McMurphy is a kind or representative to a savior in an oppressed land. The men follow him as disciples. When he is exasperated, McMurphy frequently invokes Jesus. He takes the patients fishing on the sea, in a literal representation of Jesus with his followers. He performs the “miracles” of getting the Chief to speak and Billy Bibbit to stop stuttering. He joins the men in the pool, dunking as if baptized. Because of his rebellion against authority, he suffers for them on the electroshock table. Finally, he sacrifices his own flight to freedom to help Billy Bibbit. Sefelt tells legends about McMurphy's mythic escape just as the disciples spread word of Jesus' resurrection in the Bible. When the Chief kills McMurphy out of mercy, the scene echoes the death, the tomb, and the resurrection that leads to eternal life.
Many of the film's scenes reflect upon the sense of hearing as a means of understanding and connection among the characters. The Chief pretends to be deaf in order to withdraw from his surroundings, but McMurphy talks to him anyway as a means of establishing a human connection. His affectionate chatter begins to engage the Chief in life once again. On the other hand, the numbing music that Nurse Ratched plays is so loud that McMurphy complains he can't hear himself think. He tells her the men wouldn't have to shout if she would turn the volume down. Nurse Ratched, however, opposes thinking, understanding, and any other activity that would lead to healthy human relationships between the patients.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Nurse Ratched is the Authority
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a bookwith specific political undertones, which are powerfully presented. When society conforms to authoritarian rule, they put into question their freedom they are owed as humans. McMurphy learns that the prison where he was held previously offered greater personal freedom than Nurse Ratched's ward. In prison, he could have watched the World Series, served out his sixty-eight days, and then been free to go. Nurse Ratched's authority, however, extends from the television to the term of McMurphy's commitment, and her authority will not bear rebellion. Under her totalitarian control, McMurphy cannot even be sure what the rules are, for she rigs them to achieve the results she wants. When the men side unanimously with McMurphy the second time they vote on watching the World Series, Nurse Ratched announces calmly that the nine men with their hands up represent only half the ward and therefore are not a majority. The unresponsive patients, the “chronics,” do not threaten her control. When the Chief surprises everyone by raising his hand, she tells the jubilant McMurphy that his vote does not count, because the meeting is adjourned. Under authoritarian rule, even the appearance of democracy is subverted to maintain the status quo.
As head nurse in a mental institution, Nurse Ratched should be promoting her patients' sanity, but instead her tyranny directly subverts their mental health. She keeps the patients docile, medicated, dependent, and childlike. McMurphy tells the patients they are not loonies but men, and he encourages their manhood through fishing and basketball. The men then begin to ask reasonable questions about Nurse Ratched's authority. Scanlon wants to know why the dormitory is locked during the day. She explains, insidiously, that time spent in the company of others is therapeutic. Cheswick demands the cigarettes she has confiscated and informs her that he is not a little child. Nurse Ratched's oppression, however, causes Cheswick to lose control, and she keeps him in place with electroshock therapy. The men do not improve under her domination but rather disintegrate like Billy Bibbit. Nurse Ratched's reason for keeping McMurphy on the ward, she tells the doctor, is to help him. Instead, she robs him of his vivacity and his sanity.
As head nurse in a mental institution, Nurse Ratched should be promoting her patients' sanity, but instead her tyranny directly subverts their mental health. She keeps the patients docile, medicated, dependent, and childlike. McMurphy tells the patients they are not loonies but men, and he encourages their manhood through fishing and basketball. The men then begin to ask reasonable questions about Nurse Ratched's authority. Scanlon wants to know why the dormitory is locked during the day. She explains, insidiously, that time spent in the company of others is therapeutic. Cheswick demands the cigarettes she has confiscated and informs her that he is not a little child. Nurse Ratched's oppression, however, causes Cheswick to lose control, and she keeps him in place with electroshock therapy. The men do not improve under her domination but rather disintegrate like Billy Bibbit. Nurse Ratched's reason for keeping McMurphy on the ward, she tells the doctor, is to help him. Instead, she robs him of his vivacity and his sanity.
