Two significant things happen in part III of Cuckoo's Nest; Chief decides to finally speak, and McMurphy's fishing trip. These two events add some spice to these otherwise somewhat uninteresting characters. Chief opens up to McMurphy at night when they are supposed to be sleeping and finds it difficult to stop talking when one of the black boys comes around to figure out Chief's chewing gum mystery. The fishing trip seems to give the men their metaphorical balls back as they become master of their own domains rather than submitting to Nurse Ratched's orders.
The night before the fishing trip, one of the aides come around and scrapes gum from underneath Chief's bed, claiming that he finally figured out how a broke man like Chief could afford gum. He says he never saw Chief go to the canteen to buy anything because he doesn't have any money, but somehow has gum to chew. After the aide leaves, McMurphy rolls over in the bed next to Chief and hands him a piece of gum, and Chief instinctively thanks him without realizing he broke his long silence. Both Chief and McMurphy exchange anectdotes, but quickly then realize they are making too much noise and that they may get caught. Before calling it a night, McMurhpy convinces Chief to come along on the fishing trip under the condition that Chief follows McMurhpy's workout plan to get Chief buff again.
The following morning, McMurhpy's fishing trip plans almost fall through, but with help from the Doctor Spivey, the guys and Candy, the "chaparone" hit the road. When they go to the gas station, the men follow McMurphy's lead of acting as a tough guy when they run into some trouble at the gas station, which boosts their confidence. However, this confidence subsides on the dock while the men working on the docks begin to verbally harass Candy. The once tough guys fall silent, leaving Candy defenseless. They also run into some legal trouble regarding the boat rentle, but McMurhpy decides to take matters into his own hands, punching out the captain and taking the boat anyway.
On the boat, they enjoy masculine activities such as drinking beer, fishing, soaking up the sun with their shirts off, and enjoying Candy's company, especially Billy, who could be regarded as the sweetheart of the group. They all seem to be somewhat normal, almost not even needing to be institutionalized; quite different than they seemed under Nurse Ratched's care.
With the progression of the plot, the characters further develop, especially Chief Bromden. The rest of the group show a sign of some relative independence rather than incompotence as seen during their days in the Combine. Regardless, they all return to the ward, with even Doctor Spivey enjoying himself.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Cuckoo's Nest Part II
The character of McMurphy really develops in Part II, and his influence on the other members of the ward is evident. He brings a more masculine and rebellious attitude that is in many ways admired and respected by the other patients. Since he arrived at the ward, the other members have been a bit more daring and bold about their grievences that they have kept long silent. However, a shift in his approach to Nurse Ratched changes as he no longer goes out of his way to get under her skin the way he previously did in Part I.
In Part II, McMurphy takes on the role of the main character, as he consumes more of the pages than narrator Cheif Bromden. More of the action of the novel revolves around McMurphy at this point rather than Cheif Bromden, however, because Cheif Bromden is the narrator, only his thoughts appear on the page.
At meetings, McMurphy seems to be the most vocal opposition to Nurse Ratched and the staff. However, his most important meeting was the one in which he silently reacts to the rationing of cigarettes. He strategizes his insubordination in way in which he can go unpunished; a shrewd and clever thought. He remains silent rather than vocally reacting, sticks his hand through the glass window of Nurse Ratched's office (where the cigarettes have been kept), breaking the glass claiming that it was so spotless that he forget it was there. Everyone in the meeting is stunned, and Nurse Ratched is even fearful.
Despite breaking the glass, McMurphy gets permission to assemble and train a basketball team. This establishes McMurphy officially as a leader of his fellow patients. They already admired him, but now he has some given authority over them because he is now the captin of their basketball team. Once the glass is replaced, one of the members intentionally bounce the ball through the glass, causing it to break and also deflating the ball, ending the basketball season. But not before a game between the staff and the patients in which McMurhpy gets a little physical with one of the black boys.
Another nod to McMurphy's leadership is the way Harding seeks McMurphy's approval of his wife. Harding is very excited to introduce his wife to McMurphy and asks his opinion of her after her visit is over. McMurphy however, is disinterested and claims he has better things to worry about.
McMurphy emerges as a leader in Part II whether willingly or unwillingly. His daring demeanor and unpredictability earns him the respect and admiration of his peers, and maybe even a little bit of respect from Nurse Ratched too.
In Part II, McMurphy takes on the role of the main character, as he consumes more of the pages than narrator Cheif Bromden. More of the action of the novel revolves around McMurphy at this point rather than Cheif Bromden, however, because Cheif Bromden is the narrator, only his thoughts appear on the page.
At meetings, McMurphy seems to be the most vocal opposition to Nurse Ratched and the staff. However, his most important meeting was the one in which he silently reacts to the rationing of cigarettes. He strategizes his insubordination in way in which he can go unpunished; a shrewd and clever thought. He remains silent rather than vocally reacting, sticks his hand through the glass window of Nurse Ratched's office (where the cigarettes have been kept), breaking the glass claiming that it was so spotless that he forget it was there. Everyone in the meeting is stunned, and Nurse Ratched is even fearful.
Despite breaking the glass, McMurphy gets permission to assemble and train a basketball team. This establishes McMurphy officially as a leader of his fellow patients. They already admired him, but now he has some given authority over them because he is now the captin of their basketball team. Once the glass is replaced, one of the members intentionally bounce the ball through the glass, causing it to break and also deflating the ball, ending the basketball season. But not before a game between the staff and the patients in which McMurhpy gets a little physical with one of the black boys.
Another nod to McMurphy's leadership is the way Harding seeks McMurphy's approval of his wife. Harding is very excited to introduce his wife to McMurphy and asks his opinion of her after her visit is over. McMurphy however, is disinterested and claims he has better things to worry about.
McMurphy emerges as a leader in Part II whether willingly or unwillingly. His daring demeanor and unpredictability earns him the respect and admiration of his peers, and maybe even a little bit of respect from Nurse Ratched too.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest I
Reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest can be a bit difficult because of the style of delivery from the narrator; a distracted, mysterious "chronic" in a psych ward. Often he falls into flashback in which parts of his past are unveiled, but are never totally concluded, leaving gaps in the chronology of Cheif Bromden. We already know that his heritage includes American Indian, hence the title "Cheif", he was born on a reservation, and we have a physical description of him. We also know that he is the oldest member of the ward, and has been there the longest. In the ward, he is labled as a "walker" and a "chronic" which means that he is mobile and, by the ward's opinion, does not have a chance for recovery. He plays the role of a deaf and mute person, but as we understand, it is only an act. However, we still do not have much information on why he is in the psych ward.
The stream of consciousness style employed by Kesey is a very effective addative to the novel because of the setting and narrator. This feature lends more credibility and adds to the authenticity of the novel. It helps capture the full character of Cheif Bromden rather than having a third person, omniscient narrator.
The stream of consciousness style employed by Kesey is a very effective addative to the novel because of the setting and narrator. This feature lends more credibility and adds to the authenticity of the novel. It helps capture the full character of Cheif Bromden rather than having a third person, omniscient narrator.
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