Dear all,
Please read from p.100 to end of Part 1 (p.126).
What reflections can you make at this point in the novel? Think about what you've been told, your impressions and how they were created, where you think the novel is headed or where you wish it were headed etc...
Write a few paragraphs reflecting back on Part 1 but aim to go beyond what you have said before (no repetition of your previous points).
Thank you.
Mrs Gougeon
Due Monday 2nd December 2013
Please read from p.100 to end of Part 1 (p.126).
What reflections can you make at this point in the novel? Think about what you've been told, your impressions and how they were created, where you think the novel is headed or where you wish it were headed etc...
Write a few paragraphs reflecting back on Part 1 but aim to go beyond what you have said before (no repetition of your previous points).
Thank you.
Mrs Gougeon
Due Monday 2nd December 2013
At the beginning of the novel there was evidence of paranoia in Chief Bromden. The idea that Bromden was paranoid was developed through the situations in which such trivial incidents were perceived as worrying and made to be a topic of concern. The evidence of this was apparent in the first page of the novel where he states that the black boys were performing sex acts and mopping up before he could catch them. In this Bromden describes them to be implying that the employees ‘commit crimes’ and that they are always quick enough to clean up their crime before he spots them. More evidence of his clear paranoia is shown by the fact that he says that the Combine controls the ward. The idea around the Combine is further developed through Nurse Ratched who he then describes as carrying a wicker basket that does not carry any makeup or other feminine beauty products. Instead he trusts his idea that she carries replacement parts for the Combine. Another incident in which the idea of paranoia is evident in Bromden is his suspicion and complete fear towards the electric shaver in which he believes it will implant machinery in him, his paranoia goes so far as to have Bromden hiding in a mop closet from the shaver. Throughout the novel Bromden is also constantly describing a fog that takes over the institution that he believes, is developed by the Combine.
ReplyDeleteA constant metaphor that occurs is the machine. Bromdens perception of society is seen as a machine that he refers to as the Combine that he sees at work in the institution. When describing Nurse Ratched he described her by using diction of machinery such as describing her physical appearance as precise and automatic. As well as describing her face as smooth, calculated and precision- made. The use of describing her physical appearance and commenting on the mistake made by the Combine on Nurse Ratchet’s breasts, as bad as they are a mark of femininity suggests mechanical ideas of society during this period of time both inside the hospital as well as outside.
One of my first impressions of Bromden was that he seemed to be so unconcerned and unaware yet at the same time at moments was so careful with detail. Upon the arrival of McMurphy Bromden emphasizes the description of McMurphy being big. However the description leaves us confused as Bromden is oblivious to the size of his own physique and that he is clearly larger than McMurphy. This is important as he describes Nurse Ratched as someone that is able to grow bigger in order to control their surroundings while he feels powerless in his surroundings. McMurphys attitude that is implied to be exuberant is the reason that Bromden describes him to be big. As his father displayed the same characteristics and was a large man in both size and his attitude. However throughout the novel Bromdens descriptions of minor things that occur around him are carried with such structure and precision yet he is also at times completely deluded. However we learn that this is due to his schizophrenia and we learn how much of an impact this really takes on him as well as his reliability as a narrator.
In terms of where I want the novel to head, I hope for there to be a dramatic change in terms of control of the institution, I hope that the focus set of characters can somehow adjust the way the institution is run as well as finally receive treatment that is deserved and a big event takes place or an uproar which then results in equality in the hospital.
At this point I do believe that the outcome of McMurphy and the patients of the hospital will be upsetting, because of the information of Nurse Ratched that we already know and the way McMurphy is annoying her it will not end well. Even though I really how it somehow turns somehow but due to the way the book has been so far I can't shake the feeling that it will not be pleasant for someone at the end of the novel.
ReplyDeleteIn the end I believe that the nurse will get what she deserves. All the times that she controlled and mistreated a patient will come back and haunt her, or perhaps the patients will one day turn and decide that they've had enough and take her down and the whole corrupt system.
The story being told from the perspective of Chief is interesting. The fact that Chief is both considered as a character whom you receive a first-person account from and a third-person narrator allows the story to be told differently.
