Hello guys ! Well, I’m sad to inform you, but we’re in the last part of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Our journey with Bromden and McMurphy is coming to an end, so, without further notice, we’ll go ahead and finish it !

Nurse Ratched has another trick up her sleeve; she posted the patients’ financial statements that revealed that everyone’s accounts were declining except McMurphy. This caused the patients to question McMurphy’s motives at this institution. In addition, Ratched intentionally lets McMurphy take a call to keep him away from the Group Meeting, giving her the opportunity to attempt to manipulate the patients into the idea that his actions are only for his personal gain. Shortly, Harding argues that McMurphy never hid his gambling ways, so they only received their money’s worth.

Now, I will be the first one to say that I don’t agree with imposing harm towards others. However there is no doubt in my mind that McMurphy would do anything for only his benefit. If anything, he has only helped these patients see the best in themselves at his expense. He is the one that will more than likely have to pay for these antics in the end, but we’ll just have to see.

Unfortunately, Bromden had a different mindset about the situation. McMurphy asked him to lift the control panel to test his growth since the fishing trip, and he was able to move it a half a foot. Knowing that Bromden already moved the panel beforehand, McMurphy made and won a rigged bet with other patients. This made Bromden uncomfortable, and he couldn’t accept the five dollars from McMurphy due to the fact that he wins all the time.

Overall, the timing of this whole incident was a total disadvantage for McMurphy. The patients already have some doubt in his intentions. Specifically, Bromden feels that McMurphy has only used him to take advantage of the other patients in yet another bet of his. Let’s see what happens next !

Ratched ordered that everyone who went on the fishing trip to be cleansed. George has a fear of cleanliness and begged that the aides to not use a specific cleansing spray on him. McMurphy and Bromden fought the aides in George’s defense, causing them both to be sent to Disturbed.

I think that this personal risk solidified the patient’s trust for McMurphy because they finally see his true objective at this ward. In addition, it warms my heart to see Bromden gain some of his self-confidence. He has grown so much throughout this novel, and I hope to see more from him.Now, I’m super anxious to see what happens in the Disturbed ward tonight. This evening should be interesting !

The nice Japanese nice greeted them and explained that the nurses are pretty sick themselves and attempt to run the place like a army hospital.

Now, I don’t know about you, but that information about people who are supposed to be my caregivers would almost frighten me. That’s just me, but I’m gonna get back to the story !

Fast-forwarding, Ratched gives McMurphy an opportunity to avoid electroshock therapy if he admits that he was wrong, and he refuses. Bromden and he are sent to treatment that morning, which doesn’t phase McMurphy but terrifies Bromden. After treatment, Chief has a rush of images from his childhood and is able to resist the fog once he gains consciousness.

Now, it’s pretty evident that Bromden is no longer affected by this therapy treatment, showing that he is starting to have his own mindset about his true self.

On the other hand, McMurphy receives three more shock treatments and seems to have a nonchalant attitude about the consequences, but Bromden knows that they are starting to affect him. Ratched realizes that McMurphy is beginning to have a better influence since he has been out of sight, so she brings him back to the ward.

Now, let’s pause for a second, shall we ?

The novel mentions how McMurphy wondered if he would get a “crown of thorns,” which is an obvious allusion to the crucifixion of Christ. This imagery suggest that McMurphy may act as a martyr for the other patients in the institution since he is sacrificing himself for their sake of learning resistance against Ratched, which may explain Bromden’s new-found strength against the electroshock treatments due to the assistance of an unlikely savior. Now, this reasoning from Ratched doesn’t surprise me. Hopefully, everything turns up once he gets back.

“They’re still sick men in lots of ways. But at least there’s that: they are sick men now. No more rabbits, Mack.”

Anywho, the patients urge McMurphy to escape from the hospital because they know that Ratched is only going to continue to harass him. Instead, McMurphy reminds them that Billy still has his date with Candy that night.

Now, I appreciate how considerate that he is being in regards to Billy’s date, but I hope that he doesn’t push himself too far. I’m not a fan of Ratched, and I don’t know what she has in mind for McMurphy. Hopefully, he’ll take their advice and be a little conscious of his actions.

Meanwhile, McMurphy persuades Turkle, a night aid, to open the window for Candy as she arrives with Sandy and extensive amounts of alcohol. Everyone mixes vodka with their cough syrup while Turkle and McMurphy smoke joints. Sefelt has a seizure on Candy, and Harding sprinkles pills on them. Later that evening, or morning in their case, Candy and Billy decide to retreat in the Seclusion Room.

Let’s see how this goes for them!

They needed to devise a plan of escape before the staff arrived later that morning. Harding suggests that they tie up Turkle to where the situation looked like one of McMurphy’s attempt of escape. McMurphy would have the opportunity to be on his way with Sandy and Candy while Turkle nor the rest of the patients would get into any trouble. In response, McMurphy asked whether anyone else would be willing to leave with him; Harding makes a response that he is almost ready to leave the ward on his own with the rest of the patients feeling about the same way.

Now, I would have proceeded with Harding’s idea and went about my day, but, of course, McMurphy had other plans.

McMurphy and Sandy climb into bed together where the aides find them that morning. Bromden supposed that the consequences of this crime were certain since McMurphy would more than likely come back so that Nurse Ratched didn’t get the last act.

I agree with this theory from Bromden because it just doesn’t surprise me how stubborn McMurphy has been about all of his antics throughout this novel. I mean nothing has stopped him from his rebellious actions, so I don’t see what would change his mindset at this point. Anyways, let’s get back on track !

All of the patients are skeptical about the events that took place last night. Ratched discovers more remnants from the party, which causes the patients to break out in laughter and anger Ratched. McMurphy gets an opportunity to escape once Turkle undoes the screen to release Sandy; he refuses despite the repercussions that Harding explained to him. Nurse Ratched find Candy and Billy in bed together as they both act calmly and move “like cats full of warm milk.” When the nurse threatens to tell his mother, Billy becomes hysterical and blames McMurphy, Candy, and Harding for the entire situation. She sends Billy to Doctor Spivey’s offce while she clears up the whole situation, but Billy ends up committing suicide by cutting his throat. Nurse Ratched asked if he was satisfied with his accomplishments as she walks into the Nurses’ Station, and McMurphy smashes through the doors and rips open Ratched’s uniform as he attempts to strangle her before he is pulled off her while he cries out “ of cornered- animal fear and hate and surrender and defiance.”

