Real World Application

[John]

Besides the more obvious call for reforms in psychiatric care, what other powerful messages are present in Kesey's novel? Are any of these messages or themes relevant to today?

[John]

Why what an interesting question, let me respond and discuss as is the whole point of this Goodreads group. Personally I feel that one of Kesey's more stressed messages is his support of self expression. Many if the patients have been deprived of the ability to express themselves and it has led to insanity. They have warped identities caused by this inability to put out into the world the way the feel. Ratched intensifies the insanity among the patients by further pressuring them with fear and rules that prevent self expression.

[John]

I forgot in my above post to mention if I think this is still relevant. Of course it is and I think a prime example is the style in which we are educated. I feel as though schools force us to think in the way they deem acceptable. Standardized tests and ap exams penalize us for being abstract in thought. Having unique ideas is almost penalized, deviating from the norm is wrong. Of course school isn't nearly as oppressive as the psychiatric ward but I do feel at times that its just another cog in the oppressive combine that is society.

[Julian]

*Spoiler Alert* I have to applaud the quality of this question as John has previously done. I think when he mentioned self-expression is in important to mention expression in the context of monotony. Between page 30 and page 36, Kesey describes the everyday life of Chief which is virtually the same everyday, like a machine which I have previously mentioned. McMurphy's gradual liberation of the patients is symbolic as a liberation form bondage, which Kesey believes the world needs. In this way he uses the ward as a microcosm of America in my opinion. Additionally, it is important to mention Chief's physical characteristics. Chief is 6 foot seven but he is subjugated by a short army nurse. What Kesey is saying in my opinion is that people are so strong, so powerful that they can easily overthrow the societal conformity around them. In the conclusion of the novel, when Chief finally rips the control panel and throws it through the window (p310) as McMurphy has been pleading nearly the whole novel, Chief liberates himself by finally realizing how strong he is and what he is capable of. The symbolic sacrifice of McMurphy along the way just shows the price that we must pay to be truly free form societal constraint.

[Ibrahim]

i believe something that is alluded to somewhat is misdiagnosing people. That there were some people who were really not insane but were just deemed that because of not being too "normal". Mcmurphy is the best example as he seemed to be a normal man, just more aggressive and some trouble with the law. No real justification for calling him insane and we can see that be a critical decision because he would later be shocked until there is nothing left of him.

[Robby (aka Madame)]

To me, one of the more power full messages that was sent through Kesey's work is that a person's well being can only be judged by how that person see it. Let me explain. Society put men like Chief and McMurphy into these institutions because these men didn't fit to society's standards. It is important to note that it is McMurphy who helps all the men in the psych ward that they are only as insane as they make themselves and just because society put them there doesn't mean that they are a waste of life. McMurphy's upbeat spirit and disobedience towards Ratched helps the men see that their lives still have meaning. This can be immediately be seen as soon as he enters the ward, as he went around shaking hands, dealing cards, and brining new life to the men. Without McMurphy, Chief and the others would have lived there rest of their lives in the overbearing control of nurse Ratched.