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Link to the Podcast - https://drive.google.com/file/d/16IeopWi6VjX0GqfllOY6LJsIGV2JDchi/view?usp=sharing

Every time you open a new book, it is like opening your eyes to a new reality. You ask yourself what life would be like if you were in that book approaching the same situations the characters were. Our mission is to go deeper into that thought by colliding with the realities of a reader and a novel through discussion and reflection. We choose to H.O.N.O.R rather than judge.

In this episode, we uncover the different events that the two characters have experienced throughout the section of the novel and highlight what stood out to us. To stay within the theme, we make comparisons on how our real lives connect with the lives of these characters living in a apocalyptic setting ultimately trying to survive while in constant distress. Join us on this journey to navigating our first thoughts of the book and what we predict will happen later on.

Due to the School District of Philadelphia half day for Staff Professional Development, SLA will follow the below schedule on Friday, 12/13:

08:15-08:55 B2 Band

09:00-09:40 C2 Band

09:45-10:25 X2/Y2 Band class

10:30-11:10 D2 Band

11:15-11:55 E2 Band

12:00-12:30 Lunch/Dismissal

I decided to draw a picture of the title of the book that represented the patients in the ward.I put a lock as the O for One that represented the patients being locked in the ward and I put the key in place of the T for Nest to represent the ward and how its like a prison for the patient is the ward.They don’t have control over their mind and are being controlled by the Nurse Ratched and the rules of the ward.The novel’s setting in a mental ward, dominated by the tyrannical Miss Ratched, highlights the oppressive power of mass society..It is an oppressive environment not only for the black patients in this book but also for the white patients as well because they are all getting the same amount of physical treatment.The way the ward is set up it isn’t geared towards making the patients better so they can go back into society and “fit in”,they want to make their condition worst by using these brutal tactics.The book continues to touch on one’s control over one’s body and weather it is possible for someone to escape the ward and I think it is possible to do and I think that one patient if not more will find a way to escape because of this quote on page 87 that states “you can’t keep a bird in a cage”.This represent the human desire for freedom over their mind and body and I think that some patients that aren’t too far gone like the chronics can have a chance to be free from the ward and maybe have some sense of normalcy after getting out.McMurphy, the protagonist, plays a crucial role in challenging the status quo within the ward. His rebellious spirit inspires other patients to question their circumstances and seek liberation. Through his actions, McMurphy demonstrates that escape is possible, but it often requires courage and a willingness to confront the oppressive forces that bind them. His influence encourages the other patients to envision a life beyond the confines of the ward.I feel like he would be able to function in society with the right amount time and it the “therapeutic practices” haven’t fried his brain yet.The patients in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” still aspire to escape the ward, even though the journey is complex and fraught with obstacles.The narration illustrates that true escape involves both physical and psychological liberation. McMurphy’s impact on the patients highlights the important challenges of an oppressive system while striving for personal freedom, even in the face of adversity. While the idea of escape is compelling, it is essential to recognize the limitations faced by the patients.The ward’s institutional environment is designed to suppress individuality and maintain control. Even if some patients find ways to resist or rebel like McMurphy, the systemic nature of their confinement poses significant challenges. Ultimately, the possibility of escape is not just about leaving the physical space but also about achieving a sense of self-empowerment and mental freedom.

In the book “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” the character Randle McMurphy is the most rebellious patient in the ward which is extremely important to the narrative. McMurphy’s rebellion not only challenges the authority within the mental institution but also symbolizes a more broad idea of the struggle with conformity and authority. His actions and the consequences highlight the importance of individuality and rebellion when dealing with oppression of authority. When McMurphy first arrived at the asylum it was the beginning of a rebellion against the oppressive environment that nurse Ratched created. Him refusing to follow the rules and him standing up for other patients inspired them to reclaim their identities. On page 150(online pdf of the book) McMurphy was speaking with other patients about how they all “kiss her ass so much and bow and scrape and let her walk all over you.(pg 149)” This was his way of influencing them to rebel and not to follow the rules but while also telling them he’s going to cut back with the rebelling sense he found out nurse Rachet can keep him there. He says “ you have to swallow your pride sometimes and keep an eye out for old number one.” He sees his “battle” with the nurse ratched as a game and he wants to win. He later then thinks about it and realizes that his rebellion will help the other men in the ward find themselves and gain their confidence/pride. This realization causes him to abort his plan of following the rules and continue with his rebellious ways. McMurphy’s rebellion is compost important to the novel as it shows the significance of individuality in a society that has oppressive authority figures. His character is a representation of the struggle for personal freedom as he fights against dehumanization. McMurphys rebellion has caused the patients to realize their own worth and caused them to believe in themselves. An example of this is when McMurphy encourages Bromden to speak and stand up for himself. My drawing represents the power that McMurphy holds in this book. Although McMurphy has no real authority he holds so much power. He is able to rebel against oppression and encourage others to do so. He’s a complicated character but one thing that’s clear is that he did many things that were unselfish to help others gain something. McMurphy has the power to show others their worth and show others the truth. His unwillingness to stop rebelling even though that means he will get punished because it will influence others to help and find themselves is truly powerful. So overall my point was to show that McMurphy’s role in this story was one of the most important roles.

