One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blog #2

After McMurphy's arrival until the end of "Part One," I thought that the Nurse would be the winner of the ongoing battle between the two; however, at this point, I seriously consider McMurphy to be the winner because of the last page of "Part One." The Big Nurse's growing rage has become apparent and her attempts to rid herself of McMurphy have been unsuccessful leading me to believe that the Nurse will eventually give up her battle, but my better instincts say she, as a manipulative villain, will not surrender so easily. Her rage has become so clear to Chief he notes,"She's holding up a fist, all those red-orange fingernails burning into her palm"(144). Although the Nurse attempts to keep her cool, she yells out that she is in control showing her twisted need to control others. McMurphy has completed his task of aggravating and enraging the Nurse, so it can be said that he is winning the war.

At this point in the story, I think it can be said that McMurphy has change Chief into a character that is not necessarily afraid to confront the Nurse. During the second round of voting on watching the World Series, McMurphy convinced Chief to raise his hand and resist the "fog" of the Nurse. His character has become more complicated to the reader as a direct result of McMurphy's stimulation. Additionally, his narration has become more biased in favor of McMurphy specifically in his description of the Nurse. The quote referenced above serves as a good example of his change in description because at the beginning of the story his true feelings were hidden by his polite description. For example, the Big Nurse is described acting like a machine, but now her humanity has come out and the true Big Nurse is shown to the reader.

I am rooting for the foul-mouthed and defiant McMurphy because even though he has faults, his faults are minor when compared to the monster, Nurse Ratched, and the fact that I will root for a character that is defiant because he questions the society around him.

First Cuckoo's Nest Blog

Unlike The Great Gatsby, in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest the characters are defined and easier to divide into the three categories of hero, antihero, and villain. The three primary characters in the novel are Chief Bromden, Randal McMurphy, and Nurse Ratched.

Hero: Chief Bromden is the hero in the story because he is the sole character that does not disturb or harm anyone. He is patient, quiet, and helpful and does not really question the authority of Nurse Ratched, which really speaks to his character that he respects authority. That being said, Chief is also not very engaging or sociable and does not really exhibit the outward traits of a typical hero. He also submits to an evil authority figure who virtually tortures the patients for her own deranged enjoyment; nevertheless, his behavior towards the nurse is consistent with his other behaviors. According to Billy Bibbit, besides sweeping, "There's not m-much else he can do, I guess"(24). The majority of the patients think he is deaf and dumb because he doesn't speak even though he is actually one of the most intellegent in the ward and is definitely the most oberservant, which makes him a reliable and fair narrator.

Antihero: The new "Admission" definitely fits the category of antihero. Randal McMurphy, convicted of statutory rape, was formerly imprisoned on a work farm, but he manipulated the psychiatrist there to declare him insane so that he could be moved to the asylum. This manipulation and deceit along with his rowdy habits make McMurphy the ideal antihero because of his quest to destroy the villain, Nurse Ratched. I can foresee that it will be a battle of wits and will between the two characters because both are so similar in their manipulative behavior, yet so different in their mannerisms.

Villain: When I started the novel and Nurse Ratched was first introduced, I knew she would be the villain. I could tell by her walk and behavior that she is really not the nice, genteel nurse that she claims to be. As noted by McMurphy," Hoowee, I've seen some bitches in my time, but she takes the cake"(60). After progressing further into the novel, I seriously question if this nurse is not a sociopath who taunts and harasses the patients for her sick enjoyment. She takes every chance she gets to publicly humiliate the patients or exercise her power over them with her "aides" who, I believe, are just as deranged because of their behavior. Nurse Ratched is a villain in every way and Kesey makes it clear to the audience that this woman is not only a villain as a person, but as a society.

Final Gatsby Reading Journal

1. Fitzgerald uses many symbols to contribute to his main theme of the failure of the American dream, so which symbol is most effective to help support his theme?

The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckelburg are mentioned every time characters pass through the Valley of Ashes and his appearance is particularly noticeable during the death of Myrtle Wilson. His representation of God serves not only that purpose, but also the eyes of Fitzgerald himself commenting on the moral decline of America, specifically its values. Additionally, God serves as the moral compass for the society, so it is natural that God would be disgusted with the behavior of the society similar to the judging eyes of T.J. Eckelburg during the death of Myrtle Wilson when they are staring down at Daisy who just killed a woman. Moreover,  Fitzgerald's overarching theme of the failure of the American dream is also fairly apparent because through this symbol God's disdain is evident, which in turn shows Fitzgerald's disgust with the society of the 1920's.

2. Knowing Fitzgerald's background with failure and rejection, how are his own issues similar to Gatsby's, who possibly could represent Fitzgerald himself?

After finishing the novel and reading about Fitzgerald's background in class, I became aware of the fact that many of the same issues are present in both situations: public rejection by lovers, extramarital affairs, and the crushing of dreams. Similar to the rejection of Fitzgerald by his lover after college because of social class, Daisy publicly dismisses Gatsby during his profession of his love in the Plaza Hotel, " 'I never loved [Gatsby],'she said, with perceptible reluctance"(132). Even though there is reluctance in her voice, she still renounces Gatsby for money like she did five years previously. Throughout the novel there are multiple affairs and indiscretions, which is parallel to his own lifestyle, constantly cheating on his wife, Zelda. Furthermore, Fitzgerald's dreams were crushed by happenstance, comparable to the crushing of Gatsby's dream to marry Daisy. The best writer is the writer that writes about what he knows, which is definitely visible is Fitzgerald's novels because he fictionalizes his own life through them.

3. What purpose does Gatsby's father serve at the end of the novel?

The primary theme is the novel is the emptiness of upper-class life and Gatsby's father gives the reader a "reality check" with the rest of America. His appearance is quite sudden and shocked me, but at the same time his appearance reminds me of Gatsby's humble background showing how Gatsby broke the "glass ceiling" and joined the upper-class. I appreciated his behavior in comparison to the other shallow attendees of Gatsby's funeral because he was the sole person actually there that cared about the deceased.

4. Why is Myrtle Wilson's death so symbolic?

After Myrtle Wilson's death, the rest of the novel primarily focuses on the repercussions of Myrtle's death, which, I think, translates to some importance and does not just serve as a way for Gatsby to be killed. Although her death is sudden and unexpected, I think it can be said that her death was forcasted throughout the novel by the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckelburg. It may seem odd, but this symbol represents the eyes of God and their importance are reiterated throughout. The eyes are constantly watching the moral violations of characters every time they pass through the Valley of Ashes, so it was only a matter of time before God punished the characters for their defiance. Myrtle's death represents the death of the moral values of America, which is Fitzgerald's main purpose.