Symbols in Cuckoo's nest
The cigarettes in this story represent freedom. The men use cigarettes as money in blackjack, and whoever wins can spend money like in the outside world. Betting and gambling is a mans game and the men feel more mature and not alone when they bond over these games. Cheswick gets rightfully angry when Nurse Ratched steals his stash because it reminds him that he has a caretaker like a child. She says it it McMurphys fault to try and and get people against him. She must do anything she can to keep their feeling of independace to keep from coming through. Cheswick says what everyone is dying to say; that he deserves his cigarettes and isnt a child. His courage leads McMurphy to get his cigarettes by breaking through into the nurse's station and finally peforming an act of true defiance.
McMurphy is Cuckoo
WE are intoduced to the character of McMurphy in Part one. McMurphy storms into the lifeless institution from the outside world. He is a reincarnation of freedom, life, joy, and the power to rebel againsta authority no matter how much you matter. One isnt supposed to like his personality but simply what he represents. He is in custody for statutory rape of an underage girl whom he says didnt try to fight him off, and he proves to be a true rebel, commanding a fishing boat without any worries about what may happen to him in the end. McMurphylives on the edge so that he feels a sense of importance and he wants to give the patiens the same sense that they have something to live for. His fishing trip is a celebration rather than a serious attempt to escape. He ignores any warings and says he diesnt care to go back to the ward.
McMurphy proves to be wrong that the only thing anyone can do is bring him back for his short term left at the ward. He says he will try to drive the Nurse mad as revenge. He later learns thatshe controls how long he stays at the ward and she inevitbly says she will keep him there as long as she wants. Sacrficing his freedom is what makes McMurphy a symbol of Christ. He makes small mirackes happen like when Billy stops stuttering shotly and the Chief finallly speaks. McMurphy also hosts a kind of Last Supper party for the men before he says goodbye. In the end he would rather die with the honor of having been a force of opposing evil than leave a coward. His legacy lives on and his soul is in the chief when he gains courage to finally escape
McMurphy proves to be wrong that the only thing anyone can do is bring him back for his short term left at the ward. He says he will try to drive the Nurse mad as revenge. He later learns thatshe controls how long he stays at the ward and she inevitbly says she will keep him there as long as she wants. Sacrficing his freedom is what makes McMurphy a symbol of Christ. He makes small mirackes happen like when Billy stops stuttering shotly and the Chief finallly speaks. McMurphy also hosts a kind of Last Supper party for the men before he says goodbye. In the end he would rather die with the honor of having been a force of opposing evil than leave a coward. His legacy lives on and his soul is in the chief when he gains courage to finally escape
hamlet act II
Hamlet poses many question about what causes someone to become "mad". In Act II there are many theorys as to why Hamlet is acting so strangely and one of them is his love for Ophelia. POlonius tries to confront Hamlet about their relationship and Hamlet just reasures Polonius of his thoughts that he is in fact insane. While it seems Hamlet is tallking alot of non-sense, he is in fact always onme steo ahead of everyone. He disguises his insults to Polonius with strange random questions. This plot to fake being crazy is all for the purpose of a smooth transition for Hamlet to prove the guilt of the new king. He wants to keep everyone unaware that he is on to the murderous plot of his uncle killing his father so he must act as if he doesn't know anything.
If Hamlet is merely pretending to be mad, as he suggests, he does almost too good a job of it. His portrayal is so convincing that it leaves one to think his already fragile sanity will shatter at the sight of his dead father’s ghost. However, the acute and cutting observations he makes while supposedly mad support the view that he is only pretending. Importantly, he declares, “I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw” That is, he is only “mad” at certain calculated times, and the rest of the time he knows what is what. But he is certainly confused and upset, and his confusion translates into an extraordinarily intense state of mind suggestive of madness. .
