Chapters 19-23 (pages 176-201 Finish Part 2)

When McMurphy first came to the ward, he did everything he could to spite Nurse Ratched and get the best of her. However, he ended up learning that she is in charge of how long people are committed there and could add extra time to his sentence depending on his behavior. Since McMurphy wants out, he decided to "let up" and get along with the Big Nurse in an attempt to minimize his time on the ward. The difference between being voluntary or committed is interesting and effective. For those that are committed but don't want to be, it inspires them to behave well in hopes of an early release. Many of the patients that are voluntary are there because they aren't able to cope well with the outside world and feel that this ward is helping them in some way. In my opinion, it feels like these patients have been brainwashed into thinking they will never make it in the real world and are better off in the ward. In this way, Nurse Ratched can keep patients with her for as long as she desires and can do as she pleases with them, all in their "best interest" of course.

At first I was as confused as McMurphy upon learning that most of the patients are voluntary. Even with the threat of the Shock Shop or a lobotomy, those patients still choose to stay, which doesn't seem to make much sense. However, the more i thought about it, the more I considered the brainwashing going on. I'm sure to some degree each of the voluntary patients have issues and had a hard time in the regular world. However, I think the Big Nurse tends to exaggerate those problems and exploit them, using them to constantly remind the patients of why they are there. They're there so she can help them get better, or adjust to society. But really that's an easy way for her to keep everyone under control.

At first McMurphy thinks all the patients are in it together. He tells them, "I want out of here just as much as the rest of you. I got just as much to lose hassling that old buzzard as you do" (Kesey 194). This camaraderie quickly turns to anger, confusion, and disbelief when he finds out most of the patients are voluntary. "Tell me why. You gripe...for weeks on end about how you can't stand this place, can't stand the nurse or anything about her, and all the time you ain't committed" (Kesey 195). I have to admit, I don't totally understand it myself, but I don't think we have enough information from the author yet to judge either party thoroughly. 

I believe that McMurphy “let up” on Nurse Ratched because he finally realized that it was not worth the hassle. She would always win because she had the workers and others with a say on her side. McMurphy now understands that if he keeps getting in trouble with her and the ward, he will just prolong his stay and never leave. Luckily he is smarter than the average in the ward, so he was able to realize that fighting was not the best option and he can now just focus on behaving and getting out. McMurphy would be considered committed because he understands that the ward is dangerous and not a safe place to be, so he is committed to trying to leave. Others who are voluntary do not know any better and do not mind staying there. These people have most likely been brainwashed into thinking that this is the only place they can stay and that it is good for them to be there.

The problem with most of the patients being voluntary is that it can be confusing for the reader. When you are reading the story and see that the patients do not mind being there, it would make you think that it is a good place and everyone seems to be okay. But, the reader has to figure out that they have been brainwashed into thinking that and then realize that the ward is actually awful and terrorizes the patients. It also makes the dangerous treatments confusing since the patients use other names for them because they do not know what they are called or what is happening to them. Since they do not really know what is going on for themselves, it makes it extremely difficult for the reader to try and decipher what is going on.

When McMurphy first came to the ward he just assumed nobody wanted to be in there, because why would they? They are treated terribly and nothing good ever happens in the ward, only sad and depressing things. But, he is now starting to realize that most of them are voluntary and do not mind being there, “ ‘I’m voluntary. I’m not committed’. . . McMurphy doesn’t say a word. He’s got that same puzzled look on his face like there’s something isn’t right” (Kesey 194). He cannot believe that people in the ward actually do not mind being there and I agree with him. But, as the reader, I understand that they have been brainwashed into thinking that this is the best place for them and they cannot leave.