I bawled my eyes out when I reached this part of the novel. They made so much progress since McMurphy has been in this ward, and Ratched had to provoke this man to his breaking point. McMurphy takes on the role of a Christ figure afterwards once he makes the ultimate sacrifice so that Billy’s death isn’t used as a method to undo what the patients have gained when he attacks Ratched and rips open uniform, which could be symbolic to the breaking of her power and the demolishment of his own life as well.

Many of the Acutes have transferred to another ward or have left the institution altogether. Ratched returns to the hospital from medical leave and is unable to speak and can’t have her former power over the ward. Soon, the only patients that are left are Martini, Scanlon, and Bromden. Due to his attack, McMurphy is given a lobotomy that leaves him as a vegetable. That same evening, Bromden suffocates McMurphy and throws the control panel out the window to escape the ward where he hitches a ride with a trucker.

I was in such a shock once I reached the end of this novel. Words can’t even explain the half of how I feel because I am just speechless. I don’t appreciate that Ratched tried to give McMurphy a fate that was worse than death because his vegetable state would only be a way for her to make an example of him to other patients along the way. Even though it gives me mixed emotions, I am glad that Bromden let McMurphy remain a dignified character by killing him so that he will always be an authentic resemblance of resistance to others.

Now, let’s briefly look at this novel !

This novel truly stands for something that was ahead of its time. The society that we live in attempts to use the tactics of Ratched to industrialize many people in this great nation. The “fog” that Bromden references throughout the novel represents the state of mind that our government tries to impose on us because many people are just plain ignorant to the conditions of our country. For example, many people aren’t fully aware of the impact of the government shut down on most American families. They have total disregard for the fact that many people are living in a paycheck-by-paycheck household, and the lack of support from the government only renders these families helpless.This is just one of many circumstances where the American people have fallen victim to these inconsiderate tactics of the government by one of two methods: they lose themselves or create their own graves.

Thank you all so much for your time ! I can’t believe this is my final post, so I guess I’ll see you all until next time !

Hey guys ! I’m so glad to hear from you all ! I have finished Part Three of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and can’t wait to disclose some great insights from this novel. Without further ado, let’s get started, shall we ?

“A man going fishing with two whores from Portland don’t have to take that crap.”

Well, the big day has arrived ! The two girls will be here to take the patients and McMurphy on their voyage at sea! McMurphy added Bromden’s name to the list of patients who are going on the deep-sea fishing trip. To finish off this list, he persuades George Sorenson to be the last person to sign up for the trip and the captain of their crew.

It’s so sweet that McMurphy embrace George’s better self ! I hope the trip turns out as planned !

Well, Houston, we have a problem !

Candy, one of the prostitutes, arrives late without Sandy who is supposed to be driving the second car for the ten men; old Sandra decided to get right and got married to a fellow named Artie Gilfillian.

Well, I’m happy for her and the fact that she got her life together. Let’s see how McMurphy handles this curveball !

In the meantime, the patients become Infatuated by Candy’s beauty, considering the fact that she is one of the few exposures of femininity that the patients have a chance to see. Nurse Ratched threatens to cancel the trip because all of the patients can’t fit in Candy’s car; she also learns that McMurphy lied about the rental cost of the boat to make a profit off the rest of the patients in order to create her usual divide-and-conquer strategy.

Now, I don’t like the fact that he lied about the cost. However, he let Bromden come on the trip for free and reduced the price for George. He wanted to do this trip to not only enjoy himself but to also give some of his fellow inmates an opportunity to have that exposure to the outside world.

Let’s see what happens !

Despite these obstacles, McMurphy uses Candy to persuade Doctor Spivey into driving the second car for the remaining patients. The patients become uneasy as people glance at their green suits. When the cars stop for gas, the attendants attempt to take advantage of these patients by trying to get them to purchase more than they can afford.

I got so angry at this moment ! It just makes me so uncomfortable to witness or even hear when people try to take advantage of those who can’t even take care of themselves. It’s repulsing to know that there are people in this world that act so ignorantly towards others.

Anyways, I’m gonna get back to the story before I get angry all over again !

I’m glad that I’m not the only one who had something to say about this. McMurphy decides to get out of the car and warn the attendants that they are psychotic murders in which the rest of the patients take this opportunity to utilize their illnesses to intimidate these attendants at this station.

I was so happy when I got to this part of the novel. I thought I was gonna cry because it just warms my heart to see these people lose their nervousness and have confidence in themselves. It’s great to see that McMurphy has taught them how to cope with the outside society in a new way, dismissing the habit of conformity. I hope to see their growth as individuals continue as the novel gradually comes to an end.

As they drive to the docks, Bromden marvels at the impact that the Combined had had on the outside society, including the mechanized commuters, homes, and children. Fast-forwarding, the captain refuses to let them take their trip because he doesn’t have a signed waiver that will exonerate him if any accidents occur. Meanwhile, the patients feel ashamed that they can’t defend Candy when the men on the dock begin to harass her.

I felt awful for the patients at this point. It’s almost like they took a step backwards from their previous behavior of confidence that they had towards the men at the station, which emphasizes how much they depend on McMurphy’s leadership to further endeavor in their own individuality.

Anywho, McMurphy distracts the captain with a phone call as he starts to get the rest of the patients aboard the ship. The captain doesn’t realize this until the crew is already at sea. They all take turns with the fishing pole and catch large fish as they get drunk on the boat.

Now, I did find some amusement in the interaction between the patients and McMurphy on this boat ride. McMurphy refuses to help them once they are at sea. Although this tactic could be detrimental to some, it was actually pretty beneficial for these guys since they learned how to not only physically handle themselves without McMurphy but also see themselves as real men. It almost reminds me of the time that Christ brought his disciples out to sea and has them fend for themselves without Jesus’s assistance. Hopefully, they will continue to show great progress from this practice !