I made my artwork about the scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey in which one of the secondary characters Pete has an outburst in the ward’s group therapy discussion. For my artist representation, I started with the few descriptions of Pete I read the novel and built off of them in the way that I thought would represent him best. I drew Pete with thinning hair similar to the character of George Costanza from the TV show Seinfeld, with hair on the sides of his head and thin combed over wisps of hair on his crown. In the specific scene that I chose to represent on page 49 where Pete says, “ Ya see, I can’t help it …I was born dead, not you. You wasn’t born dead…I had so many insults I died…I been dead fifty-five years”(Kesey).
I think that Kesey’s description of depression, through the character of Pete, was incredibly realistic. This sad and empty feeling that was described in Pete’s outburst is why I decided not to give Pete pupils in my artist’s representation of this scene because I wanted the viewer to understand that he really and truly feels dead inside so I tried to make him look like such. I think that the reason that I chose this scene in particular is because I have personally related to this. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder when I was around twelve years old and it has been something that I have struggled with for as long as I can remeber. I can say from firsthand experience that this way of describing how depression can feel was incredibly captivating. Kesey’s manner of representing the vast effect of mental health on a person had a way of making me feel seen but also somehow a bit disturbed. This is such a raw and unadulterated feeling for anyone to go through and seeing it reproduced so profoundly and uncanny on a page was kind of jarring. I am personally not a huge fan of this book so far but I can say that I am very fascinated by the way that Kesey depicts elements of mental health like his description of Pete’s depression or Bromden’s schizophrenic hallucinations. I have only personally experienced one of the two but I do think that since he is really good at demonstrating what these disorders feel like internally in a really profound way. For this reason I would guess that a person who has experienced schizophrenia or knows someone who has would probably feel represented by his style of writing and/or can validate his mode of representation for these illnesses. In summation, I think that Pete’s character is most influential in terms of making people feel more related to the overall narrative because so many of the characters really lack anything that most readers can relate to which, I believe, is a very important part of any piece of writing because it is one of many ways to keep a reader engaged.

¨The vote is closed, Mr. McMurphy.¨ ¨Let me talk to ´em.¨ I begin to walk over to the chronics side, can’t even remember the last time I talked to the bunch but I´m desperate. One of ´em best raise their hand, they might be old but everyone likes a good ol´ ball game, better than cleaning the latrine and what not. ¨What about you buddy? You want to watch the World series? Baseball? Baseball games? Just raise that hand up there–¨ ¨Fffffffuck da wife.¨ What´s wrong with these guys man. No one likes a good old baseball game? I mean come on, just need one hand. ¨All right, forget it. You, partner, how about you? What was your name–Ellis? What do you say, Ellis, to watching a ball game on TV? Just raise your hand…¨ The nurse continues, keep on going on about how the voting is closed. Chronic or not, we´re men. I´m sure one of us would like a good ol´ game, world series. Just need one of them to raise their hands. Just one, I mean come on. I look over at the indian, he looks nervous. Can´t remember what was wrong with the guy? I think he was deaf, but I´m desperate. Deaf doesn’t mean blind, I´ḿ sure he likes a good old ball game, I mean come on for cryin’ out loud. Just one of you damn screwups, just raise your hand. Can´t let the nurse get one on me, come on, come on. ¨You, Chief, what about you?¨ I cry out. I´m not even sure he can hear me or not, If I´m honest, I´m not sure I´ve ever heard the guy talk, not a sound comes from him. But he´s been here awhile nevertheless, don´t you want a change of scenery, do indians play ball? Come on man. The nurses’ voice echoes in my mind, ¨The vote is closed.¨ ¨The vote is closed.¨ ¨The vote is closed.¨ ¨The vote is closed.¨ I look over at the chief, looks like something is stirring inside of the guy. I mean, he looks up at me, then his hand. His shoulder moves slowly, his arm bends. The guy looks reluctant, but it´ll do, just need the guy to raise his hand, and he does. ¨Good on you chief, glad one of you gentlemen had some sense.¨ I give him a slap and happily look at the nurse. She stares at the chief, like her anger switched or somethin´, redirected on the chief. And now that I think about it, isn’t this guy supposed to be deaf or somethin? How could he have heard me? These guys get some magic power or somethin´ to mind read? I look back at the television, I can see the guy´s reflection. He looks nervous, I mean, is he really deaf? Why would he be nervous? You know now that I think about it, he was the only one that really shook my hand, I mean he looked terrified like he could hear me. He looked scared too, when I was laughin´. I mean, what if this guy is some type of foney, you can hear me can´t you? I give the guy another look, he’s given a side eye to the nurse, he looks like a deer in headlights, what´s up with this guy? I look back at the nurse, her face is red.. I almost let out a laugh, good ol´ ratchet can’t seem to hide it. She´s angry, and the rest of us are watchin´ her. I was best not to let her get one up on me, now look at her. What´s up with these folk? Everyone’s starin at the nurse, I suppose we´re all thinking about it, whether this guy is really deaf or not. I mean maybe, maybe they know already, and they´re hidin’ it. I best not ask, wouldn’t want to get the little get in trouble since he´s lettin me watch the world series/