ReplyDeleteChief Bromden is in the asylum because he experiences hallucinations on a a regular basis. As a result, he takes medication to suppress these images, he pretends to be "deaf" and "dumb" so that nobody will pay attention to him . This means that although his existence is acknowledged, he is ignored and people are able to express how they truly feel around him because they believe that he is unable to understand anything. However there are times where, he will tell the readers about the hallucinations he sees but not directly imply that these are hallucinations. This leads to an interesting perspective as it creates confusing recounts of events where normal situations become extremely surreal. On the other hand, it also means that to some extent Chief is unreliable as it may be possible that some of the events didn't actually happen and that it was instead a hallucination.
The first impression I had upon reading the book was that, I thought the way that the story was told allowed me to truly become Chief. This book was written as if the person who wrote it was Chief himself, however this being a novel, still included literary devices and phrases. An example of the author being Chief and Ken Kesey at the same time would be his analysis of McMurphy being a "smart gambler" when he hesitated about interrupting the Nurse. Most books with third-person narration would explain nearly everything about how characters feel at the current time and what they are thinking about. In here the author does that, but uses Chief to phrase it as if this is a deduction from his prior observations, rather than an explanation created by the author to justify the actions of a character he created.
The story, I presume, may take a very dark turn as time goes on. This is because within the bright tone that the first part has set, although there was a constant atmosphere of mischief, there were small intervals of different tones. In these changes, strange and seemingly unrelated images are depicted, a common dark tone shared between them. It's possible that these images foreshadow future events, thus leading me to think that one of the characters may be murdered later on. This is feeling is then multiplied by the lack of information on McMurphy. McMurphy is different and unpredictable at times, often having no justifications for his actions due to Chief being unable to explain why. So based off the pathetic information on his past we are only able to deduce that he has committed atrocities and crimes, but not why. As a result we are unsure of how he functions or thinks. This will lead to the reader speculating on what he is thinking about as they will attempt to fill in the gaps with what little information they know.
The reflections that can be made about the novel so far in my point of view are that I think it can go in either direction, McMurphy’s way or Nurse Ratchets way. At the end of part one especially when all the men gathered around the blank TV with McMurphy I think this could be a positive start to part 2 of the novel or it could go strongly down hill with the power of Nurse Ratched. With Nurse Ratched clearly getting frustrated by McMurphy’s ways as seen through the line “Her smile is still there, but the back of her neck as she walks out the day room and into the night Nurses’s station, is red and swelling like she’ll blow apart any second”. With the diction and dialogue of Chief Bromden in the earlier stages of the book he always said Nurse Ratched would carry on smiling but as the book has progressed it suddenly changed and as he says “ we’ve never seen before. She just sits. I can see her shoulders rise and fall as she breaths.” Her machine like character looks as if its starting to break down by the character of McMurphy and be overpowered.
ReplyDeleteThe impressions I get from part 1 are somewhat quite negative and this has been created from the character of Big Nurse. The book is narrated by Chief bromden, and as that can’t be reliable I still believe that the dialogue Nurse Ratched says to the patients is believable and I feel not much sympathy towards her through the use of the narration of Chief Bromden. I feel very strong sympathy towards patients, as their lives seem miserable, even when they are not allowed to watch TV. Although that could be argued that McMurphy persuaded them. I believe that they have been brainwashed to the point where they do not even think they have a voice, which in reality they actually don’t within the ward. However, part 2 could change that.
I am hoping the novel heads into a positive light and the patients get some insight into normality. I am not so sure though through Nurse Ratchets character that that will happen, as she is so set minded. I was pleased that a character like McMurphy’s has come into the plot as he is outspoken and wants to be heard, I feel this will benefit the patients through part 2, but I am not so sure.