Even though Mcmurphy “let up” on Nurse Ratched  I do not view him as a quitter. I think Mcmurphy had a large amount of determination and he was smart enough to realize what he was up against. He also realized the harder of a time he gave her the longer he would be forced to stay. More than anything Mcmurphy wants to be free. The effective difference of being voluntary vs. committed is the difference between being forced and having a choice. Learning that most of the men were there voluntarily was a shock but also made sense. The word gives a sense of comfort. What I mean by this is in the real world they may have been viewed as an outcast. Here they have the feeling of home when those around them are fighting the same if not similar battles. While EST and Lobotomies are scary, having the sense of it being the patient's choices makes them feel they at least have control over something. Mcmurphy finding this out was a surprise to say the least. When talking to the others he tried to relate to them about wanting to leave. “Well, I don’t mean anything personal, you understand, buddies, but screw that noise. I want out of here just as much as the rest of you. I got just as much to lose hassling that old buzzard as you do. (110)” The responses he received brought on confusion to him as he didn't feel the same way. The fact that they are voluntarily there does make sense to me however I also think Ratched has a big part in that. While I think she sometimes uses her power for good she also abuses it. By allowing them to think they have a say in how long they stay when in reality she could override that anytime she wanted to. 

When McMurphy first came into the ward, he was very boisterous. He did everything he could to annoy Nurse Ratchet. He fought her tooth and nail for “control” of the ward. Then he figured out that there was no timeline for him. He could be there as long as Nurse Ratchet saw fit. Unlike prison he could be there for as long as he kept being difficult. 

When McMurphy first found out that he was not there voluntarily he was, understandably, upset. He did not seem to understand that when he was admitted into the ward, that he was not really allowed to leave without approval. So, because he has been bugging and annoying the only person that would allow him out, he is upset. McMurphy is also upset that his so-called “friends” did not pick up on the sign that McMurphy did not know his status, and inform him. 

Because of the breach of trust, McMurphy begins to become more closed off and distant. However, it does not take long for McMurphy to resort back to his old ways of riling up Miss Ratchet and having fun with his ward mates. 

There’s always going to be an end to every situation but it just so happened that the end of the battle of power led to a disappointment for McMurphy. At the end of the day, I feel like McMurphy hit an eye-opening moment when stopping to look at the big picture. Nurse Ratchet has been there for a while. That means Ratchet has had ‘control’ over these people a lot longer than he did. Another thing is that McMurphy was sentenced there and if he has any interest in getting out, he needs to quit the battling overpower and do what he needs to do for him so he can leave. The more he battled, the longer he was to stay in the ward and it just became not worth it. I mean, who would want to be stuck there for so long when they could be released if they did what they need to do in the first place? 

Going into the ward, McMurphy believed he was choosing to be there so the idea of fighting for the power was very appealing for him. When fighting for power, he ended up figuring out there’s a difference between being on the ward voluntarily and being there because you were committed. McMurphy figured that he was there voluntarily but when he found out that he was there because he was committed, it became a different story, “As a matter of fact, there are only a few men on the ward who are committed”(110).  It was like he had a moment of realization in which he had to cut the crap before he was there any longer. It’s one thing to be there because of your choosing, but being there because you have to is much less appealing. Especially when finding out there are only a few actually committed and he is one of the few. 

McMurphy let up on his fight against Nurse Ratched because he realized that he is committed and not voluntary. A nurse tells him that, “ ‘You’re committed, you realize. You are...under the jurisdiction of me...the staff’ “ (144). What this means is that McMurphy is at the ward against his will, and he doesn’t have the choice to leave. The only way that he can leave is if the staff allows him to. So, ultimately, McMurphy gave up his fight against Nurse Ratched because he realized that he will never be able to leave the ward if he keeps going against her. He thought that he could fight her in the beginning because he thought he had a choice to be there so may as well mess around and have some fun with it. However, after learning that it was not his choice to be there, he decides to give up on his fight.

Since McMurphy is one of the few people at the ward that are committed, that leaves a majority of the patients to be voluntary. This means that a lot of these patients, mostly acutes, are at the ward because they choose to be and they want help. This changes the perspective the reader has when it comes to how the patients are treated and controlled because these people can leave whenever they want. However, they don’t leave, probably because they want to get better and they know that the only way to do so is to stay in the ward. However, a lot of these patients probably have been in the ward for so long that they are so used to the routine and the comfort that is associated with everything being controlled.

