In the contemporary novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey there is one essential passage that basically marks the whole turning point in the novel.
“McMurphy says again that he guesses it must be game time and he stands up … Nobody else stops work. … Everybody keeps on at what he’s doing, but they all watch out of the corners of their eyes while he drags his armchair out to in front of the TV set, then switches on the set and sits down. … ‘Hoo-wee! Man, all I need me now is a can of beer and red-hot’ –McMurphy …We can see the nurse’s face get red and her mouth work as she stares at him. … then she gets up and goes to the steel door where the controls are, and she flips a switch and the TV picture swirls back into the gray. … To tell the truth, he don’t even let on he knows the picture is turned off; he puts his cigarette between his teeth …and sits that way with his hands crossed behind his head and his feet stuck out in a chair … ‘I said, Mr. McMurphy, that you are supposed to be working during these hours.’ –Nurse Ratched …And we’re all sitting there lined up in front of that blank TV set. … If somebody’d of come in and took a look, men watching a blank TV, a fifty-year-old woman hollering and squealing at the back of their heads about discipline and order and recriminations, they’d of thought the whole bunch was crazy as loons.”
This scene creates one of the best changes among the characters in the novel. This is the first time that all the patients come together and stand up against the evil Nurse Ratched. Before this happened, they all requested to take a vote on weather or not their schedule should be change, so that they would be able to watch baseball and do their cleaning work at another time. This was a fair request, being that the facilities were cleaned every day and it wasn’t vital for the place to spotless. Also, baseball season only lasts for a short amount of time, therefore they could all go back to their normal routines once the season was over. When it came time to vote no one raised their hand because all the patients are terrified of Nurse Ratched, all except for McMurphy. He repeatedly expressed to the other patients that they need to stand up for themselves and not let Nurse Ratched control them. After the TV incident happened it gave them all further confidence and it brought them closer together as friends. The tone of this passage is a very humorous one and so is the rest of the novel, which is one of the main reasons it is greatly enjoyed.
I agree with Briana in that this was a very important scene to the overall scope of the plot. Having read this book over the summer as well, I can also agree that Nurse Ratched was evil, at least in the eyes of the patients. Her agressive, controlling personality caused everyone to be afraid of her which kept order in the ward. Nurse Ratched would control certain aspects of the patients lives such as the strict routine of cleaning the ward and over-managing the topics of the group therapy sessions. With this point being addressed by Briana, it would only make sense that McMurphy represented chaos and rebellion. Once McMurphy openly challenged Nurse Ratched and rallied everyone against her, it was undoubtedly the turning point in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this was a great part of the book. The way they all defied Nurse Ratched excited me! And the best part was, she really couldn't do too much about it. They were just sitting there, which isn't against any rules of hers (and there are definitely a lot of them).
ReplyDeleteAnother really good scene was where Chief raised his hand to vote for the one missing vote that would win them the schedule change. After years and years of silence and ignoring people, he breaks the silence and votes so that the patients can finally start having a little bit more power and freedom in the ward. However, Miss Ratched wins that round, as she declared the vote closed. This is what brings about the crazy, but effective, reaction of the patients and the TV that you described.
I agree with you that it was a fair proposal, seeing as chores could be done at any time. The Big Nurse just wanted to exert her power over the patients and keeping the schedule was a way to remind them who was boss, which was necessary because of the arrival of McMurphy.
I did not read this book during the summer but after reading that quote it makes me want to read it. I can tell that this book has humor to it and I enjoy comedy. It seems as if this book has to do with self confidence and courage. McMurphy was brave enough to take a stand and show the nurse that she does not frighten him. Its cute how McMurphy inspired the other patients not to be afraid of her as well. This scene does show a change in character and it brought out a stronger bond between the patients.
ReplyDelete