Discuss any interesting or confusing aspects of the novel with your classmates.
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Throughout this book I was confused for a while about some of the things Chief Bromden would talk about; specifically the times he brought up the guy, Ellis, who is nailed to a wall during the daytime. That didn't really make sense because that could end up killing Ellis. However, with more statements like that such as the mist he states comes out of the walls to bury all of the patients, I realized Chief probably has hallucinations or suffers from some sort of Schizophrenia. It doesn't really seem like anything else is wrong with him other than the fact that he won't talk, so he has to be in the mental hospital for something and with the way he talks about things I could see it being schizophrenia.
ReplyDeleteChief Bromden did in fact suffer form various hallucinations throughout the novel that I thought really portrayed his view on the ward in a way that let the reader know how horrible it was; even if they were only delusions. As for him pretending to be deaf and not talking, I thought it was very smart of him to play that out in order to hear the staff meetings and such. This factor was also important when McMurphy was introduced as a character because he noticed almost right away that the Chief was not actually deaf, when the others had known him for years and never bothered to notice. This made him more likeable to me. I don't think that the Chief was schizophrenic; I believe he has mental issues to some degree, but like many of the other patients was most likely just there because he was different. The novel really focuses on the patients' differences from society and how that gives them a certain image of themselves to where they begin to believe they actually belong in the mental institution. It even mentioned in this aspect that many of the patients were there voluntarily; which is quite sad given the living conditions under the dictatorship of the Big Nurse (Ugh she's the most terrible character ever...) Overall, I loved the book and the only part I was a little bit confused about was the bit about Bromden's parents.
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ReplyDeleteLike Cat said, I too was confused coming into this novel. It wasn't until about halfway into the book that I realized that many of the scenes Chief was describing were in fact hallucinatons. Once that was cleared up, I enjoyed the book immensely. Kesey did a wonderful job building this novel. He played well with working the patiens' illnesses into making them who they are, and from there their roles in the plot; it's difficult to describe. He's able to incorporate so many aspects of each character into the overall mood and message of the book, they all played off of each other so well! Everything in this novel is harmonious and balanced, and I think that plays a huge role in its success. The way he was able to incorporate so many ideas, elements, characteristics, and moods without having the plot just be completely jumbled is incredible, and I think that really shows something about his writing. It wasn't hard to follow, but it had so many unpredictable plot twists that it kept me engaged and alert (which, for a summer reading book, is rare). Like Meagan said, I loved this book, and there's something new everytime you look back and think about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I wasn't the only one who was confused about the hallucinations at first. Because, like Allie, I was confused until about halfway. I just thought that the author was throwing in highly fictional descriptions that were meant to be taken literally, when they were really meant to be taken as an exaggerated truth of what Chief Bromden was feeling/seeing and experiencing. Which heightens the severity of it all, almost like how Catch-22 's point of the destruction of war is amplified about midway when you really start seeing it. But after I caught on, or really it was more like became accustomed, to what was really happening I really started to get into the story. Though from the beginning I hated Nurse Ratched, and yet just like the old man in Italy from Catch-22, I find the strangest or most immoral character to be one of the most interesting. Don't get me wrong and rant against me Meagan, I hated how she manipulated and controlled everything, but that's also why I liked her because she has such a powerful way to her and is just so easy for me to envision. And just like Meagan, I really like how smart Cheif Bromden was to pretend to be deaf and unable to speak. It almost added a little weight to the scales by giving him (the patient) power through what looks like a weakness. And I really respect that. Overall I really enjoyed this book. Maybe not quite as much as Catch-22 because Catch-22 has a lot more humor and I personally liked that. Whereas One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is less humorous to balance out the deep topics that is addresses.
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