There are a few people who have a lot of control over what happens and a lot of people who don’t. What does it mean to control others and why do we do it? Let’s find out!
Reader #1-People can feel threatened and find the need to control others to feel calm and in control. Control means that all power and choices lie in your hands. You have the power to make big decisions. People in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, tend to like being in control. Many people feel better taking lead and some people use this to their advantage. In the ward people try to pick arguments and make compromises to over power and seem in power at this ward. I experience control when I’m at work, or teaching anyone anything, or helping my sister in math. They rely on you and you must be there and in control. McMurphy tries to control the kids in the ward; the nurse as well. He likes arguing with her to seem more powerful and dominate. People who enjoy being dominate and who are extroverts tend to be in charge. Reader #2-Control is simply the power a person has over another individual or an object, and once someone has control, they are able to decide how a situation will play out. In Mcmurphy’s case, he controls people without them even realizing it. he uses a tactic that draws the attention away from himself onto another individual. for example, when Mcmurphy comes into contact with the nurse after him and the black boy were talking, the attention that was originally supposed to be on Mcmurphy quickly turned onto a staff member Mr. Washington. the big nurse yelled at him and said “Washington, why wasn’t this man issued a change of greens this morning? Couldn’t you see he had nothing on but a towel?”(Kesey 98) Mcmurphy had control in this situation because instead of him getting yelled at for not getting his own clothes, the blame was put onto someone else, leaving him in the clear. An example of a situation someone uses control would be in a group project, people usually fight for what the topic should be or how the project is going to be done. Whoever wins that argument has most of the power over the group, which isn’t fair but it’s just the way things work out sometimes. The types of people that try and control others are people who don’t feel like anything goes their way unless it’s their way. Mcmurphy refuses to let anybody on the ward control him. He always feels the need to be in control because he thinks he’s always right. Reader #3- A lot of people need to feel that their in control in every single situation. This is a lot like the character McMurphy, in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He constantly is looking to be the man in charge. He pushes the Nurse to get on her nerves. He knows by annoying her, he in a sense is gaining control over her. Chief thinks of McMurphy, “One by one the patients are sneaking looks at her to see how she’s taking the way McMurphy is dominating the meeting…” (Kesey 113). Everyone is the group sessions knows that McMurphy is getting under the skin of the Nurse. This is exactly what McMurphy wants. Reader #5-Throughout the book so far, McMurphy has attempted to show that he has control in the ward, not only over the other boys, but Big Nurse as well. Control means that you have the upperhand in any situation. If you have control, you have authority and regulation over others. In the novel, nurse Ratched tries to control everyone by cruel punishments and pointless rules. Also, McMurphy tries to show control by acting as if he can do and say whatever he wants. He isn’t afraid of Big nurse, although the boys warn him. One situation that McMurphy tried to control was when they were all watching the baseball game tv and nurse Ratched turned it off, and then they all continued to pretend to watch the game on the blank screen. The type of people who are controlling, or want to be controlling, are the ones who have to always have their voice heard in every situation. Reader #6-Control is gained when someone is able to influence another person's behaviour. In One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, the staff of the ward, mostly Nurse Ratched , has control over their patients. Just like how a prison has control over its inmates. Everything in the ward was under control until McMurphy arrives. McMurphy has the characteristics of someone who can easily take control of anything. He is assertive, a natural leader, and power driven. McMurphy makes a bet with other patients in the ward that he would be able to take control over the ward within the week. One of McMurphy’s first steps is to first gain control over the day room. During a group meeting it is McMurphy and the doctor that he had just met with suggested an “idea which might make things more pleasant for both age groups”(Kesey 110). Their idea was to add a new room connected to the day room that did not have the loud music. This plan was made by McMurphy with the help of someone in control, the doctor. McMurphy seem to be using the doctor's power to get what he wants, control over the day room. This is a small stepping stone on the path to control over the ward for McMurphy. Reader #7- Control means to have power over something or someone. Control is an important thing to have in life. In the book Cuckoo's Nest control is a big thing . Nurse Ratched has all the power in the story, anything she says has to be done. The two people who are fighting for control in the ward are nurse Ratched and McMurphy. McMurphy is gaining control over the patients in the ward because he is trying to rebel against the nurse in the ward. We as people try to gain control over things and other people because we like things to be done our way and I like in a way it makes us feel more secure. Reader #8-Mcmurphy and nurse Ratched are going to continue to have conflicts because they are both obsessed with power. To control means to be in power, to be the boss, to make all of the decisions and have everyone just go along with it. There are a few people in the novel that try to control the others and they are Nurse Ratched and Mcmurphy. Nurse Ratched has controlled every aspect of the ward since before Chief was even there. He even thinks she controls time by making it slower so they go crazier. Everyone fears her because they have seen what she can do to them “ She can't have you whipped. Shev can't burn you with hot irons. She can't tie you to the rack. They got laws about that sort of thing nowadays”(Kesey 68). She is so powerful and obsessed with order that she breaks the law, that is a little crazy. I experience control in many ways. For example, at home my parents control my siblings and I because they are our parents and they have authority over us. I control my own body which is what makes my decisions. Mcmurphy tries to control in a lot of situations, for example when he first arrived at the ward. He immediately asked who was in charge and took over within 10 minutes. People with trust issues typically try to control others because they want to be sure they know exactly what the other person is doing so they can feel secure. Everyone control’s their own body, whats sad is that nurse Ratched won't let them do that. |
AuthorWelcome to Miss Hardie's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blog! Here we will be posting our thoughts and discussing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. Please join in on the discussion! ArchivesCategories
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