Cuckoo's Nest Part Four

Throghout the book McMurphy is described as a courageous patient in the ward. He is almost like the black sheep because he does the opposite of whatever he is told to do. But McMurphy is also a role model in this book, and he is somewhat being described as a Jesus type figure. So for my last post I would like to explain my reasoning for why I believe that McMurphy is meant to play a Jesus like figure. Like I said before I have read the book once before but I have picked up things the second time reading. Like these for example.McMurphy takes the male patients on a fishing trip, like Jesus did in order to test and strengthen their faith in him. Also when McMurphy is taken to get electroshock treatment, he lies down voluntarily on the cross-shaped table and asks whether he will get his “crown of thorns.” McMurphy also makes a big sacrifice to ensure that Nurse Ratched can't use Billy's death to undo everything they have gained as a group. This is the reason why he attacks the Big Nurse. McMurphy rips apart her uniform to not only embarras her but to show to the men that she is just a human like the rest of them and the other patients in the ward. He wated to show that there was nothing special about her. This sends Ratched over the edge and completly destroys her oh so powerful persona. With every action there is always a consequence, and McMurphy dies as a result of being corageous. But he does not die in vain because this event gave the patients the will to live, and stand up for what they believe in.

Cuckoo's Nest Part Three

I have mentioned McMurphy in my first post but only for one short segment of it. So for this post I have decided to dive deeper into McMurphy's character because his character has come along way since Part One of the book. McMurphy, along with Nurse Ratched I believe is one of the most powerful characters in the book. He has the power of persuasion, and he easily gets along with other members in the ward. He is looked up to because of his courage when it comes to Nurse Ratched. In this part of the book McMurphy persuades the men to go on a fishing trip, despite the Nurse's wishes. All of the men loved the fact that they were breaking the Nurse's rules. After the inncident at the gas station, McMurphy teached the men to stand up for themselves, and even take advantage of their mental problems to a certain extent. Before McMurphy was introduced the other men in the ward didn't feel normal, or accepted by society. They felt like there was something wrong with them, and that it was all their fault. McMurphy convinces them otherwise and shows them the brightside of things. He basicly takes the blindfold's off their eyes that they have had on for so long. This trip allowed them to see the world, and now they all have a newborn confidence about them. This is a very moving part in the book because this is where i believe that all of their chracters transform and this is all on McMurphy's account. Nurse Ratched also now begins to view McMurphy as a threat because she see's the change amongst the men that she once had wrapped around her fingers. Now the nurse is growing angry and frustrated, and she might begin to change herself.

Cuckoo's Nest Part Two

As I continued to read the book, I have slowly began to develop a theory about how Keesey wanted to portray the women in his book. All of the women so far in the book are meant to be feared. Nurse Ratched is said to be a beautiful women, but she also emasculates all of the men in the ward. All of the women mentioned in the book are said to have destroyed relationships with the men in the ward. For example, Chief Broom's mother supposedly constantly put him and his father down, and built her self up to be better than the men in their family. Chief Brooms mother prevents him from developing into the strong masculine man he is supposed to be. The hospital, run by women, treats only male patients, showing how women have the ability to emasculate even the most masculine of men. Emasculation and castration are one of the major themes in the book, and Keesey wanted to make them known, and also the power that women have over the two. He is trying to say that both topics are somewhat the same. Both emasculation and castration remove a man's individuality, freedom, and ability for sexual expression. Kesey portrays these two things as symbolically the same.

Cuckoo's Nest Part One

I read the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest a couple of years ago, and I am happy that we decided to read it again as a class because when you read a book for the second time you usually see things that you once missed before, and that is what happened in my case. We are introduced to Chief Bromden at the beginning of the book, and he remains the narrator through out. Chief "Broom" is a long term patient in the ward, and is usually very quiet because he pretends to be deaf and somewhat of a push over. Nobody really takes him seriously, and they dont see him as a threat. This is why Chief Broom usually overhears everything, and knows mostly everything about everything in the ward. Chief Broom sees "fog" a lot and I would like to go into deeper explnantion of that. In the story the fog symbolizes a lack of insight, and is basicly something that allows Chief Broom to be able to run away from reality. Sometimes the fog is portrayed as scary, but Chief Broom finds the fog to be a safe place,and he feels comfortable there. He can escape from the problems in the ward. I believe the the fog is a symbol of Nurse Ratched's control over the ward, and also the treatment that she is giving them. This is why McMurphy becomes a stron character in the book because he tries to drag Chief Broom and all of the other patients in the ward out of the fog that they have been living in for a long as they have been admitted.

