Lindsay’s Blog

There is certainly a change in the chief with the progression of this novel. When he speaks to McMurphy for the first time, I do not think that he was in any way “tricked” into talking. I think that he began to feel comfortable with McMurphy and thought that it was about time to speak to someone who he knew would not share his secret. I was personally very shocked to learn that the chief was able to hear and speak- I never saw that coming. When McMurphy expresses that he wants the chief to rebel with him, the chief says that he is too small to rebel. Obviously, he does not mean that he is too small physically, because if he really wanted to rebel then he could do so. I think when he says that, he means that he does not have enough courage to leave. He opens up to McMurphy and tells him about his life before the ward and of his father, and I think that his father made him feel so little inside, and that might be why he says that he is too “small” to rebel.

When McMurphy takes everyone fishing, you can sense the uncertainty in all of the men. Most of them are very cautious about the trip. But when they return, they are all beaming with glee and proud of their victory. I think it is great how McMurphy wants to, in a way, liberate the men. Most, if not all, of the men will never leave the ward, so this was a chance for them to have a little adventure outside to bring happiness to their lives, and maybe give them some strength in knowing they can do something without being in the institution.

In this play marriage, to me, is not shown as the traditional way I would think of it. In this particular culture marriage is all about arrangements and who has the most money to offer, it is not about true love or finding your soul mate infact, when/if you actually fall in love with someone who you were not arranged with or with someone who is not wealthy then that is looked down upon. The natural need and want of humans is to love and be loved, and when society gets in the way of true love, some people will fight for what they want. The bride is facing a struggle with her own subject position when she finds that she is in love with Leonardo. She has to now make a decision as to which path she will follow: the path chosen for her, or her own.