At this point, my views on some of the aspects and characters in the novel have changed. This includes the fog that indicates whenever Chief Bromden is hallucinating. Earlier on in the novel when the fog was first mentioned, it seemed like a scary and unpleasant thing, however at the point, the fog is now viewed as a safe haven for Chief Bromden; He feels safer as the fog gets thicker and he sees it as a way to stay safe and out of trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy impressions on Nurse Ratched have changed as well since the start of the novel; I now feel sorry for her in the way she is being treated and rebelled upon by the patients as McMurphy becomes the ring leader at the hospital. At the same time, I am able to understand that the patients see McMurphy as a way to get back at Nurse Ratched for all the years that they’ve been enforced with restrictions and having to play by her rules. Chief Bromden’s descriptions of Nurse Ratched are less horrifying and more composed now in comparison to the earlier chapters.
I feel that the drawings on some pages throughout the book help the readers picture what the characters look like in Chief Bromden’s view as they are drawn according to their descriptions by him.
The repetitive and dreary routine at the mental hospital is changing slowly as McMurphy keeps trying to persuade the patients to vote with him against some of the usual routine. Through this, we can see that Chief Bromden may be starting to step out of his comfort zone as he takes part in going against Nurse Ratched.
I hope that there will be more information on Chief Bromden’s father ahead in the novel so that the significance of his father can be clarified, this also helps us in finding out whether there is a major cause of Chief Bromden’s hallucinations and why he is staying at the mental hospital. I also hope that there will be bigger changes in the routine of the hospital so the novel will be a bit more interesting and perhaps the structure of how it is written might change as well. McMurphy has been getting away with testing the patience of Nurse Ratched, I wonder whether he’ll be punished for this if he continues his rebellious and playful behaviour later in the novel.
At the start, we are introduced to black boys, the nurse and the patients of the ward. The story has been told from the point of view of the patients, specifically Chief Bromden. He is schizophrenic so we already start to question what is told from his perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe activity he describes is abnormal and feels peculiar; there is a feeling of exaggeration or extrapolation. For me, this makes the book hard to read since there is no articulate logic behind what Chief Bromden says. Because of his illness, we can’t trust what he says so we must explore possibilities on our own.
I feel that the characters in the book are well portrayed. There is not a lot of detail given to us on the characters. Still, have such real and suited personalities.
The novel, in my opinion, should start to explore different attack vectors in terms of bringing down the big nurse. Instead of focusing on how McMurphy tries to defy the big nurse, have more on the black boys and their thoughts. But, to do this would require the novel to switch perspective from the main character. This would ruin the image and feel that the author was trying to go for. However, I personally think the story should start to look at the macro side of the system rather than focusing on the characters. I would like to see more of the doctor because he’s on the fence with the nurse.
Part 1, in my perspective basically covers the first week that McMurphy is in the ward. There are already a few signs that he is beneficial to the patients in the ward. For instance, Chief Bromden, although the is over six feet tall, feels himself to be small around McMurphy. When he shakes McMurphy's hand, some of McMurphy's strength is transmitted to him and he feels his hand getting bigger. McMurphy also gets Harding to admit that the Big Nurse is not helping them, but keeping them submissive. McMurphy has thus begun to wake everyone up to what is really happening in the ward. He delights in his own individuality and his determination to be himself.
ReplyDeletePart 1 also shows conflict building up between the Big Nurse and McMurphy., which is i assume the central aspect of the plot. It's a struggle between freedom and oppression, individuality and conformity. Although it takes place in an institution,it can also be interpreted as a struggle in the American society at the time. The ward is a "model" of the society. Although McMurphy is friendly to other patients and very likable, he does not yet have sense of responsibility towards the patients that I hope he will develop. I'm therefore expecting raise in tension between the 2 main characters further in the book.
It is through Bromden's mind, distorted as it is by his paranoia (which is noticeable already in the first line of the novel "They're out there." ) that the central image of machinery is conveyed. He also gives the name 'fog' to the mental confusion he feels, i assume. He believes the hospital processes a "fog machine" in the walls and is established whenever the Big Nurse needs to establish the control.