Hamlet: 2nd Post (Act Two)

In Act Two of Hamlet we begin to understand King Claudius's character better. I have learned that Claudius is more concerned with the well being and motives of Hamlet more that he is concerned with his own country. With Fortinbras on his tail, he still manages to ignore all major conflicts. However Claudius isnt the only one that isnt doind his job. I beliebe that Hamlet is begining to become blindsighted by love and greed. Also I believe that Hamlet is not taking his duties seriously, and he is more focused on taking down King Claudius, than dealing with things that could determine the countried future.
Another thing that draws my attention to Act Two is the :play with in a play". This reminds me of Shakespeare's other play "A Midsummers Night Dream", because that play also contained a "play with in a play". However the play presented in Hamlet, is very different than the one presented in A Midsummers Night Dream. The only reason for Hamlet putting on this play is to get under Claudius's skin about the death of his father. Hamlet believes that the King should feel as much grief as he does, and Hamlet is doing his best to make him feel giulty as well as responsible for the death of his beloved father. He put on this play to hopefully make his mother and step father realize the messege that he was trying to get across to them, rather that causing a physical confrontation. I can say that Act Two was muct more eventful and easier to read than Act One.

Hamlet: Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2

I believe that the first two scenes in Hamelt were not that interesting. To me they were more on the informative side, and I believe they did this because there is a lot of background information that is needed to be stated in order for the reader to fully understand the play. In the first two scenes there are a couple of things that did interest me though. One being Hamlet and the beilef in ghosts. Both Hamlet and the other characters in the play have no idea as to why the ghost keeps coming to vist, and the fact that he says nothing is very mysterious. When I read this it was almost like forshadowing that something important would be told by the ghost that would drive the main plot in the play. Another thing that stuck out to me in the first two scenes is Hamlets hatred twoards his mother (Queen Gertrude) and"step-father" (King Claudius). Hamlet strongly hates his mother due to the fact that he moved on from his real father so quickly, and also hates her for marrying Claudius. He does not like their marraige because Hamlet knows that Claudis's only motive is to become King, and a foolish king at that, but he is not in it for love. Hamlet believes that his mother is foolish for marrying him, and Hamlet knows that nothing good will come from it. All in all i believe that the first two scenes were used to let the readers know about the central and mini conflicts that would occur during the play.

Coledrige and Shelley Post

1) In the poen Kubla Khan imigination is exaulted, an well a many other poems written by the Romantics. The poem contains great imagrey which allows the readerto paint a picture in their mind of everything that is written. There is great imagrey as far as scene discription is concerned. Coledrige goes from expaling a beautiful place, to a dark and gloomy place. I believe that Coledrige is trying to say that your imagination can take you anywhere that you want to go. This can either be a good thing or a bad thing. Coledrige is writting to people to let them know to not let their imaginations take over them.

2) There are three main speakers in the poem of Ozymandias. These speakers are : the main narrator of the poem, the traveler, and Ozymandias himself. The first speaker i would consider to be a historian because he talks about the historical aspects. I believe that the traveler is more of an observer of some kind, and he takes in everything around him. He also works close with the main narrator of the poem. Last, I believe Ozymandias is a leader, due to his personality and words. He wants to rule the correct way, unlike how the other rulers are ruling their kingdoms.

1984 Final Writing Assignment

In the doctrine that Obrien procliams to Winston, reiinforces the idea that the party has the unlimate say in everything, even when it comes down to a persons fate. Obriens purpose for stating this to Winston I believe is to let Winston completly get rid of all the thoughts of rebellion that he has had in his mind. Obrien is an absolute believer of the fact that INGSOC controls Oceania, and it's people. He explains to Winston that "you would not make the act of submission which is the price of sanity. You preferred to be a lunatic, a minority of one. Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston". This is Obriens reason of to why Winston is in the prediciment that he is in. Obrien trys to explain that if Winston had not questioned INGSOC, and finally accpted The Party and all of their beliefs that Winston would have been better off. As we all know Winston chose to to not be submissive, and this caused him to become an "lunatic".This is how INGSOC keeps their control over Oceania going. By keeping the people ignorant so that they will follow the doctrine as if there is nothing wrong with it. This is why the rest of the people of Oceania are considered to be "sane", and the only reason behind that is because they have been brainwashed from the time that they were born.
Obrien states indirectly that the party will be the death of him if he dosent submit to their laws and their way of thinking. Obrien states what Winston is doing to be "self destrictive". Obrien's statement predicted what Winston would be like after he is realeased. Winston lets go of all his previous beliefs that he has had throught the party, and finally admits his undying love for Big Brother. Winston finally becomes "sane" in the eyes of The Party.