Back to the summary, the captain and the police await for them as they return to the docks. Doctor Spivey threatens to inform the authorities that there weren’t enough life jackets on the boat, so the police leave without making any arrests. The previous men at the dock are impressed the large fish that the patients have caught and the fact that George is a retired fisherman. Once the captain and McMurphy finish their small altercation, they have a drink together with the rest of the patients. On the way back to the ward, McMurphy arranges a date for Billy and Candy in two weeks on a Saturday night.

Well, that was an interstate trip, but I’m glad that they all had a great time and can’t wait to hear more about Billy’s date!

Let’s continue !

Everyone is in full excitement when they arrive at the ward except McMurphy. Although the rest of the patients say that he just lost some suntan, Bromden senses a deeper situation. Beforehand, they took a detour towards a run-down house that McMurphy used to live as a child. There was an old rag that was caught in a tree, which was actually a reminder of his first time having sex at the age of ten with a girl who was younger. She gave him the dress as a reminder of that evening, and he threw it out the window where it got caught in a branch to this day. Bromden recalls that McMurphy made a face that was “dreadfully and strained and frantic, like there wasn’t enough time left for something he had to do.”

Once I reached this end, I came to a bunch of realization about McMurphy. This first initial experience as a child preexposed him to his current life as an adult. In addition, the responsibility of assisting these patients in discovering their own individuality is starting to wear down McMurphy in a sense. He exhaustion could have stemmed from something prior to this trip, which could explain his facial expression in the car that has a connection with his encounter of being sexually dominated by a female as a child. This experience could be the root to his behavior towards Ratched through the course of this novel. Ultimately, his humility could acts as not his strength against Ratched’s force in this industrialized society but also his weakness that may foreshadow his downhall as the strain continues to increase.

Thank you all so much for reading ! Let’s see what happens in the final part of this nove

Welcome back ! I hope you all are ready for the new-found adventures that have been happening in the beginning of Part Three of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, so let’s begin the discussion !

“She knew she’d lost one big round and was losing another, but she wasn’t in any hurry.”

This is certainly explains Ratched’s dilemma. McMurphy resumes to his rebellious behavior after breaking Ratched’s personal window. Doctor Spivey has even began to show some will-power over Ratched, specifically for the new basketball team.

I was so proud of the progress in Doctor Spivey at this moment because I can just imagine his progress as well. Even though he treats these patients for their efforts, it is very evident that he is just like them due to his weakness in character as well. Hopefully, this strength will continue to grow in this character.

Let’s continue!

The rest of the staff members have placed cardboard in the window frame right over Nurse Ratched’s desk. Although she cannot see through it, she still sat behind as if she could see straight through it.

Strange, right?

Anywho, both McMurphy and Ratched continue to address each other in “the most polite fashion.” She rejects his request for an Accompanied Pass, which is written permission for a patient to leave the ward with someone from outside the ward. McMurphy wanted to leave the ward with a woman named Candy Starr, a prostitute that he knows from Portland. In response to Ratched’s rejection, he walked to the Nurses’ Station and punched through Ratched’s new glass that had just been replaced earlier that day. He explains that he thought that “ the cardboard had been left out and the frame was open.” After this act, Bromden lets it be known that Ratched’s patience is running short. This leads to the third shattering of the window when Scanlon accidentally threw the basketball through it, causing Ratched to throw away the basketball.

Well, I guess it does get better ! Maybe this is all apart of McMurphy’s plan. He might want to drive her over the edge so that she will release him while he also shows the other patients that it is possible to think and do for themselves.

But, who knows ? We’ll just have to see what’s up McMurphy’s sleeves.

Doctor Spivey approves an Accompanied Pass for McMurphy when he says that he will be with his two aunts from Oregon City on a deep-sea fishing trip. McMurphy gets the opportunity to bring nine other patients with each paying ten dollars to cover the boat rental. However, Ratched places newspaper clippings on the bulletin board about wrecked ships and storms on the seas to scare the patients from going on the trip. Due to her tactics, it took some time for patients to sign up for the trip, resulting in a shortage the day before the festivities.

Well, this should be interesting, but who knows what will happen !

Bromden wanted to sign up for the voyage despite the fact that he doesn’t have the funds, but he also knows that it will expose the fact that he isn’t deaf and dumb. He feels that he need “to keep on acting deaf if [he] wanted to hear at all.” This decision reminds him of a childhood memory in which three colonists came to his home to have a discussion with his father about buying the tribe’s land. As he attempts to speak to them to honor his father and family, they act as though they can’t hear him say a word, which is the first time that Bromden remembers anything from his childhood.

“There is generally one person in every situation you must never underestimate the power of.”

Now, I will be so ecstatic when Bromden practices this mindset for himself. I understand and empathize with Chief Bromden because I know that this is his way for survival through the institution. However, it is still evident that he still needs time to develop strength in his own character. I wish that he gets to a place where he becomes more confident in himself and doesn’t depend on his deaf-and-dumb cover to survive in this ward.

For the moment, I’ll cut this rant and keep it moving !

That evening, Bromden and McMurphy wake up to Greever, a night aid, as he scrapes the gum from under Chief’s bed.

Well, what a way to ruin someone’s rest, huh?

Greever tells McMurphy that he always wondered how an indigent patient like Bromden could obtain gum for so long. Once he leaves the room, McMurphy hands Bromden a piece of Juicy Fruit gum. Bromden unintentionally thanks McMurphy for his gesture.

I was so excited to see that Chief finally spoke to someone in this ward. It was frustrating that I couldn’t see his interaction with other characters. Let’s see what he does !

McMurphy takes this opportunity to tell Bromden about the time that he took a job picking beans as a kid. He explains that the adults ignored him, so he became silent and listened to the gossip about everyone. At the end of the summer, McMurphy decides to tell everyone what each person had to say concerning the gossip, creating chaos around the workplace. With this story, he wants Bromden to stand up to the staff at the ward. Chief responds that he isn’t as bold as McMurphy to do anything like that.

“I used to be big, but not no more. You’re twice the size of me.”

Now, I know that he is speaking about his inner self, but it is still heartbreaking to hear someone speak less of themselves. It may be true, but there is always a silver lining in adversity.

Anywho, let’s continue!

McMurphy offers to make Chief Bromden big again with his special training program; he will pay Bromden’s way for the trip as long as he gets large enough to lift the control panel in the tub room. McMurphy even goes to the extreme of telling him that the two aunts were actually prostitutes that will be accompanying them on this trip.