If Hamlet is merely pretending to be mad, as he suggests, he does almost too good a job of it. His portrayal is so convincing that it leaves one to think his already fragile sanity will shatter at the sight of his dead father’s ghost. However, the acute and cutting observations he makes while supposedly mad support the view that he is only pretending. Importantly, he declares, “I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw” That is, he is only “mad” at certain calculated times, and the rest of the time he knows what is what. But he is certainly confused and upset, and his confusion translates into an extraordinarily intense state of mind suggestive of madness. .
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Hamlet Act I
I find it extremely perceptive of Hamlet that even though he is in a state of grief he focuses more on the suspicion he has as to what causes his fathers death, not to dwell on it but to make sure he isn't taking things laying down like everyone else after this tragedy. It is not known for sure if Gertrude has any suspicions and is simply turning the other cheek to appear happily married for the sake of Denmark or if she really is ignorant and blinded by Claudius' love. Either way she wants Hamlet to put out any doubts in his mind that might hurt Claudius.
The ghost wouldn't come back to Hamlet without some sort of motive. At first Hamlet isn't convinced if it is the Devil in the shape of his deceased father who's trying to make Hamlet into some sort of murderer to sabotage his chance at ruling Denmark, or if it is really his father.
Even if this apparition wasn't real, so to speak, and only in Hamlet's mind, it still didn't mean he was crazy. His mind was making him see the truth and he knew that even if he was going insane he had to test the ghost's words on Claudius.
Sometimes the minds perception of something isn't fully comprehendible to all, but for few, it can help insure justice and punish wrongdoing.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hidden treasures & pleasures
1) The power of the imagination is often exalted in Romantic poetry. In your opinion, does “Kubla Khan” celebrate the imagination or caution against its indulgence? To whom might Coleridge be writing and for what purpose(s)?
Coleridge is saying anything is understandable to imagine but taking it to another level is simply crazy. Just as one might get too carried away in life's simple or ornate pleasures, imagination is difficult because it can drive one to belive somethinmg that isnt true. He is writing to any one who feels their real life isnt grand enough and like to think optimisticaly but wanrs them too not dream bigger than what you can accomplish. Even when ones life is as they would like it to be, it shouldnt go to your head.
2) Even in the brief space of a sonnet, Shelley suggests a number of narrative frames. How many speakers do you hear in "Ozymandias"? What does each of these voices seem to say to you (or to others) as listeners?
I hear the narrator whom desbribes himself in a sentance as "I" and he is the basis for the entire poem for he is taught about this work of art that tells the Kings decree on it. Then A traveler tell the narrator about these pieces that lie in the middle of the desert and they are so unique they tell the story of their sculptors and how they wanted to be remebered. The piece bores the words of the King Ozymandias on it, the third and final speaker. He claims to know his kingdom has fallen all around and yet his works will live on forever in the sand where he used to reign.
Coleridge is saying anything is understandable to imagine but taking it to another level is simply crazy. Just as one might get too carried away in life's simple or ornate pleasures, imagination is difficult because it can drive one to belive somethinmg that isnt true. He is writing to any one who feels their real life isnt grand enough and like to think optimisticaly but wanrs them too not dream bigger than what you can accomplish. Even when ones life is as they would like it to be, it shouldnt go to your head.
2) Even in the brief space of a sonnet, Shelley suggests a number of narrative frames. How many speakers do you hear in "Ozymandias"? What does each of these voices seem to say to you (or to others) as listeners?
I hear the narrator whom desbribes himself in a sentance as "I" and he is the basis for the entire poem for he is taught about this work of art that tells the Kings decree on it. Then A traveler tell the narrator about these pieces that lie in the middle of the desert and they are so unique they tell the story of their sculptors and how they wanted to be remebered. The piece bores the words of the King Ozymandias on it, the third and final speaker. He claims to know his kingdom has fallen all around and yet his works will live on forever in the sand where he used to reign.
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