One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Part 1 Chapter 5
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Questions and Answers

What happens in the beginning of Chapter 5 to Bromden?

He loses himself in 'the fog'

When does the fog clear and what happens at this time?

Just before 1:00pm; 1:00pm was the time the orderlies came into the day room to tell the Acutes to clear the floor for a meeting.

As the orderlies are moving the Acutes for the meeting, what is Nurse Ratched doing in preparation and for how long?

She has been staring out her window in the Nurses' Station for 3 hours.

Where does the doctor for the meeting sit and who follows him after he sits?

<p>In his chair to the left of the Nurses' Station's door; the patients sit down, then the nurses and residents come in.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When does Nurse Ratched come out of the Nurses' Station?

<p>When the nurses, patients, and residents all come in and sit down.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Old Pete Bancini?

<p>He is a patient in the ward during the meeting who constantly moans about how tired he is.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched ask so that Bancini will be calmed down?

<p>She asked to have somebody sit next to Pete and keep him quiet so the meeting can start.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who sits next to Old Pete so that he will quiet down?

<p>Billy Bibbit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Nurse Ratched says, 'Shall we get to the meeting?', what does she do and what are the patients' responses?

<p>She looks around and smiles and waits to see if anyone is willing to interrupt her; none of the patients will gaze at her except for McMurphy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Nurse Ratched, what did everyone in the previous meeting discuss?

<p>Harding and his problem with his wife.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Harding's issue with his wife?

<p>She has such large breasts that it makes him uncomfortable when other men look at her; also Harding feels inferior to his wife and has beaten her because of her large bosom.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Nurse Ratched asks everyone if they would like to 'touch upon the subject', what does McMurphy do?

<p>He verbally announces his confusion whether he is to talk about the wife or actually touch the wife.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When McMurphy asks his weird and startling question to Nurse Ratched, what does she do in response?

<p>She pulls out information regarding McMurphy and announces he is 35, never married, gets into a lot of fights, has a gambling problem, arrested for rape, arrested in Korea for leading escape from Communist prison camp, insubordination, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Nurse Ratched's response when Doctor Spivey asks about the 'rape' crime?

<p>Nurse Ratched said it was statutory rape, but the girl was underage and it wasn't violent rape.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were the charges later dropped for McMurphy's rape case?

<p>The girl wouldn't testify.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did McMurphy describe the underage girl he had sex with?

<p>She was so willing he had to 'sew his pants' to prevent her and leave town.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Just like Nurse Ratched, what does Doctor Spivey call McMurphy and why?

<p>McMurry; he learned it off of Ratched's mispronunciation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

This is McMurphy's first time in a mental institution.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does McMurphy point out of what Nurse Ratched left out of his record and what does he later say to Spivey?

<p>McMurphy is overzealous in sexual relations and asks the doctor if it's 'real serious'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When asked about McMurphy's sexual relations issue, what is Spivey seeming to be more interested in?

<p>The fact that McMurphy is possibly faking mental illness to escape work at the work farm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

As Spivey accuses McMurphy of being a fraud, what is McMurphy's response?

<p>'Do I look like a sane man?'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nurse Ratched do since she notices McMurphy is acting hostile?

<p>She asks Doctor Spivey to recall the protocol for the meetings (patients are to stay in their seats during the course of the meetings).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Chief notice about McMurphy?

<p>He looks confused as to why the patients won't cut loose and have a good time; McMurphy notices how controlled everything and everybody is.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Doctor Spivey's 'Theory of Therapeutic Community'?

<p>A guy has to learn to get along in a group before he can get along in society; in the group, you are required to talk, confess, and confront, and never let a problem fester.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Usually, how do the meetings end?

<p>When Pete says 'I'm tired'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the story that Bromden told about how the meetings ran a few years ago?

<p>Big Nurse asks people to confess their secrets, and many patients are silent or stunned for 20 minutes; she later asks if they have done anything they have kept secret.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the confessions heard by the patients?

<p>People confess worst sins: raping their sister, robbing a gas station, stoning and killing a cat, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused Old Pete Bancini to be a Chronic at birth?

<p>He had a botched birth since the doctor used ice tongs instead of forceps and the tongs were too hard and squeezed and malformed Pete's skull together.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Big Nurse tries to have one of the orderlies try to shut Pete up, what does Pete do to one of the orderlies?

<p>Pete attacks one of the orderlies with a big rusty ball at the end of a chain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why don't the other orderlies (black boys) try to calm Pete down?

<p>They are afraid of him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Pete say about his birth and living?

<p>He was born 'dead' and was tired of talking and constantly standing up.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Pete resists help to calm him down, what does Nurse Ratched do?

<p>She attacks Pete with a medicine needle and manages to knock him out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Pete get punished for?

<p>He tried to tell everyone about something that irritated the Nurse and couldn't be told.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What subject does the meeting touch on the most?