At the beginning of the novel, I figured that Chief Bromden's paranoia and how he describes the Big Nurse as machine-like would be proven later in the book. His paranoia takes the form of hallucinations and believes that are hidden machines in the ward that control the patients. On the first page where he says "I creep along the wall quiet as dust in my canvas shoes, but they got special sensitive equipment detects my fear and they all look up, all three at once, eyes glittering out of the black faces..." reveals the way Chief Bromden looks at things. Chief's paranoia is caused by his reluctance to go along with society. Furthermore, he searches for reasons that he can apply to his everyday situations to help him cope with society. The fog represents Chief's medicated state and his need to hide from reality. For instance, when Chief does not want to deal with his surroundings he looses himself in the drugs and blames the Big Nurse for fogging up the ward. On the last chapter of part 1, Chief mentions that he knows how they work the fog machine because he used it overseas during the war, which helped reduce visibility. "We had a whole platoon used to operate the fog...they fogged the field." This shows that there's safety and comfort in the fog, but it comes at the expense of vision and awareness of what's really going on out there.
ReplyDeleteNurse Ratched, often referred to as “Big Nurse” runs the ward with an iron fist. Despite the fact that Chief Bromden is physically much larger than the patients, he expresses a greater fear of Big Nurse. Eventhough, she has power over the patients, Chief believes her to be in service of the Combine, which is a large mechanized matrix that hums behind the walls and control everythign from the environment to human behavior. Additionally, Mc Murphy who is introduced as a new patient on the ward shows rebellion towards the nurse. At first the patients defend Ratched, but eventually agree with McMurphy's assessment. This portrays character development and the influence he has to the patients. In the last chapter when he requests permission to watch the television and is denied, he turns the TV on anyway. But because Big Nurse controls power, she shuts off the electricity to the television. At this point thought she had won until Mc Murphy insists on watching a blank screen which is action intimidated by the other patients and eventually drives Big Nurse mad. I find it interesting how the novel pits her against a rebellious character, Mc Murphy, for it creates such tension in the book.
I am expecting to see what this "battle" that Big Nurse and Mc Murphy have will lead to. There is no doubt that there will be an increase in tension later in the novel, which is what I am hoping for since that would make the book more intriguing to me. Lastly, I hope that the characters in the end get what I think they deserve.
My impressions of Part 1 of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey include both positive and negative aspects. While the novel is (so far) entertaining and intricate, the voice of Chief Bromden has caused some confusion which has led to a need to reread parts of the novel.
ReplyDeleteSo far, McMurphy has managed to cause some disruption in the ward by over whelming Nurse Ratched and creating chaos within the patients. A prominent example of this is when the men are all “sitting there lined up in front of that blanked out TV set, watching the gray screen just like we could see the baseball game clear as day”. This passage demonstrates the lack of control or loss of control that the Big Nurse is suffering from. This proves that McMurphy has more power with the patients as they are beginning to follow him as he takes over the Big Nurse’s role. This clear act of rebellion against the ward’s protocol portrays a shift in power as well as a revolt against the conformity of the rules in the ward.
I believe that this power shift will not last as McMurphy will never be able to have complete control over the patients or the ward. He may have the doctor on his side as well as the patients, but he doesn’t nor will ever have the support of the rest of the staff for him to take over from the Big Nurse in terms of rulemaking and changing. I do not see his striving for power ending well as I believe the Nurse is waiting for the right time to shut him down. She has methods stronger than he is capable of defeating such as electric shock therapy or transferring him to a different ward. Therefore, when it comes down to it, she seems to have the utmost power. McMurphy however, does not yet seem to understand this as he is still trying to get on her bad side and make her snap.
The reader can notice signs of the Nurse beginning to relinquish her power and slightly lose control. Her physical descriptions throughout are a proof of this. Originally she is described as having a “doll’s lips” and being “tense as steel” and as having a uniform “so still it don’t exactly bend any place”. This together and perfect manner presents the nurse as being totally in control of her appearance just as she is in control of the ward. Then, towards the end of part 1 she is describes as having to take a “full minute before she can pull herself together” and “her voice is shaking”. This is when McMurphy sings and removes his towel to reveal shorts in the morning. The reader is able to notice a slight loss in control as she is having trouble keeping her appearance as together, calm and under control as usual. Finally, at the end of Part 1 when the men are all sitting in front of the blank TV screen she is describes as “ranting and screaming” therefore losing control of her controlled and calm manner.