Oh yeah ! I just knew there was something fishy about these aunties of McMurphy. We’ll see what happens with this, but let’s continue.

McMurphy begins to gloat about the progress that Bromden will have after the training session. When McMurphy notices Chief’s erection, he declares that he is getting bigger already.

Now, let’s get an overview of this section of Part Three, huh ?

The patients are starting to gain their own individuality from Ratched as the story continues to progress. This could show how Nurse Ratched doesn’t emotionally castrate McMurphy and them. Bromden is slowly but surely gaining self-knowledge with the influence of McMurphy; his decision to speak illustrates how goodwill has played a huge role in his growth as a character. There is no telling what could happen next, and I hope that it is all for the best !

Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you all stay tune for my next post !

Hello party people! It is my pleasure in telling you all about the second half of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and I know you all have been waiting on this post. With that being said, I’m gonna stop talking and get straight to it !

“I don’t seem able to get it straight in my mind…”

Well, that pretty much sums up how I feel about this next part ! Sefelt, an epileptic patient, has a seizure on the floor. It has been apparent that Fredrickson has been taking Sefelt’s medication, so Ratched discontinues Sefelt’s medication usage. McMurphy grows disturbed by the whole situation as Ratched uses this opportunity to demonstrate the importance in following her orders.

Now, I don’t want to be the one to tell anyone how to run their business, but this is not okay ladies and gentlemen. I did some research on their medication ( Dilantin), and these side effects can have detrimental impacts on patients. I think Scanlon explains it best in saying, “ Hell of a life. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Puts a man in one confounded bind.” Speaking from a person who has relative who have epilepsy, I would not want any pain to be inflicted on them as I wouldn’t for these patients. Maybe the ward could look into a new medication, but, hey, that’s just me!

Let’s continue !

Mr. Harding’s wife pays him a visit at the institution. He mocks her poor grammar skills while she rants about how his friends keep coming to the house to look for him before she leaves from her brief visit. When Harding asked McMurphy for his opinion of her, he completely lashes out against both sides and exclaims that he’s “got worries of my own without getting hooked with yours.”

I applaud McMurphy for his decision to not take sides in the situation because neither person was just completely noble in my eyes. I found his constant grammar corrections as annoying and as a tactic to display his masculine role in front of McMurphy, and she seemed too comfortable with McMurphy when she asked for that cigarette. In addition, I also feel that McMurphy’s rage towards Harding was just a way for him to blow off some steam concerning his own conflict to completely leave the ward. Hopefully, all goes well.

It has been three weeks since the TV vote, the patients are getting chest X-rays for TB. During this time McMurphy learns that Ratched can also send whoever she wants to electroshock therapy and lobotomy even though both of these techniques are outdated.

Well, it’s outdated for a reason, so I don’t see why it’s still being practiced here. Some of these patients are so brainwashed that they think it’s extremely helpfully, but I, along with McMurphy, see it as a death wish.

Anywho, let’s keep it a-going !

McMurphy tells these other patients that he now understands why they submit to Ratched and her every command and why they encourage his rebellious behavior so that they won’t have to do it for themselves. In fact, he realizes how she controls their every move, specifically treatments and release. This is when Harding explains that majority of the Acute patients are voluntary except for McMurphy and Scanlon.

At this moment, I was just as perplexed as McMurphy until he asks some of the Acutes, specifically Billy and Sefelt, and learns that they feel that they aren’t as confident with themselves like McMurphy. Billy begins to cry and stutter as he speaks while leaving everyone speechless as he summarizes everyone’s mutual feelings.

I could feel the emotion as I read that part. I just wanted to give them all a hug and tell them everything would be okay. I almost forgot that this was a novel, but that just shows how relatable this novel can be because I know lots of people who feel this way about themselves now. Even though Kesey wrote this book in the 1960s, it is truly ahead of its time.

Bromden makes a constant reference to the sound of his heart throughout the next setting of the novel. McMurphy decides to purchase three cartons of cigarettes. At the Group Meeting, Ratched announces that Doctor Spivey and her have decided to punish the men for their behavior in regards to the house duties that occurred three weeks ago. Since nobody apologized or showed any sign of remorse, they felt that a manner of punishment was needed as she continued to her speech on the importance of rules.

Now, I agree that rules are needed in order to keep the peace in any organization. However, I found it out of line when she decided to bring up their childhood exposure to disobedience and said, “That foolish lenience on the part of your parents may have been the germ that grew into your present illness.” It was at this moment that I lost my marbles.

First of all, none of the patients that participated in the act have anything wrong with them; they are only at the ward due to their own insecurity in their views of themselves. Second, everyone came from different families and household, so her generalization in regards to their parenting environments is flawed. I would not be a happy camper if anyone tried to say any of these things to me, so I was beyond upset when she said this to these patients.

Okay, I’m finished with my spill. Let’s get to the ending !

Nurse Ratched explains that the staff and ger have decided to take away the second game room due to their actions. Everyone turns to see McMurphy’s reaction to this gesture, but he continues to smile and tip his hat. Even though it seems that Ratched has regained her control, McMurphy approaches her Nurse Station after the meeting and calmly punished his hand through her glass window in reaching for his cigarettes. He apologizes and claims that he forgot the glass was there since it was so spotless. It was at this moment that Bromden’s ringing stopped, and there was a spark in McMurphy’s character.

Well, it looks like our favorite hero is back, but let’s do a quick recap !

As the storyline commenced, I could see that McMurphy realize his importance to these people in this ward. He conformed to these circumstances for his own sake, but I think he is now understanding that his responsibility to show these patients their own strength through resistance. The constant sound that Bromden makes reference to towards the end of Part Two could be a connection to McMurphy’s antics that have had a strong influence on Chief’s behavior. He now has a full understanding of his leadership role in the ward and his consequences for his actions. The breaking of the glass could be symbolic to the idea that Ratched’s power is ever present, and their knowledge of her power makes it breakable.

Thank you all so much for reading! I can’t wait to talk to you all later !

Welcome back beautiful people! Are you all ready to hear an update on our people in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? I’m very anxious to tell you all what has been going on within the first half of Part Two of the novel, so, without further ado, let’s get to it !

