The Big Nurse

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.