Wednesday, 24 October 2012
pages 9-77
In the first part of the novel, we are introduced to Chief Bromden, a massive Native-American that fought in the Vietnamese war. He is an antagonist in the story, and it's interesting to take a look into his perceptions of what he thinks the institution is like, as well as getting an understanding that he is smarter than he appears. I think that it is great that he pretends to be deaf and dumb becausalthough he has mental issues, he is actually aware of what is going on most of the time. I disliked the fact that he was mocked and made fun of for being Native-American, although it is ironic because the aides that made fun of him were black, which was also an oppressed population at the time. I liked the comparison of him comparing Big Nurse to a tractor, which is quite true if you look at in a different perspective, as she plows over everyone to maintain order and control. It is great when McMurphy is introduced into the story, as he makes a gloomy environment entertaining. The mentioning that the ward hadn't heard a laugh like his in years, demonstrates what kind of situation they were all trapped in, not to mention that it wouldn't have been a very pleasant stay. I noticed that the patients had very few civil rights in this institution, and it is crazy how much things have changed in institutions nowadays. Society is more concerned about an individual's rights, and back then it was more or less up to the doctor or nurse in charge, and the patient's wants or needs were pretty much almost completely disregarded. I think the theme sanity vs. insanity has appeared, and the Kesey is trying to state that people who act crazy are sometimes more crazy than those declared "crazy" by a psychiatrist. A prime example of this is McMurphy who thinks by making himself look crazy and getting committed, can get out of labouring away at a farm to finish his sentence. I think this is foreshadowing some events to come, as McMurphy doesn't really know what he has gotten himself into. I also thought it interesting that McMurphy tries to dominate everyone as soon as he gets there, and his cockiness may get him into trouble at some point. I can see him trying to manipulate others to try and get his own way. Something I don't like is when they are talking in the group meetings, and they gang up on the individual up for questioning. I think that Nurse Ratched uses this as an opportunity to demean and emasculate the individuals, one at a time, but what makes it worse is that it's not coming from her it's directly from the peers. This also demonstrates a gang mentality that she sets up, and I think that it's absolutely ludicrous that things like that were allowed to go on. I think it could be very damaging to the characters in the moment, as well as later on in the novel.
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Do you think the aids make fun of Chief for being Native-American because they are ridiculed in the outside world for being black so this gives them a chance to feel superior? I think that in today’s society chief and McMurphy wouldn’t even be in a mental ward. Back then if anyone is different they are deemed crazy. I could see Chief being treated for PTSD and being integrated back into society very easily in the present. I cant really see what is wrong with McMurphy that he needs medical help. I do believe he’s there on a scam so he doesn’t have to be in jail or in work camps. I think it is interesting now that society today cares about an individual’s rights and comforts and back then when the book was written people cared more about how the general populations comforts. Instead of trying to help each individual the nurses are trying to make them blend in and all is the same. I defiantly agree that McMurphys disregard for the rules and attempting to be dominant will get him into trouble. I wonder if he will get chief and the others in trouble as well. I see he already is manipulating the other patients from the moment he walks in. I think he’s very careful about what he says even though it may not seem like it. He seems to calculate his actions.
ReplyDeleteKenzie - good job picking up on the irony that the aides racially belittle someone, despite the fact that it is also done to them. Perhaps that is exactly why they do it - it is another version of the pecking party. The aides pick on Chief to avoid being picked on themselves. Perhaps, they also feel it is due time that another race be belittled because the African Americans were persecuted for such a long time. I also like that you picked up on the tractor, laughter, etc. These are all key symbols/motifs in the novel. This was an excellent in post in the sense that you focused on so many things, however, for the blogging assignments I want you to focus on one key issue for each blog. Then explore this issue from three perspectives: connect to text as a whole/another text/literature in general, connect to yourself, connect to the world. These ideas should be broken down into separate paragraphs :)
ReplyDeleteJacqueline - good job picking up on the fact that society today cares more about the feelings of patients than society as a whole. This is a 180 from the way it was in the 1960s. You are also correct that McMurphy is big time controlling and manipulative (therefore, likely smart as well). Keep watching his manipulation and that of Big Nurse. It is interesting to see that they hate each other, even though they act the same way. How will the patients respond to their manipulation? Do they see the two characters as being the same?