“For the first time she’s on the other side of the glass and getting a taste of how it feels to be watched when you wish more than anything else to be able to pull a green shade between your face and all the eyes that you can’t get away from.”

Well, you can say that again!

The tables have truly turned ever since Nurse Ratched’s outburst. They have been watching her intensively through her glass-in office as she has done to them as she tries to retain her composure for the staff meeting.

Karma is something, huh?

Anywho, Bromden tells how he no longer sees any fog around the ward but immediately remembers that he is supposed to clean the staff room during the meeting. He fears that everyone will realize that he is not deaf due to his vote from earlier in the day. Chief attends anyways even though he knows that Ratched is suspicious of his behavior. As the meeting commences, Nurse Ratched remains silent as Doctor Spivey attempts to orchestrate this meeting as her stares make him “nervous and fidgety.”

I found this very unfortunate that he could not freely take initiative for himself when he is the one that is supposed to be in charge at this ward. It’s very stereotypical that a man runs most organizations in this time frame of this novel; however, the degrade in masculinity that I see from Spivey almost made me wonder whether it was a coincidence for the novel’ sake or purposely done to emphasize the modern concept of female leadership. I may be overthinking it, but it was just a thought that ran through my mind as I read through that part.

Anywho, let’s get back to it!

Unfortunately, the staff misreads her silence as approval as they conclude that McMurphy is extraordinary person that violent and needs to be sent to the Disturbed ward. Ratched disagrees; she proposes that he is “simply a man and no more” and should not be sent to the Disturbed ward for the simple fact that those retaliations are what is expected for him. She believes that he will eventually comply since she controls how long he stays in the institution.

Now, I agree with most of the Nurse’s statement; McMurphy symbolizes the masculinity in any ordinary guy. Most of these guys, including the narrator, had lost sight of reality until McMurphy’s presence, so it’s accurate to say that he does provide some type of sight towards normal living. In addition, his dismissal to the Disturbed ward could possibly cause an outrage, giving the patients more of a reason to rebel in his favor.

Let’s see how this goes.

McMurphy continues to antagonize Nurse Ratched and the rest of the staff, which amuses the rest of the Acutes. She gives him latrine duty, but he continues to partake in his class-clown behavior as he only “runs a brush around the bowls once or twice” and “splash in some Clorox.” In fact, there wasn’t much cleaning that was getting done since the patients would sit around the television and listen to McMurphy’s stories during the afternoon house duties.

I mean what did you expect! This is very typical for most males, and McMurphy’s presence brings out the confidence in all of these men to embrace their male tendencies.

It astonishes Bromden that the Combine has not broken McMurphy, which causes him to perform a self-reflection of himself and see McMurphy in a new light as well.

Bromden’s statement enlightened me because I was able to see this transition as well. I hope that this growth continues, but who knows.

One night, Chief looks out the window and gazes at the countryside of the hospital. He spots a dog that is sniffling around the ward as a flock of geese fly overhead and watches closely as the dog runs out to the same pavement as an ongoing car.

Although I was confused during this scene of the novel, I reread and recognized some possible representations that could pertain to our lives as well. The interactions between the animals and man-made objects mirror the relationship between the patients and the Combine. The geese and car possibly symbolize the extremes of society as the geese show the free, open nature of life while the car indicates the tyrant, oppressive community. The dog resembles the domestic people within society who are stuck in between worlds, and the fact that the car and the dog were headed towards “the same spot of the pavement” could imply that a person can experience repercussion from clashing with its mechanized environment since it’s more than likely that the dog was harmed from the accident. This could also be a parallel amongst McMurphy, Ratched and the Acutes as their world continue to clash in McMurphy’s favor.

Hopefully, no one gets hurt !

The ward is taken to the hospital’s pool where McMurphy learns that the staff of the ward determine his time of release. After learning this information, McMurphy decides to retain from his rebellious behavior around Ratched; this exercise is particularly practiced during a Group Meeting at which McMurphy doesn’t support Cheswick when he mentions the cigarette rationing. As a result, Cheswick is sent to the Disturbed ward due to his outburst; he tells McMurphy that he understands why he doesn’t rebel against Ratched anymore and drowns in the pool later that day.

I was so heartbroken when I learned about the death of Cheswick. Although McMurphy doesn’t understand his role as a leader in this rebellion, this event will hopefully solidify his position for him. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens !

Thank you all for reading ! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the second half of Part Two of the novel !

Hey you guys! So, I have finished up Part One of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and I’m proud to say that I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next. With that being said, stay tuned and let’s get started with our session, shall we?

McMurphy continues the morning with his class clown acts and confident demeanor, trying to get the other patients to laugh. Later, he asks Nurse Ratched if they could turn down the radio for those who are playing cards. She politely refuses and doesn’t let them go to another room to play their card game due to the lack of staff members that could watch them in the other room.

Now, many people in this ward would let the issue go away, but McMurphy isn’t going for it. I could sense another one of his tricks of his sleeve when he went to Doctor Spivey for his interview, and they both were laughing as they conversated in his office.

During the Group Meeting, Spivey announces McMurphy’s idea to turn up the music in the ward for those who have a hard time hearing. He also mentions using the table room as a place for those who want to play cards and other board games as well and even discusses splitting up the staff since the hard-to- hear Chronics are much easier to supervise. The other Acutes were smiling and nodding in agreeance to this idea while Ratched strived heavily to maintain her composure.

McMurphy is able to play a Monopoly game with Harding and Martini for the last three days in which he has been trying to restrain from losing his temper with the staff. Chief Bromden recalls one event in which McMurphy loses his temper at a Group Meeting with the other patients; he wanted to watch the World Series during their designated cleaning time. To maintain the peace, he proposed that they watch TV in the afternoon and clean in the evening in which Nurse Ratched refuses to comply with his request. When McMurphy opens up a vote for the situation at the Group Meeting, only Chadwick is brave to defy Ratched while the other Acutes were afraid of long term repercussions.

I’m gonna make a quick pause for a second and say that I just love how Chadwick resembles almost like a sidekick from the way that he is always the first one to stand up against authority with McMurphy. It’s a relief to see this rebellious behavior from someone else as well.

Anywho, let’s continue!

