Part One

[Korista]

Hey everyone! I’m ridiculously excited for our first discussion, so I thought I’d dive right in with a few observations and questions to get the ball rolling. Answer one, all, or none of the below questions and/or throw in some questions and insights of your own :) Also, you’ll notice I don’t have anything to say about McMurphy yet, so by all means please help out and ask a question or provide your comprehension about his character! I don’t know what to make of him as a character yet and I have a feeling a lot of my preconceived notions about his optimism are misplaced…

A few observations and questions from my reading so far:

1) The first line that really struck me in the novel appears at the end of page eight, when Bromden pleads with the reader: “But please. It’s still hard for me to have a clear mind thinking on it. But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen.” It got me thinking about our definition of insanity and how all we’re really saying is this person’s way of viewing the world does not align with the majority. It’s also interesting that Bromden is half Native American, a culture which may have revered and respected the visions-or hallucinations- that Bromden finds himself institutionalized for. What were your thoughts on that particular line? Do you think something can be true even if not completely based in reality?

2) Bromden’s perception of Nurse Ratched is quite frankly terrifying. His description of her anger towards the black aides, “swelling up, swells till her back’s splitting out the white uniform and she’s let her arms section out long enough to wrap around the three of them five, six times.” (pg. 5) Do you think Bromdens perception of Nurse Rached is accurate? What impression do you get from this particular nurse and what gave you that idea?

3) Do you think the concept of the Combine- “a huge organization that aims to adjust the Outside as well as…the Inside” (pg. 28) holds any truth when considering western society today, or do you think this is a theme that better portrays the 60’s (when this book was originally published)?

4) The group therapy scene gave me shivers, particularly when she matter-of-factly starts talking about Harding’s insecurities surrounding “his wife’s ample bosom” (pg. 44). It didn’t strike me as therapeutic or helpful in any way, rather a way of shaming him for something that I’m sure many men (and women) could relate to and temporarily alienating him from the group.

5) From what we know of Bromden so far, do you think his hallucination fogs are the result of a mental illness or could they be a symptom of all of the shock therapy he’s likely received in the time he’s been under Nurse Ratched’s care?

I'm going to leave this discussion running right up until our next one on the 5th, so no need to rush!

[Melissa]

5)I am kind of on the fence with this question. Initially, I thought that the fog is a result of the shock therapy Bromden has received. However, if his brain has been so fried by the shock therapy, how is he still capable of being "cagey enough to fool them" into believing he is "deaf and dumb" (Pg. 1)?

[Korista]

That's a great point Melissa! It makes me wonder whether Bromden was even insane when they admitted him or whether he was just shy of what was socially acceptable- in fact, in makes me question our definition of madness as a whole. Harding theorizes that it's not madness at all which condemns them to the asylum but rather fear and a lack of strength: " we're all in here because we can't adjust to our rabbithood. We need a good strong wolf like the nurse to teach us our place." (pg. 64)If indeed these men have become rabbitlike in response to a harsh and aggressive (i.e. wolflike) world, we can understand why Bromden has become "sly and frightened and elusive and he digs holes and hides when the wolf is about." It is his way of getting a leg up- look at everything he hears and absorbs as a result of pretending to be mute.