Something I wanted to include was McMurphy´s reaction to Chief Bromden raising his hand, naturally he´d be excited but I think something that has been true for the majority of the story is McMurphy´s type of heightened sense of awareness, as if he could see through people easily. That´s why I wrote about him thinking about whether the chief was really deaf. I tried to include excerpts from the book because I still wanted to keep some of the books narration, or truthfulness to my own twist on the inner narration of McMurphy, while including a realistic kind of outsider point of view that came in the form of him not wanting to ask. I tried to make sure to make his narration kind of sound like a southerner, because he´s described as a large redneck or red haired man which is usually connected to the south.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kessy. Narrates of the importance of the impact when someone has control over you. To counteract this effect, you will have and cause others when you test an authority’s power. In the book McMurphy was tired of seeing how the Big Nurse controlling and manipulating all of the patients, but they do is complain. “Hell’s bells,” McMurphy says, “listen at you. All I hear is gripe, gripe, gripe. About the nurse or the staff or the hospital. Scanlon wants to bomb the whole outfit. Sefelt blames the drugs. Fredrickson blames his family trouble. Well, you’re all just passing the buck.” He goes on to say that the Big Nurse is just a bitter, icy-hearted old woman, and all this business trying to get him to lock horns with her is a lot of bull—how it wouldn’t do anybody any good, especially him. Getting shut of her wouldn’t be getting shut of the real deep-down hang-up that’s causing the gripes. “You think not?” Harding says. “Then since you are suddenly so lucid on the problem of mental health, what is this trouble? What is this deep-down hang-up, as you so cleverly put it.” (pg) That “deep-down hang-up” is that they are scared of what will happen to them if they defy the authority of what Chief Bromden calls “the Combine,” with Big Nurse as the head of it. When McMurphy realizes they just want him to do all of the fighting back because they are afraid that their release will be delayed, and when he finds out they are they voluntarily, he can’t believe it: “He looks frightened. McMurphy stands up in the hall and says, “Are you guys bullshitting me!”” (pg). But they all tell him reason they don’t leave is they are really afraid. Just like how they all are afaird to stand up for themselves because they know the consequences that they will face. I to have the same fears when it comes to testing authority power. In middle school when I was in 9th grade we had a person come over for mini-course and they were teaching us about arts. At the time half of the class was not paying any attention and was just messing around. The person got so mad where they went very unprofessional and have used many behaviors to express his frustrations. One was using profanity words to all of and over all abusing all of his authority and power to be heard. At that moment as I have looked around I saw all of my fellow students feeling very uncomfortable. I truly felt like standing up and saying something but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to face any consequences if I were to. Just as McMurphy was stunned after hearing that all of these people still chose to be there even after seeing what the Big Nurse has been doing, I have felt the same way when the rest of the students in the class still choosing not to say anything to our school staff after all that. I even tried talking to some of my friends but they also chose to keep their heads down not do anything about it. McMurphy is not only talking about his fellow patients’ actions and the consequences for themselves, but he is also confronting his own cooperation with the whole system. He is starting to realize that his “allies” are really just using him to do what they won’t, even though they have the freedom to escape whenever they choose. McMurphy has more to lose than they do. So, he is beginning mistrusting them and realizing that he really is all alone in there. He also knows that when it all comes down, none of them are going to join him or even stand up for him. I think that’s where I might have been, too. I wanted the teacher’s bullying to stop, but I knew that no one had my back it would all come down on me.

In all of the chapters we’ve read of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, there is a nurse named Nurse Ratched, more commonly known in the book as “The Big Nurse.” I chose to portray her this way to depict the power, control, and fear she has on the inmates of the asylum. I blended the red accents in her white uniform and obscured her face with a shadow to capture the essence of her character: a symbol of authority and fear. The composition allows viewers to put themselves on the dark floors of the hospital where the nurse’s demeanor embodies the emotional and psychological tension she imposes. Her head turned shows her disregard for identity, focusing on the rules and system she upholds. The significance of this piece is the exploring perspective and asking viewers to question how they perceive figures like her.

The decision to hide her face is one the most important parts of the artwork. It hides her features, allowing the viewer to interpret her character in the hospital. She can represent a figure of power and control and for others, she is a source of fear and vulnerability. Hiding her features ensures her identity is entirely shaped by perception. This artistic choice highlights the power of perspective and what it can cause people to do.