As retaliation against the rest of the cowards, McMurphy beats them all terribly in debt during card games. He still continues to be furious and declares how he is going to break out with Chadwick and go to the Idle Hour to watch the Series. Fredrickson requests to see how McMurphy plans to break out of the hospital. In response, McMurphy wants to use the cement control panel to break the window to bust out the institution. This statement leds to the bet that McMurphy couldn’t lift the heavy object even if he wanted to; everyone, including McMurphy, knows that it would be impossible to move such a large item. However, his effort provided a glimpse of hope to everyone.

Now, this is where some backtracking seemed to happen for me.

Bromden remembers how Public Relations came by the hospital and commented on how there weren’t any pictures nor televisions in the old hospitals. The man even speaks on how something must be wrong with “a man that would want to run away from a place as nice as this.”

This short segment of this part of the novel made me question if these institutions were actually getting better for patients over the years. I just didn’t see how TV and pictures equalled “improvement” to someone. For me, the outer appearance doesn’t eliminate the circumstances of the institution.

But, that’s just my opinion.

Bromden senses the presence of the fog machine. He explains how it makes him feel safe when it is turned on while McMurphy keeps trying to “drag us out of the fog, out in the open where we’d be easy to get at.” In addition, Chief overhears a conversation about Old Rawler, a patient who was in Disturbed and committed suicide by cutting off his testicles. Consciously, Bromden can’t understand “what makes people so impatient.” He feels that “all the guy had to do was wait.”

I threw the book once I read that statement ! I understand that he’s old and all, but I certainly disagree with this remark. Now, I don’t agree with suicide in any way, but I do feel that no one should have to “wait” until their death sentence to gain their individuality, especially in a place like this hospital.

Gosh! I need to stop interrupting, but I had to get that off my chest. Let’s finish it out !

Chief continuously describes his experience while getting lost in the fog two of three time a month that resulted in his visits to the Shock Room. As he continues, he discusses how he finds himself deep in the fog at the Group Meeting as they ridicule Billy for his stuttering problem and failed relationship. McMurphy takes this opportunity to open up another vote for the TV that afternoon since the World Series started that day. He was able to get all twenty of the Acutes to vote in his favor, but Ratched dismisses the agreement since there was not a majority vote because none of the twenty Chronics placed a vote over the issue. McMurphy persuaded Bromden to raise his hand for the majority vote, but Nurse Ratched wouldn’t count his vote.

She just won’t let anyone be great, will she! Ratched will get what’s coming to her though!

McMurphy looked at the clock during the afternoon chores and rejoices that it is time for the game. When he turns on the television, Ratched immediately turns off the power. She grows furious and demands that McMurphy continue with his afternoon chores. In response, the rest of the Acutes pull up chairs and sit right next to McMurphy, which causes her to scream and rave about their disregard towards the rules. I guess you could say that McMurphy won his bet afterall.

I was overjoyed to hear, well read, that McMurphy won his bet against Ratched aka “Big Nurse” to the patients but more like Principal Trunchbull from Matilda to me!

Now, there’s one last thing that I want to highlight about this particular section of the novel before I go.

Bromden makes a number of references to this fog machine throughout the end of the novel. He uses this military-like reference to explain the usage of the fog machine at the ward.

“Whenever intelligence figured there might me a bombing attack, or if the general had something secret they wanted to pull—out of sight, hid so good that even the spies on the base couldn’t see what went on—they fogged the field.”

Yeah, this quote pretty much summarizes the ways of the ward. Ratched dulls out the patients’ senses, causing them to unintentionally relinquish their own individuality. In doing this, it creates an unhealthy sense of ease for them even though they know that some of these tactics are flawed. They can’t understand their own strength against her forces until McMurphy comes into the picture. He demonstrates how they too can overcome for their own will, which is seen when Chief decided that it was his choice to raise his hand in defiance of Ratched at the end of the novel.

“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.”

In addition, this statement also creates this image of reality versus fantasy to me. Throughout the course of Part One, Ratched dominated these patients by shaming their sexuality as men. Rather than curing their mental illnesses, she belittles their character to create power for herself. One the other hand, McMurphy assists the male patients in embracing their masculinity and collectively standing tall against adversity.

Thank you all so much for keeping up with my blog, and this one will conclude Part One of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Ken Kesey really was ahead of his time when he wrote this one! I cannot wait to see what the next three parts will uncover for me!

Hey you guys ! I’m back and happy to say that I am finishing up Part One of the novel. Now, I want to keep you all on your toes, so I’m gonna break this next part into two parts so that we can finish up this week. Well, let me stop talking and fill you all in on what is happening in this whimsical cuckoo’s nest!

Chief Bromden believes that Ratched has the ability to control the clocks of the ward, which moves everything in a painfully fast or slow pace around the hospital.

Now, I do agree with this statement because this tactic would allow her to have all power over the systems of the institution as she has demonstrated.

Anywho, let’s get back to the summary.

Even though he senses this control, he can maintain himself with the assistance of the “fog machine.” Unfortunately, it has not been used lately ever since the residency of McMurphy. Fast forwarding, Bromden witnesses McMurphy con the other patients while playing cards in which he wins their cigarettes but lets the other members win them back towards the end of the game. McMurphy startles a nightly nurse, causing Bromden to miss his medication for the evening, and he later implies that he knows that Chief is not actually deaf since he was able to correctly respond to McMurphy’s request for him to get ready for bed. Throughout the night, Bromden experiences a nightmare in which he sees the ward as a slaughterhouse. He gets the privilege to see a staff member hang Old Blastic on a meat hook and proceed to slice the man open, which soon results in his awakening from Mr. Truckle.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I need a moment to debrief before I continue.

I just really appreciate the fact that Kesey utilizes Chief Bromden as the narrator of this story because it is very evident that he is extremely observant in every setting. Specifically, he sees how strategically McMurphy sets up the other players to lose their cigarettes unlike the other patients that are watching this game. Furthermore, Chief’s bizarre nightmare demonstrates how his alternate state of mind shows much significance to the true perception of the ward. He sees the hospital as a place that does not encourage the health of all of the patients but rather a venue that murders the humanity within people. The depiction of this is seen when he says how he did not see blood and innard fall out of the man’s wounds but unexpectedly sees “ a shower of rust and ashes, and now and again a piece of wire or glass. “ The metaphorical concept behind this nightmare resembles how the institution dehumanizes its patients and industrialize their character.

