Cuckoo's Nest - TheUtmostTrouble Forum

Chapters 26-30 (261-325; Finish the book)

jyoung98 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:13:46 +0000

Analyze the different character endings.
Billy
McMurphy
Nurse Ratched
Chief
Other patients on the ward

Is this a tragic ending overall? Why or why not?

What is the overall message of the text based on how things end?

Chapters 24-25 (pages 205-258; all of part 3)

jyoung98 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:12:17 +0000

Much of what is discussed in Part III is following the conversation between McMurphy and Chief about being big or full-sized compared to how "little" Chief is right now. McMurphy's influence is extremely strong in this section on the other patients. What things does McMurphy do to make not just Chief but all of the patients bigger? What things does he do that are planned? What things are not planned? Which are more effective and why?

Chapters 19-23 (pages176-201 finish part 2)

jyoung98 — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:29:59 +0000

In this section we see Harding ask McMurphy why he's "let up" on Nurse Ratched after having her "on the ropes". Why did he let up? What is the effective difference between being voluntary vs. committed? *Since many of the men are voluntary what does that do to a reader's perspective concerning the treatments such as EST and lobotomies? *Lastly, how does this change McMurphy's opinion of the men he is on the ward with & has the author given us enough information for us to agree or disagree with his assessment?

Chapters 16-18 (pages 149-175)

jyoung98 — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 21:09:47 +0000

We have now reached the big moments between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy where they are battling for control on the ward. Your response is very open-ended and broad this week:
*Who should win the battle for control of the ward, Ratched or McMurphy, and why? What would be the consequences for your pick winning?

*Please point to evidence from earlier in the book in addition to this section. Find pieces that best support what would be lost and/or what would be gained based on past events, actions, and reactions. Think about the full dynamics of the ward: the patients (Chronics, Acutes, Vegetables), the doctors, the nurses, the orderlies. How would what you choose affect all aspects of the ward?

*If it helps, feel free to write this more as a list with explanations and evidence than one big paragraph.

*Make sure to reply at least twice--(it could be to two different posts or twice on the same post if someone replies to you).

*Look through a previous chapter's discussion and reply to at least one person.
Remember that when you reply to a post your task is to help create discussion: ask questions; ask for clarification; offer your different point of view; offer agreement and additional support; play devil's advocate.

Offer at least a solid paragraph in your replies.

Cuckoo's Nest 10-15 (pages 117-148; Finish Part 1)

jyoung98 — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:42:10 +0000

This week we're going to have you all look at some outside sources that discuss mental health. To give a basic overview, please go to:
https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/37146/A-History-of-Mental-Institutions-in-the-United-States/
Read the 1825 event to the 1977 event as a way to get an idea of basic climate at the time. Explain what is new information to you and how this influences your perception of society outside the ward at Chief and McMurphy's time.

In addition (sorry to make this more reading) please read the attached article:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/beyond-the-cuckoos-nest-the-quest-for-why-shock-therapy-can-work/
How does this article change the way you approach things being brought up in the novel? What inferences does this work against (use textual evidence)?

What inferences does this support (use textual evidence)?

Use this as an opportunity to discuss the history of mental health and how this novel portrays it. Try to comment to the best of your ability on your understanding and use the resources to help build up your ideas. This means using quotes from both the novel and the sources.

Chapters 7-9 (85-116)

jyoung98 — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:35:31 +0000

In this section of the book, we're able to see more of the influence McMurphy has on the ward. One of my favorite passages is when Chief is talking about how he's smelling something that has never been on the ward, "but never before now, before came in, the man smell of dust and dirt from open fields, and sweat, and work" (Kesey 91). Why would those smells be appealing to Chief? Why does McMurphy create that smell and no one else?

As we see this shift, Chief begins to bring up more of the intricacies of his view on the ward and the outside world. Constantly he is mentioning the Combine and how the staff on the ward works for or is part of the Combine like when it feels like Nurse Ratched has been bested by McMurphy, "She'll go on winning, just like the Combine, because she has all the power of the Combine behind her" (Kesey 101). Shortly after that Chief slips back into a heavy fog. What is the Combine? How does Chief experience it? Do other patients notice or experience it? If so, in what ways? If not, what do they experience or notice instead?

Use at least one quote to talk about McMurphy's influence and at least one quote to support the discussion about the Combine.

Chapters 5-6

jyoung98 — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 21:58:45 +0000

You can choose A, B, or C Depending on what you choose, label it.

A) In Chapter 5 (pages 42 to 69) the primary set-up is through dialogue. What are some of the key pieces of information that come across through the dialogue about the set-up of the ward? What do we learn about some of the other patients on the ward (this means making some inferences)? How does McMurphy change the dynamic on the ward? Even if we don't see much about it before he arrives, what is obviously new for the other Acutes?

B) In Chapter 6, Chief brings up the discussion of time and fog, "About the only time we get any let-up from this time control is in the fog; then time doesn't mean anything. It's lost in the fog like everything else. (They haven't really fogged the place full force all day today, not since McMurphy came in. I bet he'd yell like a bull if they fogged it.)" (Kesey 71). What does this help us understand about Chief's perception of time? What do you think the fog is and represents? Do you think that other characters can perceive these time changes or the use of fog that Chief suggests, or is this more just his viewpoint?

C) In combining the two above responses, discuss McMurphy's overall influence on the ward after such a short time? How does he change not just the dynamics for the other patients, but how does his character impact Kesey style and writing technique?

Please use supporting evidence for any of the above responses to support your viewpoint. When doing so, if you could try to use parenthetical citations including the author's last name.

Chapters 1-4

jyoung98 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:22:10 +0000

1-4: Because we can see things through Chief's perspective, we gain insights into the setup of the ward that another narrator might not have. One of the major components that Chief discusses in this first section is the different types of patients in the ward.

Based on what Chief tells us and what we can infer through conversations, what are the major differences between the Chronics and the Acutes? Chief categorizes himself as well; to what extent is this an accurate categorization, to what extent is it not?

How does he view what is going on compared to other people (staff and patients) on the ward? How do others perceive him compared to what is he really like? Give textual evidence from both Chief and from dialogue between other people on the ward to support your ideas. Avoid just showing one perspective. Be clear about what inferences you can make based on your evidence.

Make sure to use at least 3 quotes from the first 4 chapters to support your assertions. Include in-text citations. For our purposes here--since we know the text--just a page number will suffice.