The choice of red accents in her uniform was done purposefully as the color red is seen with power, fear, and terror. Its emotional texture is a reminder of Nurse Ratched’s demeanor. The red coloring adds a layer of indifference that defines her relationship with patients. This choice shows her role as a nurse and oppressor, blending a facade of professionalism and manipulation.

Her head turned in the image, shows how she distances herself emotionally from the viewer, seeing them as nothing more than another inmate. It is done to make the viewer feel small compared to her, which also helps give soundness to her nickname “The Big Nurse.” Her face at that angle also suggests an avoidance of accountability for what may occur in the hospital but also gives her that feeling of always being aware of what is happening. It invites the viewer to feel who she is, overseeing the inmates and experiencing the control she wields over the inmates.

The dim lighting in the background is done to isolate her and the viewer. The flickering lights contribute to an environment of uncertainty and unease. The setting represents the system she upholds, designed to confine, control, and suppress. The background being empty also lets the viewer imagine what may be hiding in the shadows behind her. It serves as a silent commentary on the dehumanizing nature of the institution and what it is doing to its inmates.

The portrait of Nurse Ratched is not just a depiction of her fictional character but of the dynamics of authority and perception. The face covered by a shadow, red accents, and eerie setting contribute to creating an image that is unsettling and thought-provoking. It lets viewers imagine what power may mean to her and questions them on what power means to themselves and how they see figures of control. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is full of characters that have significance and power but Nurse Ratched is the strongest of them all.

The scene that this image was drawn to represent takes place on pages 57-60 of One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest, where McMurphy talks to Harding about Ms. Ratched and the happenings in the Ward. Eventually, responding to McMurphy calling them chickens in the discussion, Harding describes himself and the other patients as rabbits instead, “… All of us in here are rabbits of varying ages and degrees, hippity-hopping through our Walt Disney world.” (57) Due to how close to the beginning of the book this scene was, the reader has not come to an understanding of what the characters in the ward are truly thinking and feeling, and how differently they think has not truly been demonstrated. This is one of the first scenes that gives the reader insight to what is going on within the ward patient’s minds, and as the reader it was a little unsettling to me. That scene made me feel unsure about my initial thoughts that maybe patients at the ward didn’t have much of a difference mentally.

He continues the previous quote with explaining how their rabbitness relates to them being stuck in the world and their craziness, “Oh don’t misunderstand me, we are not here because we are rabbits - we’d be rabbits wherever we were - we’re all in here because we can’t adjust to our rabbithood,” (57-58). The animalistic comparison really stood out to me, and when I read this moment in the book I had an image in my mind of a giant wolf with sharp teeth making little rabbits tremble in fear and stay stuck in place. I was inspired by both the unsettling feeling this scene left me with, as well as this imagery that was left in my mind of the wolf and rabbit, to try drawing this scene. I tried to demonstrate that through my drawing; the wolf’s jaws and teeth are depicted around a rabbit - which is what Harding describes as the relationship between Nurse Ratched and the ward patients.

The drawing was designed to look similar in a few ways to some of the art styles that are shown in the book. Some of the style similarities can be seen when comparing this image to the image at the very beginning of the book, before the title page. This image (used for inspiration) shows a man curled into himself, sitting in a room with a chair and a door in the background, and his two hands are curled around his face. The drawing is black and white, and appears to be drawn in graphite or something similar. The shapes and lines used in the drawing are very sharp and angular. There is also a dynamic between lightly and darkly shaded parts of the art piece. I tried to use these three stylistic choices in my own artwork to create a similar unsettling feeling that leaves the reader a bit confused and shocked, because that is the impact this scene had on me.

De’Naiza Watson 11/22/2024 Pahomov College English

After Harding had stopped his rant, it became quiet. Eerily quiet. Almost as if a pin could drop and even the Big Nurse could hear it from wherever she was.

Then McMurphy spoke, softer than normal,

“ Are you guys bullshitting me?’, then it got louder.

“Are you guys bullshitting me!”, then it got quiet again.

Then he paced, up and down, back and forth, before he came and stopped near me. I felt his presence before I saw him. My back turned away from everyone else. My back was turned, but I was listening.

I was waiting for it, anticipating it.

I listened as he went on. Speaking, shouting, outraged.

“ You Billy – you must be committed for Christakes!”

“No”, I answered, still not facing the group.

“ You oughta be out running around in a convertible, bird doggin girls. Why do you stand for it?”

He quickly moved on from me. I was no longer interested in the machinery before me, with my back turnt, I listened.

“You could get along outside if you had the guts”, Murphy said aloud again, throughout his entire rant that is the moment that struck me, that’s what stood out.

Guts, if I had the guts. In that moment I can’t recall if I had felt angry, or if I had afterall been sad. Before I even realized, I turned around.

“ Sure!”, I yell the first time. The words came out louder than I had anticipated.

“ Sure” I shout a second.

