Quotes From One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Quotation Analysis: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
SETTING

Quotation #1:

“The Chronics and the Acutes don’t generally mingle. Each stays on his own side of the day room the way the black boys want it. The black boys say it’s more orderly that way and let everybody know that’s the way they’d like it to stay” (Kesey 18).

Contribution to Development of SETTING:

Within the mental institution, operations are conducted in a smooth, orderly manner. Day-to-day activities are monitored by Nurse Ratched and her “black boys,” who present intimidating figures. They strive to maintain control over the patients, who are divided into two distinct groups: the Acutes (young, able-bodied men) and the Chronics (mostly wheelchair-bound, older men, with virtually

The furnace whoops a ball of fire and I hear the popping of a million tubes like walking through a field of seed pods. This sound mixes with the whirr and clang of the rest of the machines” (87).

Contribution to Development of

This impacts each of the characters, as McMurphy strives to free his fellow men from Nurse Ratched and her debilitating schemes. She demonstrates emasculation by singling out and embarrassing the patients, punishing them with Electro Shock Therapy for the slightest misdoing, and enforcing the completion of traditionally female household tasks. Moreover, she maintains authority by threatening to expose Doctor Spivey—her rightful superior—for having an opioid addiction. These actions cause the men to feel weak, and the longer they spend in her company the more self-conscious they become. Although the Big Nurse is the prime figure of emasculation, women like Billy Bibbit’s mother, Chief Bromden’s mother, and Dale Harding’s wife are held accountable of “damaging” some of the mentally disturbed men.

Quotation #2:

“Man, I tell you, how come you stand for it? What about this democratic-ward manure that the doctor was giving me? Why don’t you take a vote?” (70).

Contribution to Development of