Since Mcmurphy has entered the ward he has done nothing but challenges Nurse Ratchet to the best of his ability. When he finds out that his bad behavior can extend his stay in the ward, he begins to let up. This idea comes from when he says, “It’s interesting to me that you bums didn’t tell me what a risk I was running, twisting her tail that way. Just because I don’t like her doesn’t mean I’m gonna add a year or so to my sentence”(Kesey 193). The difference between the voluntary and committed is wanting to be in the ward and being forced to be there. We see more voluntary residents in the ward because they feel as though they belong there. Harding is an example of someone who is a voluntary person in the ward. He chooses to be there, not forced, and able to leave when he pleases. That makes the reader question whether the medications are necessary considering the patients admitted are not even required to be there. McMurphy realizes that he is one of the few that are committed to the psychiatric ward which gives him a different perspective of the patients he has grown bonds with. 

What could be seen as a sign of weakness or 'quitting', could also be seen as a smarter move in long run. 'Letting up' on Nurse Ratched is a much more effective method to use if McMurphy wants to get out of the ward sooner rather than later. When McMurphy was admitted into the ward, he would do anything to spite her. At this point in the book, it seems that he has realized the power that Nurse Watched has over him. She can make things so much worse for him inside the ward and also keep him there just about as long as she wants because of the control and influence she has on the other staff. 

At first, it may seem strange that many of the patients at the ward were admitted voluntarily and continue to stay, but when you consider all the internal and external factors, you can begin to understand where they are coming from. For example, we have to remember that we are talking about patients with mental illness and that during the time period the book was set in (early 1960s) mental illness was still a covert subject. Often in these times, people with mental illness were mistreated and stigmatized by society. Keeping this in mind, we can assume that life outside was not entirely pleasant for these patients; maybe being surrounded by others who face similar obstacles and can relate to them is comforting. Another thing to think about is that there is a lot of brainwashing going on inside the ward. The patients are constantly reminded that they are sick people that cannot can for themselves. This definitely has a major effect on their self esteem and brings them down, convincing them that they aren't well enough to leave. 

I think McMurphy “let up” on Nurse Ratched because he finally realized that it was not worth the fight after all, he began to understand more about this system and how the patients were never really going to fight alongside him. After the amount of manipulation and brainwashing these patients have been through, even the sane or voluntary patients didn't want to leave. Even with the Big Nurse's threat of the Shock Shop or a lobotomy, these patients willingly chose to stay in this institution regardless of the harsh treatments. After these daily routines of staying in this imprisoned type lifestyle, the patients start to feel comfortable and the system is so ingrained that it starts to feel normal. McMurphy hasn't been there long enough for this effect to evolve but it lets readers see it from an outside standpoint as he is confused why these patients are here voluntarily.

When Harding tells him that "I'm voluntary. I'm not committed", with disbelief McMurphy later replies, "Are you guys bullshitting me!" (194 Kesey). Personally, the fact that those patients still choose to stay through all mental and physical abuse, doesn't seem to make much sense nor does it to McMurphy. But after really thinking about it more and the concept of brainwashing, it is hard to blame them for feeling this way. It made me think of North Korea, and how some of the citizens of that country don't want to leave because they think their treatment is normal. It is sad to realize how far someone can manipulate you into forgetting your own sense of reality, also if their normal is normal...is our normal even normal? 

Despite McMurphy’s original plan to fight against Nurse Ratched and the ward’s rules/restrictions, he has recently decided to get rid of his scheme and comply with expectations. This is because he had a change in perspective after talking with the lifeguard and realizing that in order to ever leave the ward he would have to be released by the Big Nurse when she felt he was ready. McMurphy may not be sentenced to jail, but he is committed to the mental hospital which could honestly be worse since he doesn’t have a clue when or if he’ll be released. This is different from being voluntary because those patients choose to stay in the ward. They could potentially leave whenever they like as Billy explains when he says, “If we had the g-guts! I could go outside to-today, if I had the guts,” (Kesey 195). Although it is hard for McMurphy to believe, most of the men on the ward are voluntary and what he doesn’t understand is why they continue to stay. Them leaving the ward is not as easy as McMurphy thinks it is though because even if they don’t want to stay, it’s easier than going back to the outside world. 