That’s it, I remember now, I remember how I’d felt. I was angry. Not just at McMurphy, but at myself. If I had the guts. I wouldn’t be here. If I had the guts, who knows what I’d be doing right now.

“If we had the g-guts! I could go outside t-today, if I had the guts. My m-m-mother is a good friend of M-Miss Ratched, and I could get an AMA signed this afternoon, if I had the guts!”

Then I remember I got really angry. I got up and grabbed my shirt, I wanted to leave right now. I could show McMurphy I had guts. But then, I turned around again.

“You think I wuh-wuh-wuh-want to stay in here? You think I wouldn’t like a con-con-vertible and a guh-guh-girl friend? But did you ever have people l-l-laughing at you? No, because you’re so b-big and so tough! Well, I’m not big and tough. Neither is Harding. Neither is F-Fredrickson. Neither is Suh-Sefelt. Oh - oh, you - you t-talk like we stayed in here because we liked it! Oh - it’s n-no use …”

I wanted to keep going, I wanted to keep talking, but then my anger turned to sadness. I went, turned to run, then I don’t really remember much of what happened after that.

It’s silly to me, because on paper I’m normal. As I sit and write to you. You’d have no idea what was wrong with me.I aint deaf like Broom, I dont got any weird thoughts in my head.I envy McMurphy, not for the reason everyone else thinks. He’s got a confidence about him that separates him from us. Maybe if I had the guts, nobody would know what’s wrong with me.

If I had the guts.

Reflection: The stylistic choice I chose to make during my writing was to have Billy Bibbit narrate a scene where he got emotional. I chose to focus on Billy intellectually instead of Billy socially. There’s nothing serious that separates Billy from a normal person besides his stutter, and his childlike appearance. He’s consciously thinking, and he’s consciously making choices and decisions like an adult would. He’s not behind. In those scenes, having it narrated from Bromden’s perspective doesn’t help show a lot of the big emotions that can come with the scenario. Especially in Billys case. Billy has a severe stutter, and as someone with a stutter, it’s something I could relate to on a personal level. People working through stutters or having them doesn’t make them lesser in the brain department and that’s a point I wanted to get across by Billy breaking down scenarios in order to better understand between character and reader.

De’Naiza Watson 11/22/2024 Pahomov College English

After Harding had stopped his rant, it became quiet. Eerily quiet. Almost as if a pin could drop and even the Big Nurse could hear it from wherever she was.

Then McMurphy spoke, softer than normal,

“ Are you guys bullshitting me?’, then it got louder.

“Are you guys bullshitting me!”, then it got quiet again.

Then he paced, up and down, back and forth, before he came and stopped near me. I felt his presence before I saw him. My back turned away from everyone else. My back was turned, but I was listening.

I was waiting for it, anticipating it.

I listened as he went on. Speaking, shouting, outraged.

“ You Billy – you must be committed for Christakes!”

“No”, I answered, still not facing the group.

“ You oughta be out running around in a convertible, bird doggin girls. Why do you stand for it?”

He quickly moved on from me. I was no longer interested in the machinery before me, with my back turnt, I listened.

“You could get along outside if you had the guts”, Murphy said aloud again, throughout his entire rant that is the moment that struck me, that’s what stood out.

Guts, if I had the guts. In that moment I can’t recall if I had felt angry, or if I had afterall been sad. Before I even realized, I turned around.

“ Sure!”, I yell the first time. The words came out louder than I had anticipated.

“ Sure” I shout a second.

That’s it, I remember now, I remember how I’d felt. I was angry. Not just at McMurphy, but at myself. If I had the guts. I wouldn’t be here. If I had the guts, who knows what I’d be doing right now.

“If we had the g-guts! I could go outside t-today, if I had the guts. My m-m-mother is a good friend of M-Miss Ratched, and I could get an AMA signed this afternoon, if I had the guts!”

Then I remember I got really angry. I got up and grabbed my shirt, I wanted to leave right now. I could show McMurphy I had guts. But then, I turned around again.

“You think I wuh-wuh-wuh-want to stay in here? You think I wouldn’t like a con-con-vertible and a guh-guh-girl friend? But did you ever have people l-l-laughing at you? No, because you’re so b-big and so tough! Well, I’m not big and tough. Neither is Harding. Neither is F-Fredrickson. Neither is Suh-Sefelt. Oh - oh, you - you t-talk like we stayed in here because we liked it! Oh - it’s n-no use …”

I wanted to keep going, I wanted to keep talking, but then my anger turned to sadness. I went, turned to run, then I don’t really remember much of what happened after that.

It’s silly to me, because on paper I’m normal. As I sit and write to you. You’d have no idea what was wrong with me.I aint deaf like Broom, I dont got any weird thoughts in my head.I envy McMurphy, not for the reason everyone else thinks. He’s got a confidence about him that separates him from us. Maybe if I had the guts, nobody would know what’s wrong with me.

If I had the guts.