William Blake: The Chimney Sweeper

1) I believe that the poems by Blake do promote social change. Blake wrote two different poems, but both of the poems stimulate emotion and appeal to imagination. The poem "The Chimney Sweeper" deals with the lives of prro povershied people. The tone of the poem is very dark. The main messege the Blake is trying to get across is the fact that poor, uneducated and poverty stricken people only death to look foreward to because death would bring them to a better place. The poem "Songs of Experience" focuses around children in poverty stricken areas, and how they are sent to work. I believe that Blake is trying to promote social change because he wants these people to not be so closed minded but more optimistic twoards life.

2) I believe that the suthors included this document to show how a real worker went about his life during the time whcih Blake is describing. This is one of the few documents that actually goes into description about the reality of poverty and how it affects families and children. This document most definately aided in Blakes writing of his poems.
After reading the primary course document i came to the conclusion that it didn't alter my original thoughts twoards Blakes poems. The document gave be a better understanding of the horrific things that children had to go through

Swift Prep Work

a) The questions I decided to discuss are the following: How did Gulliver come across Lilliput?, Why didnt Gulliver attempt to escape?, Why were the Lilliputians show so much hospitality to Gulliver?, and What is the parralell between Lilliputian politics and the politics of the British government?. I predicted that the hardest question to answer would be the one about the parallel that is drawn between the Lilliputian polotics and the British politics. I believe that the students do not have that much background knowladge to answer the question, nor have the ability to draw a clear paralell to the British government.

b) I believe that working in the teacher group had its ups and its downs. I believe that my group worked well together in pulling out the main events of the story. On the otherhand it was somewhat hard to come up with questions that we all agreed on, and that we all thought would be "teachable". Also it was kind of hard because the questions that we came up with we didnt know the answers to them ourself. So we tried the best we could to figure out answers to go on when we present our chart.

c) I believe that we have made progress as a group and we are becoming more aware of eachothers teaching methods as well as how we all think. Our best idea as of how to teach the class is basicly to present our questions, quotes and our explnations and compare them to the answers that we get from our fellow classmates to try to get a feel as to what everybody is thinking. I hope to take away information that i didnt know myself because as we all know teaching is a learning experience.

Psychological and Behavioral Effects of Newspeak and Doublethink

I have chosen to discuss the psychological and behavioral effects that doublethink and the development of Newspeak and how it influences Orwell’s society and its citizens. Newspeak is the language of Oceania that was created in order to remove any thoughts of rebellion. This means that since the words of rebellion do not exist and are eliminated from the language completely. The language was built around having no negative words or descriptions of any sort.
Double think however is the process of being able to maintain two contradictory thoughts or ideas at once and believe them both to be true. This as we know seems impossible to us, but it serves as a psychological mechanism in order to allow the citizens to remain submissive under the Party’s control over Oceania. This allows the people to accept the Party’s control over them without having the thought to rebel. The process of “doublethink” allows The Party to alter events that have happened in the past to what they want the people to believe. This masks the truth and ultimately hides reality. The people of Oceania do not recognize the thought of conflict or contradiction. Without contradiction there is no need to argue another side of a point or event. Double think brainwashes the people of Oceania and allows them to accept the Party’s version of anything as acceptable, even if the Party’s story changes from time to time. The normal person would argue if somebody’s story keeps changing from minute to minute because it allows room for the thought of contradiction which can cause rebellion. The creation of Newspeak and doublethink alters the normal functioning of a person’s instincts to sense when something isn’t right. There is no longer a thought process involved when making a decision, or even thinking correctly. This allows people to behave in a submissive and controlled fashion which is just how the Party wants its people to think. This is very important in how The Party controls Oceania.
Doublethink also affects Inner Party members as well as Winston. The Inner Party member convince themselves that they work for Big Brother, and are meant to serve Big Brother, even though in reality they all know that Big Brother is just a myth. When it comes to Winston he makes himself come to terms with loving Big Brother because he believes it makes him accept his torture that he is being put through as well as what the tortures are saying to him. He does this knowing that he hates Big Brother and knowing about the Party Traitors.
In conclusion doublethink and Newspeak alter how people behave towards things and alter their psychological functioning making it nearly impossible for people to lead normal lives.