<p>Harding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Doctor Spivey get impatient?

<p>He'd rather be in his office with real patients.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do the Acutes feel ashamed?

<p>They later realize that they have been tricked into grilling (heavily interrogating) one of their friends, Pete.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding do even though McMurphy stares at him?

<p>He avoids eye contact and ignores him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does McMurphy describe the meetings as a 'pecking party'?

<p>The chickens see the blood of another chicken and they peck it to death until all are dead; Harding is the pecked chicken.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the first 'chicken' that draws blood in the 'pecking party' according to McMurphy?

<p>Nurse Ratched.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does McMurphy tell Harding that he must have created enemies?

<p>The whole ward seems out to get him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding think about the meeting and how does he view McMurphy?

<p>He believes it was installed for his own benefit and 'cure'; as a stupid brute.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does McMurphy say Nurse Ratched is pecking?

<p>At Harding's balls.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Harding view Ratched?

<p>As an angel of mercy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding do when everyone stares at him?

<p>Wails and shrieks, and keeps saying, 'Oh the bitch...'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Spivey helpless and why can't he fire 'her'?

<p>Nurse Ratched's friend is the supervisor that does the hiring and firing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Nurse keep Doctor Spivey in line?

<p>She insinuates that he is addicted to opiates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are the 'rabbits', and who is the 'wolf'?

<p>Rabbits = Patients and ward staff Wolf = Nurse Ratched</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to McMurphy, what makes him think he's a 'rabbit'?

<p>All the wham-bamm (a.k.a. sex).</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who emasculates McMurphy and the other patients?

<p>Nurse Ratched.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding tell McMurphy?

<p>He may be the top-wolf.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does McMurphy encourage the other patients to do?

<p>He tries to encourage the patients not to answer Nurse Ratched's questions, play into her manipulative games, or turn on each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Harding, what makes McMurphy a better-functioning rabbit than all of the other patients?

<p>All the banging.</p> Signup and view all the answers

McMurphy doesn't like that any better than being called a rabbit. He's insistent that nobody is a rabbit or a wolf.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What 3 things do the guys tell McMurphy will happen to him if he misbehaves or resists Nurse Ratched?

<p>a) Shipped upstairs to the disturbed ward, b) Go to the shock shop, c) Get an operation (lobotomy).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does McMurphy keep on persisting against Nurse Ratched?

<p>He was to try to organize collective resistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding keep on persisting and how does he describe McMurphy's collective resistance attempts?

<p>His attempts are futile because Nurse Ratched is so boundless and extensive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Harding, what is the only way to control a woman?

<p>Through your dick.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the only power men have against Nurse Ratched?

<p>Sex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Harding keep on asking McMurphy?

<p>If he could 'get it up' for Nurse Ratched; McMurphy says he can't since she isn't too inspiring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Throughout the course of the end of Chapter 5, what does McMurphy try to figure out?

<p>How to get under Nurse Ratched's skin without being sent to EST, the Disturbed Ward, or getting a lobotomy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Harding, what promising statement does he tell McMurphy in order to not get into trouble with Nurse Ratched?

<p>Control himself, don't lose your temper, and be nice, and if you do all those things, she can't do anything to him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does McMurphy make all the men around him do regarding who will win 'the fight' between him and Nurse Ratched?

<p>He makes a bet with the men that he can get under Nurse Ratched's skin within a week.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two qualities that McMurphy believes Nurse Ratched won't be expecting?

<p>That McMurphy is not crazy, but he is smart.</p> Signup and view all the answers

As stated in the first sentence of Chapter 5, what does the fog refer to when it comes to Bromden?

<p>He was put on meds again, but is waking from them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Nurse Ratched's uniform compared to?

<p>Like a frozen canvas trying to be folded.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the man who wags and wheezes throughout the course of the meeting?

<p>Old Pete Bancini (usually does this when a new man listens to him).</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Old Pete Bancini always so tired?

<p>He used to work on the railroads and they wore him out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Instead of going by time on her wrist watch, what does Nurse Ratched look at?

<p>The ward clock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are all the patients picking at since they don't want to look at Nurse Ratched?

<p>Hangnails.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the one person that looks menacingly at Ratched?

<p>McMurphy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Since Nurse Ratched sees cards in McMurphy's lap, what does she want to do?

<p>Make a gambling rule since she expects money to occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Whose cough during the meeting annoys Ratched?

<p>Ellis'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Friday's meeting about?

<p>Harding and his wife.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is McMurphy's full name?

<p>Randle Patrick McMurphy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

While reading McMurphy's files, what does Dr. Spivey do?

<p>Smiles like he wants to laugh.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides what is in McMurphy's files, he has no psychiatric history.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of McMurphy's uncle who had his name mispronounced multiple times?