Reflection: The stylistic choice I chose to make during my writing was to have Billy Bibbit narrate a scene where he got emotional. I chose to focus on Billy intellectually instead of Billy socially. There’s nothing serious that separates Billy from a normal person besides his stutter, and his childlike appearance. He’s consciously thinking, and he’s consciously making choices and decisions like an adult would. He’s not behind. In those scenes, having it narrated from Bromden’s perspective doesn’t help show a lot of the big emotions that can come with the scenario. Especially in Billys case. Billy has a severe stutter, and as someone with a stutter, it’s something I could relate to on a personal level. People working through stutters or having them doesn’t make them lesser in the brain department and that’s a point I wanted to get across by Billy breaking down scenarios in order to better understand between character and reader.

The Mind Space

The mind is a complex universe within us, something that only we can understand, from ever fragment, every core, the thoughts that we have, the inner voice that helps us create the decisions that we make, but if we’re fortunate enough to find our person to understand, we’re usually left alone to deal with our mind. What makes the mind different from others? How is handling your mind and your perception of the world different from everyone else? A good example of this would be this quote, “There’s a shipment of frozen parts come in downstairs– hearts and kidneys and brain the like. I can hear them rumble into cold storage down the coal chute. A guy sitting in the room someplace I can’t see is talking about a guy up on Disturbed killing himself. Old Rawler. Cut both nuts off and bled to death, sitting right on the can in the latrine, half a dozen people in there with him didn’t know it till he fell off to the floor, dead.” — In the book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, main character Chief Bromden is often someone who is stuck in his thoughts. These thoughts can be very disturbing or very intriguing depending how you look at it. The quote above is an example of his mindset, his mind is so spiral, he thinks of gruesome things, he even thinks of the uncomfortable, but that is what makes the mind– a mind. Throughout the book Bromden’s thoughts deepen and switch between his past and his present, sometimes while reading, the reader’s mind can become fogged as if the fog machine is present in their head, like Bromden’s. Meaning that, the reader becomes confused, intrigued, and their thoughts become more intune with the book. Thinking like Bromden in a way. As for me, reading this book has definitely opened my eyes to how people in Asylum’s could be. Of course with previous knowledge, I already knew a lot, but you never can see the inside of a patient’s mind. You never can have the same experience as them– until you’re them. While reading this book my thoughts varied back and forth, even though Bromden’s thoughts were what people would say were weird, I couldn’t help but relate to him. My mind runs a thousand miles per hour, endless thoughts trembling throughout my mind, thoughts that I wish I didn’t have. These would be called intrusive thoughts, where you think about things that are depicted as “abnormal” for example– a constant thought I used to have that I hated was hurting animals. Of course I would never do such, I love animals, so why was this thought in my brain? For nights I stressed myself out about this. The more I dug that shovel deep into that one thought, the more that thought exploded into gruesome thoughts that transpired into something worse. I would overthink so much about this that my head would start to burn from stress. While this turned into an everyday occurrence for years, I felt at a disadvantage. I didn’t know what to do. Back to the book, there isn’t really anything for the patients to do. Like Bromden, he can’t do anything but think. I feel like me and many others, when it comes to delusion, overthinking, intrusive thoughts, just for saying the wrong thing to someone you can be put inside of a Mental Asylum. Relating to the book, for me, it still confuses me as to why Bromden was in there in the first place. This makes me think about when I was almost taken to an Asylum, all because I said an intrusive thought that bothered me. Feeding into your delusions can be dangerous; it’s like liking a boy but he doesn’t like you back, but you believe that he’ll like you back one day so you sit and just hold onto the possibility of him liking you. You change his contact in your phone to something romantic, you daydream while looking at his pictures, then you try again and ask him out and you’re surprised when he denies you. Being delusional can get your heart broken, can mess up your brain, it can create issues for you that you created for yourself. With Bromden, his thoughts are all over the place which confuses the reader. Even me, I was confused, and offended by his constant comments about Black people. The frequent use of “negro”. But all in all, I relate to Bromden, his mind just runs and runs and never stops, and so does mine, and I wish that it wasn’t like that.

On Friday we sit down for another community meeting forced upon us by Nurse Ratched. I look around at the other men slumped over, and muttering to themselves. These poor useless men guarantee that I’m the only one in here in the right mind. Nah I’m really the craziest of them all and old Ratched knows it. I remember that I’m gonna need them all today, so I put on my very best behavior. I raise my hand and politely request if we could reassess the topic of TV time. Then the goddamn woman informs me that this is therapy and my grievance is too petty to discuss. I don’t take that type of disrespect so naturally I keep speaking my ideas. Then the woman interrupted me again and the next thing she said just drove me mad. She suggests that I’m imposing my personal desires on the other gentlemen in the ward, which I’m sure as hell not. Then she has the audacity to suggest the others would be happier with me gone. I keep it interesting around here, and she knows it. One of the guys speaks up though, and tells old Ratched to give me a chance. They bicker for a while and finally she lets me propose my ideas to the group. I tell them I want a revote on TV in the afternoon and the nurse tells me again that there’s more important things to do, but she eventually gives in. I made a quick joke, and consequently she suggests my removal from this ward again. Clearly this woman, if you can even call her a woman, is invincible to my charm.