In conclusion, I believe that while the reader hopes that McMurphy succeeds in his over throw it is extremely unlikely. McMurphy is a temporary wind of fun and freedom. He represents the freedom that so many Americans looked for during the 1950s but the Big Nurse who may represent the government has the total power. While McMurphy may have won a few battles, the Nurse has the ammunition to win the war; she just has not revealed it yet. Therefore, I believe that there will be a negative outcome to the end of the entire novel.
At this point in the novel, I believe that I am able to predict the different possible events that may occur later in the novel from what I have gathered. This is possible because there has been thorough development of the setting which strongly suggest repercussions for McMurphy as a result of his opposing views and disruptive nature towards the nurse’s controlled domain. In addition to this, the development of the setting has caused me to believe that a dark and harsh ending is in store for McMurphy and the patients. Nonetheless, the influence McMurphy is currently having on the patients is astonishing and paints an unlikely but desired future for the patients. Personally, I would like the novel to progress in a positive light with the McMurphy leading a calm protest and eventually overturning the nurse’s rule on the ward. This would be achieved by different actions, perhaps a hunger strike followed by the staff’s feeble attempts to aid the nurse is regaining control over the ward.
ReplyDeleteInitially, I had the impression that the book was extremely odd as it started off with explicit images, explicit language and metaphors that made the story so surreal. This was achieved by the author through the use of a unstable narrator who avoids taking his medication causing him to hallucinate thus contributing to the surreal atmosphere the story obtains. Due to the visual hallucinations, the narrator sees objects and people often associated with machinery which he describes using metaphors. As a result, the things he describe are difficult to comprehend adding to the complexity of the novel. The mute narrator who does not partake in any physical conversations throughout the novel adds an element of mystery and tension to the story. This is because other characters are unaware that Chief Bromden is able to hear and often act without thinking much of his presence.
The segments within part I used by the author may have different purposes but I believe that the segments were used especially to show whenever the narrator was phasing in and out of his hallucinations. This is because the ‘fog’ mentioned would always be in a new segment and never in the midst of one. The reason why the author decided to do this I believe was to show the underlying feelings the Chief may have had which appeared in his hallucinations. This allowed for the development of the setting and different characters to be explored in an original way. In addition to this, the increase in frequency and degree of his hallucinations as you progressed throughout the novel may be used by the author in order to convey his excitement as he witnesses the nurse loose control of the ward.
What I found most interesting about Part 1, as well as the novel as a whole, was the narrative voice. The novel is told by a character, Chief Bromden, where both first person and third person narrations are used. As the character, Chief Bromden, pretends to be deaf and dumb, I often tend to forget the fact that the narrator is also a character in the novel. Due to lack of conversations and interactions with other characters, he’s more perceived as an observer. However, reliability of the narration is questioned as it can be biased and also be largely affected by his mental illness. His constantly occurring hallucinations, which are sometimes referred to as ‘fog’ or not directly referred to but assumed as hallucinations, portray characters and situations in a very surreal manner. An example of this is “They start the fog machine again and it’s snowing down cold and white all over me like skim milk, so thick I might even be able to hide in it if they didn’t have a hold on me… Big Nurse whoop and charge up the hall while she crashes patients outta her way with that wicker bag.” His hallucinations and paranoia creates a sense of discomfort to the readers and strongly suggests intimidation from the hospital’s environment and the authorities.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the course of Part 1, the overall mood of the setting seems to have changed with the introduction of McMurphy into the hospital. In the beginning, it seemed very dark, odd, and slow with boring routines. Progressively, it became lighter and more engaging with several actions and minor conflicts caused by McMurphy. However, knowing the inflexible and inhuman nature of Nurse Ratchet from the narrator’ descriptions in comparison with machinery as well as her speech and actions, this entertainment only seems to be temporary.
Personally, I wish this novel progress into a more positive light where all the patients cooperatively take an effective action with the direction of McMurphy which will have a positive impact to the whole system and routine of the hospital. I also hope to see more interactions of Chief Bromden with other characters, including McMurphy. However, bearing in mind the rigidity of the ‘combine’, I don’t think the ending of this novel will be satisfactory. I believe that there will be a larger conflict between McMurphy and Nurse Ratchet which deteriorate his life in the ward.