<p>Hallahan ('Hooligan'), but McMurphy doesn't tell the story of how Hallahan stopped the woman in case he needs to use it one day.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the doctor diagnose McMurphy as psychotic at the work farm?

<p>For multiple outbreaks of violence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When McMurphy asks if his diagnosis is serious to the doctor, what do the doctor, Acutes, and Chronics do?

<p>Snicker.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is overzealousness?

<p>Way too fervent/passionate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

As the doctor questions McMurphy about his escape of the work farm, what is McMurphy's defense?

<p>He keeps saying he is crazy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What other name does Nurse Ratched call McMurphy?

<p>'Mack-Murphy'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Ruckly keep saying during the meeting?

<p>'F*** the wife'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Whose eyes would McMurphy love to have?

<p>Martini's.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the group community?

<p>It can show a patient where he is out of place in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to documents, how should the wards be?

<p>Free and open.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Even now, but described 4-5 years ago, what was Nurse Ratched's personality?

<p>Like an alarm about to go off.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How was Pete's yelling tone?

<p>Copper-like.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did Pete want to stop himself from being born?

<p>So that he wouldn't have to deal with all the new machinery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of Pete's simplicity?

<p>He can't be molded like the others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where was Pete later taken to calm himself down?

<p>A dorm room.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Pete describe everything happening in the ward?

<p>'Baloney'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How old is Pete?

<p>55 years old.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Nurse Ratched shoot Pete with?

<p>A sedative/calming shot.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is Pete described?

<p>Like an old clock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the most uncomfortable things for Doctor Spivey?

<p>Group meetings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What nervous things is Harding doing?

<p>Covering his hands between his knees and wailing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does McMurphy talk?

<p>Country-like.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How long has McMurphy been observing the meeting?

<p>6 hours.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 5 Overview

  • Bromden experiences a disorienting state referred to as "the fog."
  • The fog dissipates around 1:00 PM, coinciding with the arrival of orderlies to gather Acutes for a meeting.

Nurse Ratched's Role

  • Nurse Ratched prepares for the meeting by staring out of the Nurses' Station for three hours, demonstrating her authority.
  • She controls the meeting structure and attempts to maintain order amid patient disruptions.
  • Ratched's uniform is compared to a "frozen canvas," symbolizing her cold demeanor.

Meeting Dynamics

  • Doctor Spivey sits to the left of the Nurses' Station's door, overseeing the meeting.
  • Patients and staff are hesitant to engage with Nurse Ratched, avoiding eye contact, with only McMurphy daring to stare back.

Patient Interactions

  • Old Pete Bancini, a patient, frequently moans about fatigue, prompting Ratched to seek assistance to quiet him.
  • Billy Bibbit sits beside Pete to help calm him down.
  • Acutes feel ashamed for participating in verbal assaults against Pete during the meeting.

Key Confessions and Interactions

  • Harding reveals his insecurities about his wife, expressing discomfort regarding her physical appearance and his feelings of inferiority.
  • McMurphy humorously questions Nurse Ratched's request to discuss Harding's wife, hinting at a misunderstanding.
  • McMurphy's history and misdeeds are exposed by Nurse Ratched, painting him as a complex character with a troubled past.

Power Dynamics

  • Nurse Ratched exerts control over Doctor Spivey, utilizing insinuations about his rumored opiate addiction to keep him compliant.
  • The metaphor of "rabbits" and "wolf" describes the patients as vulnerable and Ratched as the predatory figure controlling them.

McMurphy's Resistance

  • McMurphy challenges the establishment, indicating a desire to resist Ratched's manipulative practices and establish a sense of camaraderie among patients.
  • He bets that he can get under Ratched's skin, recognizing that his intelligence and strategic thinking may disrupt her control.

Consequences of Defiance

  • Patients warn McMurphy about the repercussions of challenging Nurse Ratched, including possible transfers to a more severe ward or electric shock therapy.
  • Despite warnings, McMurphy persists in his resistance, seeking to collectively empower the other patients.

Character Traits

  • Harding describes McMurphy's resistance as futile but acknowledges McMurphy's unique positioning as a potential leader ("the top-wolf").
  • Characters exhibit distinct manners of coping with their environment, such as Pete's exhaustion and Ratched's cold efficiency.

Meeting Structure and Historical Context

  • Meetings historically involved patients confessing deep, dark secrets, illustrating the psychological burden they carry.
  • Ratched maintains the structure but is challenged by McMurphy, changing the dynamic of power and influence within the ward.

Symbolism and Themes

  • The "pecking party" metaphor suggests a toxic environment where patients turn on each other under Ratched's influence.
  • Themes of control, resistance, and the struggle for identity emerge as McMurphy navigates his place among the patients and the authoritative figure of Nurse Ratched.

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Test your knowledge of Chapter 5 from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' with this quiz. Explore key events and themes as the protagonist, Bromden, experiences significant moments that impact his perspective. This quiz will challenge your comprehension and retention of the text.

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