I decided that a show of hands is the right path forward, and I’m the first to confidently stick my hand in the air. Lucky for me and my dignity, the men raise their hands, one by one. Soon enough, all twenty of the men they call Acutes are raising their hands. I knew they agreed with me, the poor fellas were just scared. Everyones dead silent and even old Ratched is stunned. Then that goddamn woman informs me that there are forty patients in the ward and I need the majority to make a change. At that point I was done with the niceties. I stood up and just about yelled in that woman’s face. I told her off about how ridiculous it is to require those old birds to vote, to change anything around her. Then she and the doctor went on about the constitution of the place. It was such bullshit and I just about lost it. Then the damn woman tells the doctor to write it down like I’m some case study. Before they can stop me I go over and do everything I can to convince those chronic men to flap their wing just a little bit. I go from one to the next begging them. First Ruckly, then Ellis, Pete, Gabriel, and George. I only manage to get a blank stare or a mumble of gibberish in response. Finally I get to Chief Bromden. The man can’t hear or talk so I have little hope at this point. The Big Nurse announces that the meeting is adjourned, but miraculously The Chief raises his hand. I jump up and down whooping, and give him a good hard pat on the back. I cheer and announce to the group that we’ve reached majority. The Acutes gather around me in celebration, and the Nurse walks away with a fake smile across her face.

Later in the day, we see her behind the glass with the same strange smile. I don’t pay her much attention as I scour the baseboard. I check the clock and see that it’s about game time, so I leave my rags on the ground. I walk by Old Ratchet and who’s red faced and glaring at me. I give that woman my best grin and a wink for her troubles. This only makes her angrier though, but I know she likes me. I go get my favorite armchair and I bring it over to the TV. All the other guys glance at me but they’re too chicken to stop working. I turn the tv on, put my feet up, and light up. The only thing that would make me happier is an ice cold beer. I see the nurse staring at me. I knew she couldn’t resist me. Then she turns off the damn tv, so I lean way back, and take another puff. I always win.

Authors Note:

I wrote this scene from the perspective of Mcmurphy. I decided to write in a lot of short snappy sentences with casual and not very descriptive narration. He speaks in a colloquial way in comparison to the way Bromden narrates and Nurse Ratched speaks. He also curses a lot and is often exasperated which I express through his narration. He’s also very manipulative so I made it clear through his thoughts that he’s strategizing how to get everyone to cooperate with what he wants. He objectifies and flirts with Nurse Ratched a lot so I also included that in his thoughts.

On Friday we sit down for another community meeting forced upon us by Nurse Ratched. I look around at the other men slumped over, and muttering to themselves. These poor useless men guarantee that I’m the only one in here in the right mind. Nah I’m really the craziest of them all and old Ratched knows it. I remember that I’m gonna need them all today, so I put on my very best behavior. I raise my hand and politely request if we could reassess the topic of TV time. Then the goddamn woman informs me that this is therapy and my grievance is too petty to discuss. I don’t take that type of disrespect so naturally I keep speaking my ideas. Then the woman interrupted me again and the next thing she said just drove me mad. She suggests that I’m imposing my personal desires on the other gentlemen in the ward, which I’m sure as hell not. Then she has the audacity to suggest the others would be happier with me gone. I keep it interesting around here, and she knows it. One of the guys speaks up though, and tells old Ratched to give me a chance. They bicker for a while and finally she lets me propose my ideas to the group. I tell them I want a revote on TV in the afternoon and the nurse tells me again that there’s more important things to do, but she eventually gives in. I made a quick joke, and consequently she suggests my removal from this ward again. Clearly this woman, if you can even call her a woman, is invincible to my charm.

I decided that a show of hands is the right path forward, and I’m the first to confidently stick my hand in the air. Lucky for me and my dignity, the men raise their hands, one by one. Soon enough, all twenty of the men they call Acutes are raising their hands. I knew they agreed with me, the poor fellas were just scared. Everyones dead silent and even old Ratched is stunned. Then that goddamn woman informs me that there are forty patients in the ward and I need the majority to make a change. At that point I was done with the niceties. I stood up and just about yelled in that woman’s face. I told her off about how ridiculous it is to require those old birds to vote, to change anything around her. Then she and the doctor went on about the constitution of the place. It was such bullshit and I just about lost it. Then the damn woman tells the doctor to write it down like I’m some case study. Before they can stop me I go over and do everything I can to convince those chronic men to flap their wing just a little bit. I go from one to the next begging them. First Ruckly, then Ellis, Pete, Gabriel, and George. I only manage to get a blank stare or a mumble of gibberish in response. Finally I get to Chief Bromden. The man can’t hear or talk so I have little hope at this point. The Big Nurse announces that the meeting is adjourned, but miraculously The Chief raises his hand. I jump up and down whooping, and give him a good hard pat on the back. I cheer and announce to the group that we’ve reached majority. The Acutes gather around me in celebration, and the Nurse walks away with a fake smile across her face.

