One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Part 2

[Valerie]

I'm quite enjoying this. I am finding that my attitudes towards Big Nurse and McMurphy are changing somewhat the further I read.

[Janet]

I think it is interesting that your views of McMurphy and Nurse Ratchett are changing. Would you consider telling us how your views have evolved?

[Valerie]

Janet wrote: "I think it is interesting that your views of McMurphy and Nurse Ratchett are changing. Would you consider telling us how your views have evolved?"
At the beginning, I viewed McMurphy as extremely manipulative and mysogynistic, but later saw a softer side, especially when interacting with the Chief. I felt that Nurse Ratched was performing a difficult job, with absolutely no support from any of the medical staff, and felt that she was running the ward in the only way possible. However, I did at times question her motives, but wonder if i was being manipulated to think this way about her.

[Janet]

I can see your point but somehow I always saw the soft side of McMurphy. I do think that we are manipulated to question Nurse Ratched's motives but in the same breath she is the most manipulating character imaginable and it seems terrifying to me to see how she plants the seeds of divisiveness in the hospital populace.

[Melissa]

I am about halfway through. I was really into it at the beginning but am now struggling to get through it. I will continue on. It's the fog I think that is derailing me. Actually, the pages of description of the fog and the machinery. I get it (I think) I just feel that it goes on and on.

[Brianna Andreda]

I was surprised when McMurphy stopped making disturbances on the ward because he was afraid of being there longer than his regular sentence. He thought that was the same reason that the other patients did what the Big Nurse said, but it was the complete opposite. Most of them aren't committed and are there voluntarily, this was a huge shocker to me seeing how much they complained and complained about how they don't like the place, yet they're there willing. I didn't start to see McMurphy's soft side until the end of this part when he started feeling bad for the other patients there voluntarily. I think McMurphy realized that they weren't using him, but that he gave them the courage they needed to, in a way, confirm with society. Very interested at this point.