Okay, that’s enough smart talk for now! Let’s carry on with this story!

McMurphy awakens everyone with his singing in the restroom. Mr. Williams, one of the aides, won’t let him brush his teeth with the toothpaste, so McMurphy decides to use powder soap to continue his morning routine. The aid decides to wait until Ratched’ arrival to discuss his behavior; she was ready to grip at McMurphy until he walks out the latrine in just his towel. He tells her that someone stole his greens, so she starts to reprimand Mr. Washington, the aid that handled the laundry duty. He brings more clothes for McMurphy to wear until McMurphy reveals that he did have on shorts the entire time. Nurse Ratched becomes furious from his actions but manages to keep her composure as more patients begin to wake up for the day.

Now, let’s look at this for a minute!

Going back into the novel, Bromden always mentions how the patients and he are constantly lost in this hallucination of fog, which is metaphorically correct. Big Nurse’s actions dull the patients’ senses, causing them to see the ward’s actions in a deceiving light. However, this small infracture of the rules in this towel incident reflects McMurphy’s humor technique to cope with Ratched’s authority. Bromden had to hide his smile of laughter from the aid, which could mean that he is starting to be uplifted from this metaphorical fog.

Thank you all so much for tuning into this blog post! I can just feel more Tom and Jerry tactics from Ratched and McMurphy, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!

“This world…belongs to the strong, my friend! The ritual of our existence is based on the strong getting stronger by devouring the weak.”

Welcome back to his remarkable world of surprises in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest! I’m sure that you all had a great weekend and could not wait wait for the next piece of this saga. Well, the time is here, so let’s begin our quest!

This next part of the novel introduces the institution’s theory of the Therapeutic Community. This concept implements that “the goal of the Therapeutic Community is a democratic ward, run completely by the patients and their votes, working towards making worthwhile citizens.” Chief Bromden always hears Doctor Spivey reflect on this theory and recalls an event in which a fellow Chronic named Pete spoke out in regards of his true feelings when everyone else, specifically the Acutes, were abruptly shouting out about false accusations about themselves during a previous meeting. Pete became hysterical and hit one of the aides, which caused the nurse to inject him with a sedative as he continued to have the one-time nervous breakdown.

Back to the present meeting, the patients now take this opportunity to tear down Harding’s sexual situation. This ruthlessness discomforts the doctor in every meeting and embarasses the patients for falling into the continuing trap, causing them to avoid their victim after every meeting due to their vicious behavior. However, it doesn’t stop them from criticizing Mr. Harding. McMurphy follows the puzzling actions and compares the meetings to a “pecking party” that will only led to the doom of everyone in the flock and points out that Nurse Ratched is always the first to peck before the rest of the chickens. Harding gets defensive and says that their remarks for his personal life are” solely for therapeutic reasons.” In response, McMurphy refers to Big Nurse as a ball cutter because she is just another person who is trying “to make you weak so that they can get you to toe the line, to follow their rules, to live like they want you to.” Finally, Harding agrees with McMurphy and explains how everyone, including Doctor Spivey, fears Ratched; he touches on the fact that she runs the mental hospital from insinuations and is there to assist them in accepting their roles as rabbits in society. McMurphy wants them all to stand up Nurse Ratched, but those hostile actions, as Harding explains, would led to electroshock treatments and a stay at the ward, which led to the discussion of Bromden’s treatment that caused him to become “a six-foot-eight sweeping machine.” After, the ongoing conversation, McMurphy makes a bet that he can get Ratched to lose her temper in a week; he has confidence in his “trigger-quick mind” against the cruel woman.

Now, I know that was a lot of information, so let’s dive into my sermon of the text for a few minutes!

I don’t know about anyone else, but Doctor Spivey’s theory of Therapeutic Community is only an imaginary concept for the mental institution. The hospital acts more as a dictator than any democracy that I know. Exposing the secrets of others in a group discussion only hinders them rather than helps their overall well-being as readers can see from Harding. In regards to the situation of Pete, it’s enlightening to see that someone has an understanding of their mental and emotional stability as a person in this novel yet unfortunate that the mindset only lasts for a brief period of time due to the conforming nature of this environment. Instantly, I felt that this character had an idea about his individuality beyond the wall of the ward.

During the meeting, I felt that the patients’ vicious remarks about Harding’s sexual behavior were only done due to pressure from outside forces, specifically Nurse Ratched. However, it doesn’t condemn their behavior. Luckily, I do not stand alone, and McMurphy can see this cruel behavior like myself and many other readers as you all. I appreciate his analogy of the pecking party because that’s what we see every day, especially due to social media. People have this idea of who and what you should be and ridicule your life experiences as pure entertainment, which only demolishes the whole community.

Anywho, the whole conversation between Harding and McMurphy felt like an expectation versus reality meme to me.

I know what you all are think, but let me explain.

Harding’s comments in regard to Nurse Ratched made me feel as though he was using sarcasm as a method to discuss his true feelings while McMurphy explicitly says the inner feelings through metaphorical references. When Harding gains the strength to actually speak on his true feelings, it not only opened doors for McMurphy but it also helped me create a dim understanding about the patients’ everyday surroundings. The constant battering of their character creates this mental block for them, which initiated the establishment of industrialization in the novel that I am excited to explore.

I cannot wait to find out more about the outcome of this bet and hope to see more intellect in regards to theses early concepts within the novel. Thank you all so much for reading!

Hello everyone and welcome back for more juicy insight into this new rim of crazy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest!

The storyline just slowly unfolds as I read, and I know you all are excited to find out what happens.

With that being said, I’m just gonna cut my little rant and get straight to it!

“ Everyone’s happy with a Dismissal. But an Admission is a different story.”

Well, you can say that again !

The next scene of the book opens up with my personal invite inside one of the hospital’s group meetings. Nurse Ratched calls the meeting to order by reopening the discussion about Mr. Harding’s wretched relationship with his wife.

Now, this is a pure gossip session rather than a meeting. I don’t think a person’s marriage should be a topic for discussion at a public meeting because it doesn’t concern anyone else.

