One thing that has been made pretty clear is that power is an important thing to have in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In Part III, the patients are able to take a trip into the outside world and gain a different perspective on what makes a person powerful. Let’s see what our characters learn during this fishing trip.
Reader #1-On the way to the fishing trip, the patients come to realization that their illnesses aren't necessarily a bad thing. Mcmurphy talks all of them up by giving them fake felonies and making them look tough. this empowered all of them, and gave them confidence. Mcmurphy says that “ The doc wouldn’t lie like that about just any patients, but we aint ordinary nuts; we’re every bloody one of us hot off the criminal-insane ward, on our way to San Quentin where they got better facilities to handle us.” (Kesey 236). Clearly those men aren't what Mcmurphy says they are, but it doesn't matter. Mcmurphy knowingly granted power to the other patients. Being on the outside of the ward the patients experienced thrill when they stole the boat for the trip. They all enjoyed laughs together and got along. Which is something that never happens on the ward under the Big Nurse’s watch. This was truly a turning moment in the story for the patients. Reader #2-Before they went on a fishing trip McMurphy had a lot of power over the patients. Not with telling them what to do, but what the patients did reflected off of how McMurphy viewed things. During the fishing trip, all of them had “equal” power I guess. There wasn’t really power in my opinion though because they were all laughing with each other and no one was upset about anything. I think being in the outside world causes the patients less stress and makes them feel more free. Atmosphere really has a big impact on the whole power thing. Reader #3-Before the fishing trip, McMurphy holds a lot of power. I believe this because McMurphy declares that George will be captain on the boat and when he found out Chief Bromden was the only acute going, he tried to convince more acutes to come. However, the acutes were stern with their decisions when McMurphy said ¨C´mon, loafers, I need one more mate to round out the crew, I need one more goddam volunteer..¨(Kesey 227) When they were on the boat however, not one single person held power. All the boys were laughing together and connecting. From being on the boat and in the outside world, the boys felt less stressed and attacked then they usually do. When they are in the ward they always feel watched by Nurse Ratched, but on the fishing trip they felt free. Power and perspective are related because they both are connected with ones attitude and how one addresses something. For example, one can use power to influence someone to agree with their perspective on something. This is shown through McMurphy in the story. Reader #4-McMurphy got the approval to take the patient's out to the real world, he could only take them out if there was enough chaperones. so Dr. Spivey agreed to come with. when they stop for gas the workers ask them if they're from the asylum and the Dr tells them they're construction workers. McMurphy tells them that there indeed criminally insane. they finally go fishing and they take the boat because the captain denied them without a waiver. so they all jump on and fish. they return back and the cops were waiting but the captain didn't press charges because of what the Dr told him. they return back to the asylum and they pass McMurphys old house and he has flashbacks. this showed that people can act the same even if they're insane. Reader #5-The fishing trip was more for the patients rather than McMurphy, even though he did all the planning. MOst of the power comes from McMurphy on the trip. The patients only go outside of their comfort zone when McMurphy influences it. They want him to be their leader. Power is shown when the patients start laughing, this is because they are showing signs of independence and freedom. Bromden describes that you must laugh so that “the humor will blot out the pain.” Although McMurphy has the power, he is helping the patients realize that they have some as well. Being in the outside world helps show the patients that being independent and happy is possible. Power can be given to anyone, it just depends on how you look at things. The perspectives you take help determine who has power. Reader #6-in the story the glass in nurse's office keeps breaking what could the be symbolizing? it could symbolize many things such as bad luck or a warning to her. i don't think mcmurphy is breaking it just to break it. the reason he breaks it is because he realizes that the other men rely on him, and they are caged in. before mcmurphy walked out of the nurses station: “he would thank her again walk out of nurses’ station and blow the whistle loud enough to break windows for miles around” (kesey 206) Reader #7-Power and imbalance of power is general. “Everybody is a genius; but if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” (Einstein). The patients of the ward have already been alienated in the real world and feel like they are incapable of functioning on their own. They depend on Nurse Ratched to take care of them and protect them and she does so because it feeds her hunger for control. When McMurphy takes them on the fishing trip, he gives them a different perspective of the outside world. It seems less frightening and more inviting. McMurphy represents how power can affect (an) individual(s). His taking control of the group was with the intent of betterment while Nurse Ratched plans to internally mess with the patients. Through discussion with Harding, McMurphy realises that the manipulation of the ward is more of an institutional issue than just with Nurse Ratched: “McMurphy doesn't know it, but he's onto what I realized a long time back, that it's not just the Big Nurse by herself, but it's the whole Combine, the nation-wide Combine that's the really big force, and the nurse is just a high-ranking official for them.” (Kesey 2.7.33) Chief sees that McMurphy is coming to terms with the fact that Big Nurse’s power extends far beyond her, she’s just part of society.
12 Comments
Danielle morrissey
12/7/2015 12:32:57 pm
I agree with reader number 1, mcmurphy is giving the patients confidence to go out and do things they never would have before. They now are going on group fishing trips, which I'm sure none of them would have imagined before mcmurphy came along.
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Ryan W
12/7/2015 01:46:18 pm
I really like how reader 7 integrated a quote that was not in the book. I have not seen this yet in any other response. The quote they chose was also very fitting.
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charli burgess
12/7/2015 03:29:19 pm
I agree with reader #2 because the outside world is completely different than the world inside the ward. I agree with the fact that there wasn't really power at all too because they were just having fun. I think the whole thing overall was everything i was thinking
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Lauren seidenzahl
12/8/2015 07:52:38 am
I agree with reader #3 that the fact that the patients were outside the ward and in a more free atmosphere, there wasn't really power. They were all able to laugh and be free because they weren't "trapped" inside the ward anymore.
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shannon heraty
12/8/2015 09:24:23 am
i agree with reader 7. i agree with that Mcmurphy is showing the patients a different side then what the nurse has told them about the world. The patients are not listening to the nurse a lot anymore and are more focusing on Mcmurphy.
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ryan franicevic
12/8/2015 09:49:30 am
#5 McMurphy has realized that just like any political figure you need enthusiasts to win. He understands he doesn't have a chance at the nurse unless he can get a majority of them on his side. This fishing trip helps losen the knot held on them by the nurse.
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Bridget
12/8/2015 10:27:41 am
I agree with reader 1. Everyone is finally going out and realizing their illness isn't a bad thing at all
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daniel castiblanco
12/9/2015 10:22:30 am
this could just be a way to get all the attention to mcmurphy giving him better chances of becoming head that he has now
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Dorian
12/10/2015 10:11:50 am
I agree with reader 1 because what McMurphy said really gave the patients power, and freedom. They feel released now, a little weight off their shoulders. But the Nurse still restricts them. Just another barricade to get through
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emily
12/14/2015 10:44:20 am
i agree with reader 2, when they realized illness might not be a bad thing. I think them being outside and not confined helped them think and behave more rationally
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emily
12/14/2015 10:46:07 am
The patients are unable to act on their own i think since they've been secluded from society. They follow mcmurphy because he still has a free mind and can think out side the box
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Megan
12/15/2015 10:34:44 am
I agree with the rest of the readers. They realized that being ill and different isn't a bad thing. Everyone is unique in their own way and they should embrace it.
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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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