Later in the day, we see her behind the glass with the same strange smile. I don’t pay her much attention as I scour the baseboard. I check the clock and see that it’s about game time, so I leave my rags on the ground. I walk by Old Ratchet and who’s red faced and glaring at me. I give that woman my best grin and a wink for her troubles. This only makes her angrier though, but I know she likes me. I go get my favorite armchair and I bring it over to the TV. All the other guys glance at me but they’re too chicken to stop working. I turn the tv on, put my feet up, and light up. The only thing that would make me happier is an ice cold beer. I see the nurse staring at me. I knew she couldn’t resist me. Then she turns off the damn tv, so I lean way back, and take another puff. I always win.

Authors Note:

I wrote this scene from the perspective of Mcmurphy. I decided to write in a lot of short snappy sentences with casual and not very descriptive narration. He speaks in a colloquial way in comparison to the way Bromden narrates and Nurse Ratched speaks. He also curses a lot and is often exasperated which I express through his narration. He’s also very manipulative so I made it clear through his thoughts that he’s strategizing how to get everyone to cooperate with what he wants. He objectifies and flirts with Nurse Ratched a lot so I also included that in his thoughts.

Authority is “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.” I’ve experienced many forms of authority throughout my life, from many different people, that all fall under the umbrella of being adults. As children, we are told that adults should be met with respect and have the right to exercise their authority over us when the situation calls for it. My experience with authority has been very mixed throughout my seventeen years of living, I usually fall into line when met with most forms of authority. The book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, has various alternate perspectives on how to adapt to authority.

Throughout the book Nurse Ratched serves as the leading authority over the ward, seeming to have connections to the supervisor, a sense of control over everyone, and the power to do as she pleases. The two characters that embody the responses to authority are McMurphy and Harding, who often conflict with each other due to having different views. McMurphy is against leading authority while Harding fully accepts and supports it, both disgusting their viewpoints on her authority in long detail. On page 54 Harding states, “Our dear Miss Rached? Our sweet, smiling, tender angel of mercy, Mother Ratched, a ball cutter? Why, My friend, that’s most unlikely.” To me, this sounds like what I remember from my mother being like a parental authority that made me feel safe. That safety she gave off was why following her authority was easy because I knew that following someone I trusted wouldn’t hurt me or have any consequences. The quote is also interesting to me because I know that others don’t feel the same way about her. Submitting due to fear of her, which also connects me back to my parents. How it wasn’t a fear of them but a fear of what could happen to me, fear of being punished, a fear of negative consequences.

McMurphy has played a very significant role since his introduction, almost always being the cause of something interesting happening in the ward. At first, he seemed rather carefree and joyful about being in the ward, disrupting the hierarchy of control. Although he changed once he learned that the nurse could extend his time even further he started behaving. On page 164, he confronts Harding and others by asking, “It’s interesting to me that you bums didn’t tell me what a risk I was running into…” This reminds me of the education system, how there’s always something a teacher can say or do to enforce their authority. An example of this would be when a parent is called, or detention is threatened. I’ve never been a fan of consequences, more so any punishment that takes things away from me. The act of something being taken from you that you have no power to get back is why authority through fear is so powerful. I’ve gotten many things taken from me growing up and they’ve all been things I could get back, items that give me joy. When I look at McMurphy’s situation he could point to his sentence which is time he can never get back, therefore his incentive to behave would be much greater.

Respecting authority has alway been a choice, everyone makes it every day when we decide to obey the law. In the Ward the characters have very limited options which causes them to often go the easy way out, as Harding chooses to do, obey the authority and keep it moving. I’ve never truly thought to defy authority because I have no reason too, but through looking at the resident ward members I understand why defiance would strike out in some, mostly McMurphy. On page 176, McMurphy snaps and breaks the window with his bare fist, blood trickling down his hand while he speaks with Nurse Ratched. This symbolizes that everyone has a breaking point when it comes to authority. I remember getting in trouble with my father and giving all my energy worrying about what he’ll do or what he’ll take away, all of a sudden I don’t care anymore. It gets to the point where they’ve taken so much from you that there’s no real fear of consequence anymore because you have nothing left. I fear that eventually due how cornered every patient is at the ward it’ll eventually cause anarchy anarchy among the ward.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Has opened my eyes to a new view on authority, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a kind nurturing authority growing up, one that I felt comfortable submitting too. This book made me question how far is too far? When is it alright to defy authority? And, What is the appropriate way to combat toxic authority? I would never anything as extreme as in the book but I know one day authority and I will bud heads, and that makes me worried about the consequences.