Anyways, let’s get back to the summary !

McMurphy takes this opportunity to make a vulgar joke at Ratched’s expense. She decides to read off Mr. McMurphy’s file aloud in the middle of the meeting in order as retaliation against his rebellious antics. Although the file contains numerous charges, such as drunkenness, assault and battery, and gambling, Ratched focuses on his statutory rape charge with a fifteen year old girl.

At that point, I almost found discomfort in McMurphy’s character. However, he never fails to surprise me.

R. P. McMurphy pleads his case by saying that the girl told him that she was of legal age. He then discusses the young girl’s sexual desires to everyone at this meeting, particularly the doctor.The meeting continues with McMurphy’s tomfoolery as he tells the doctor that he could have a possible diagnosis of being a psychopath, which explains his constant fights and “overzealous sexual relations.” In addition, Spivey asks about the work farm’s statement that mentions that McMurphy “might be feigning psychosis to escape the drudgery of the farm work” in which McMurphy responses with a question: “Do I look like a sane man ?”

In between each of these incidents, I could not help but response in snickers with the doctor and the rest of the patients

Shortly after, McMurphy is asked to be seated and remains silent the rest of the meeting. The narrator notices how Randle McMurphy is slowly discovering that there is something strange that is going on amongst these people but has to watch how everything will unfold before he retaliates.

“That’s a good rule for a smart gambler; look the game over awhile before you draw yourself a hand.”

That is what I call strategy! Now, let’s backtrack and reflect on the scene for just a second !

Beforehand, I want to take this opportunity to applaud Kesey for the metaphorical concept that he presents regarding the mental institution that emphasize some of the deep connections that many people cannot see.

The society of this psychotic ward presents itself as a ruthless yet efficient machine that conforms every person to these restricted regulations. Big Nurse and the Combine dehumanize these individuals until they suit the aspects of their definition of a perfect society. However, a person like Randle McMurphy distorts this order that they have established to unintentionally show the idea of individualism to these confined people.

I’ll just have to read and see what happens for myself

“ It’s still hard for me to have a clear mind thinking on it. But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen.”

The excerpt above only summarizes a portion of the thrilling plot behind the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.

Words cannot describe how I feel about the beginning of Part One of the incredible novel. Although I have just started, I am already fascinated with the characters and can not wait to be amused by the impeccable storyline every time I turn each page. Chief Bromden, a long-time patient at the mental asylum, narrates the events of the mental asylum as he acts as a fly-on-the-wall throughout the story. He pretends to be deaf and dumb to the others at the ward, which gives him the opportunity to overhear all of the secrets of the hospital for many years. Chief discusses the corrupt system of the hospital in which it is split between the Acutes, the more vivacious patients that are deemed curable, and the Chronics, the detrimental products of the ward who are “machines with flaws inside that can’t be repaired.” The two segregated circles never cross paths because it is morally forbidden and an attempt to keep a forced harmony under the rule of Big Nurse. Nurse Ratched, or “Big Nurse” to most, rules the psychiatric ward with an iron fist and wants to see everyone follow suit of her rules. But how long will this dictator last?

The story opens with a typical day at the hospital as Chief Bromden gets taken to be shaved and is forcefully sedated due to his uncooperative behavior in the shaving room. As he awakens, he meets the new admission R. P. McMurphy. McMurphy portrays a rebellious character that enters the ward with a confident demeanor about himself. Even though he represents himself as an alpha male, he gains the trusts of the other patients at the ward as his swagger grows contagious towards everyone that is around him. Well, almost everyone. Nurse Ratched fears that this new Admission plans “to take over,” hindering her authority within the psychiatric ward because he is a threat to her teaching that she has installed within these patients. In addition to his presence, Chief recalls an event in which McMurphy “tips his head back and gives that wink that she isn’t fooling him anymore,” which could be indirectly true to this moment. Big Nurse sees his character as a “disruption of the ward for the sake of disruption,” a remark that I disagree with because no one should diminish their own personality in order to meet the liking of others. The patients should not be confined to their lowest state of mind due to her power- hungry nature towards those that are around her.

“A manipulator can influence the other patients and disrupt them to such an extent that it may take months to get everything running smooth once more.”

It is ironic that Ratched refers to McMurphy as a manipulator when she resembles one herself.

In the beginning of the novel, Bromden compares Nurse Ratched to a machine, particularly a tractor, to describe her character; she even selected her fellow staff based on their cruelty towards the patients and their submissive nature towards her. He also makes remarks on her “precise, automatic gestures” and being “as tense as steel,” which gave me resentful feelings towards her character from the start of the novel. In addition, Bromden discusses how she does not “relax a hair til she gets the nuisance attended to-what she calls ‘adjusted to surroundings,’ ” which explains her controlling demeanor to not only conform the Inside of the institution but also the Outside as well with her alliance with the Combine. With this, she even ordered for multiple electroshock treatments to be made on a patient named Maxwell Taber because he wanted to know more information about his medication. Nurse Ratched does not shock me because there are many people who act as antagonist in their real lives just like her. Many people want to be able to showcase and practice their authority on others so that they have the last word in everything that they do at all cost. That is until they meet someone like Randle Patrick McMurphy who can challenge their leadership in which the outcome can be unpredictable on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, I do not think the relationship between Nurse Ratched and Randle McMurphy will end well due to their differences in character, but the plot will just have to unfold for me to see the future of these two characters.

Based off the reading that I have completed, I already see a remarkable connection between defiance and dictatorship within the novel. Both Big Nurse and R. P. McMurphy seem to carry themselves with strong, bold demeanors. However, they each have their own agenda for the usage of this persona about themselves, which solidifies this line between his rebellious behavior and her authoritative nature. McMurphy uses his devilish tactic to create a fun-loving environment for the other patients at the asylum, which gives me a connection to Robin Hood while Nurse Ratched practices her aggressive nature with cruel and unusual consequences that almost reminds me of Adolf Hitler. It is exciting to see how the storyline between these two characters will unveil at the end of the novel.

Thank you all so much for looking at my insight of the first few parts of Part One of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I cannot wait to read some more and enlighten you all with many more opinions and emotions that I encounter on my way to the last page of this authentic work of Ken Kesey!