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.
24 Comments
Charli burgess
11/24/2015 02:25:09 pm
I agree with reader #2 because nobody is the exact same. People face different things and react with it differently. I also think the sadest people in the world are actually the nicest because of everything they've been through. People who are sad don't have the energy to be rude or mean to other because they know that's not something they would want.
Reply
Jenna Ross
11/30/2015 10:39:20 am
I agree with reader #1 because they stated that the fog is made by nurse Ratched and that's exactly what I think. Also this reader stated the fog keeps the patients away from anything real and I also believe that as well.
Reply
kylie kasey
11/30/2015 10:41:51 am
I agree because nobody is the same person everybody is different in their own ways, and a lot of people deal with things differently.
Reply
Jenna Ross
11/30/2015 10:44:00 am
The way reader #8 describes a theme in a story is very clear and easily shown in the story. This reader states that McMurphy needs to have power over nurse Racthed. After reading this readers theme he choose not only does McMurphy connect to this theme but so does Nurse Ratched because he likes feeling powered over everyone in the ward.
Reply
Becca Seidenzahl
11/30/2015 12:50:01 pm
I agree with Charlie because sometimes the saddest people have the most to say. Or they have the most insight on a situation because they have also been through it. Everyone has been through something different and it's not fair to judge people without knowing what they personally go through.
Reply
Follmer
11/24/2015 10:25:41 pm
Reader #1 has very interesting points on why the "fog" is used on the pacients. It is most likely medication that the nurses use to keep the packets under control.
Reply
Follmer
11/24/2015 10:28:49 pm
I agree with reader #9, every character in the book can be looked at and seen differently through the book. The society tries to "fix" them because we have the need to judge them. We try to make them be someone they are not. Which is exactly what Nurse Ratched tries to do to the pacients.
Reply
Kylie kasey
11/30/2015 10:44:47 am
I agree because nobody can change who a person really is, and by changing their personality or the way they act it wont' change a thing about who they really are
Reply
Ryan W.
11/29/2015 07:49:11 pm
I agree with reader #6. All humans have a inner struggle. This is a constant problem in the ward with every patient.
Reply
Christian Pishotta
11/30/2015 08:50:11 am
For reader #1, i think you posted on the wrong question. To me this looks like an answer to question #2 when it asks about the significance of the fog. But all in all, it's pretty correct as to what the fog seems to be in the book.
Reply
Megan Fata
11/30/2015 09:45:32 am
I agree with reader number #2. Everyone in this world is different and unique in this world, and the ward tries to fix them to their standards.
Reply
emily
11/30/2015 10:30:45 am
i agree that everyone is struggling with personal issues and everyone has different ways of showing it. Many people just also like to be in control
Reply
Bridget
11/30/2015 10:31:07 am
I agree with reader #1
Reply
Danielle morrissey
11/30/2015 10:33:21 am
I agree with reader #2 because everyone is different, and when we are all treated the same people get angry. Everyone is different which is a good thing.
Reply
Dorian
11/30/2015 10:33:29 am
I agree with Reader 1. Chief's mind blocks things out and censors them, anything and everything that he perceives as a threat.
Reply
Jacob Kalasa
11/30/2015 10:36:51 am
I agree with reader 1. That the fog is medically induced, and Mrs rachet does do that. But since chief is schizophrenic he thinks it's a real fog.
Reply
Hanna Smith
11/30/2015 10:38:49 am
I have to disagree with reader #7 because there isn't more than one patient who actually stick up for themselves. Mcmurphy may help people say what they want to say, but no one is as energetic about certain subjects. Although many of the other patients are starting to adjust to Mcmurphy's outbursts a little more.
Reply
Becca Seidenzahl
11/30/2015 12:53:23 pm
I agree with Hanna because none of the patients are actually saying what they want to say. Without McMurphy's motivation, they wouldn't say anything at all. None of them know how to stick up for themselves yet.
Reply
daniel castiblanco
11/30/2015 10:45:37 am
i agree with reader #1 because fog in any situation could be spooky, so it could be a good way to keep patients away from certain things
Reply
chris
11/30/2015 10:45:37 am
I agree what everyone has to say, the frog seems like some kind of treatment or some kind of object that keeps everyone sane and keeps them under control
Reply
daniel c
11/30/2015 10:47:09 am
i agree with reader #6 because everyone does have their own issues and problems and they themselves are the people who understand the best how they can handle it
Reply
lauren seidenzahl
11/30/2015 10:47:36 am
i agree with reader #2 that everyone in the world is different and everyone has something different to offer. i can see this in the book and i agree that these patients could be the kindest people in the world, but people dont see it.
Reply
jiselle
12/2/2015 10:22:24 am
I agree with reader #1 and that the fog probably isn't actually there, and that Bromden is creating it in his schizophrenic mind. Also though, I feel like it kind of is real in a way, because the Nurse has to have some kind of thing that keeps the patients under her "spell".
Reply
Lauren seidenzahl
12/3/2015 10:07:15 am
I agree with reader #4 that people need respect otherwise they will feel shut down and ignored. People need respect in order to grow and be who they are without holding back
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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
All
|