Since the readers are just finding out that most patients are voluntary in addition to McMurphy finding out, it causes a change in perspective for us as well. We realize that this means patients are voluntarily remaining in the hospital and voluntarily receiving treatments like EST and lobotomies. This makes it seem less extreme than when it was previously thought to have been forced upon them, especially when Harding goes on to say that the treatments are “...for the patients good, of course. Everything done here is for the patients good,” (Kesey 189). By seeing how the patients view these treatments and learning that most of them have the ability to leave at any time, it makes what the ward is doing almost seem humane (although there is a lot wrong compared to today’s standards). 

When McMurphy finds out about how most of the men are voluntary, it changes his perspective, but not in the same way it does for the readers. He feels betrayed because he thought the other men were using him as a way to change things on the ward without risking their stay by causing an uprising. When McMurphy finds out that this isn’t true since they can leave at any time and that he has a lot more to lose, he is furious. He may have tried to hide it, but his unnatural quietness during the last meeting showed something was wrong. His fury and frustration were then confirmed when he punched through the glass of the Nurses’ Station to get his cigarettes. 

For me, the author has not given the readers enough information in order to agree or disagree with McMurphy’s new opinion on the people in the ward. There is not enough background information and instead only gives us the new information about voluntary patients and the reactions the characters have.

McMurphy finds out a few things about Nurse Ratched and found out why all of the others do not talk back to Nurse Ratched. Nurse Ratched has cotnrol over if a patient is commited or voluntary, being conmited means that you are stuck in there for good, most of the time that means the chronics are usually commited. Voluntary means that you can get out eventually since you can be fixed. McMurphy didn't realized he had a chance of getting out of being commited but him acting out may cause him to permanetly become commited. "“You know what I’m talking about, Harding. Why didn’t you tell me she could keep me
committed in here till she’s good and ready to turn me loose?”(Kesey 193) He feels like the others have turned against him and so that they could get there way with things and not have to take the blame or get punished for taking back to her. 

I still don't see the EST's and lobotomies as something they should do especially because if the voluntary people can potentially heal on their own to get out. If someone gets an EST or a lobotomy than it can change someone and when they get out of the ward they could be a whole different person and not in a great way. There wasn't a lot of research them so they were doing a lot more harm than good back then. McMurphy has a hard time sticking up for the guys now since they did not tell him how his situation could be impacted based off his actions. I do not feel that the other has given us enough information to agree or disagree with McMurphy.

At First I was rather confused as to why McMurphy didn't speak up and help Cheswick with the cigarettes meeting. However it all started to make sense when McMurphy said "...It's interesting to me that you bums didn't tell me what a risk I was running, twisting her tail that way. Just because I don't like her ain't a sign Im gonna bug her into adding another year or so to my sentence. You got to swallow your pride sometimes and keep an eye out for old Number One."(193) McMurphy was committed longer than planned due t his outbursts towards the Big Nurse. 

The difference between voluntary and committed it voluntary you come in willingly whereas committed people are sentenced there and are there for an extended period of time unwillingly. Finding out that McMurphy was one of the "few men on the ward who are committed" was shocking for the both of us. (194) He felt tricked and defeated. 

Now if the majority of the men there are voluntary and hate it there, why do they stay? Especially when they have to go through with EST and lobotomy, which no one enjoys. Even Harding said "...The thing is, no one ever wants another one. You...change." (191) Im convinced the Big Nurse has brainwashe the men to a point where they believed they will be rendered completely helpless if they are discharged back to society. Even Billy couldnt keep it together when McMurphy asked him why he stayed: "You think I wuh-wuh-wuh-want to stay here? You think I wouldn't like a con-con-vertible and a guh-guh-girlfriend? But did you ever have people l-l-l-laughing at you? No, because you're b-big and so tough. Well, im not big and tough. Neither is harding..." (195) So they stay and continue to get their frontal lobes chopped and get electrocuted skulls until they completely change as a person. The longer they stay the more voluntary they become. Which in a sense becomes committed. 

I'm not really 100% sure where McMurphy stands with the men. I feel like at first he was angry but then realized how bad it was. Cheswick was gone. He was sentenced longer. All the patients were now losing the Shower room for card games and thats when he shattered the glass box. I personally would be angry at the men. Give up all together helping them as he did before, but maybe he wats to help them out of their fog, the combine.