Journal 3

Journal 3

-thoughts after reading halfway through the “Cuckoo’s Nest”

Bromden – the Narrator

Among many common aspects of The Shawshank Redemption and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the similarities in the narrative styles were the first to catch my sight.  First, the stories are spread out in first-person narrative style, through Red in The Shawshank Redemption, and through Bromden in  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Second, the novels seem to be relating the stories of someone other than the narrators themselves. Red, instead of sharing his own experiences, concentrates rather on the behaviors and life of Andy – an atypical type of person in the Shawshank. Likewise, Bromden’s stories mainly focus on McMurphy, again an atypical in the hospital. (This is rather ironic, because McMurphy is considered atypical for being sane.) Lastly, both stories make use of “unreliable narrator.”

Red was a prisoner (specifically, a murderer in a way). However, unlike Bromden, Red was a “mentally sound man” with much sincerity and objectivity. His words sounded genuine in most cases, providing the readers enough credit to believe his narration. But, can we really believe the words of such mentally challenged man as Bromden – a six feet seven Indian who suffers from paranoia and hallucinations? It seems quite likely that Bromden’s description of the Nurse and other environments of the hospital is exaggerated because it is ‘paranoia’ that keeps him inside the hospital. But there has to be some truth incorporated in his words. In fact, isn’t Bromden the only ward in the hospital who can hear everything – including schemes and other unjust plans – happening around the place? Yes, he may be an unreliable narrator who relates stories in an exaggerated or sometimes distorted way. Nevertheless, there is undeniable truth that remains firm even in the eyes of mentally challenged man.

McMurphy – On Being Sane in Insane Places

McMurphy reminds me of an experiment that I learned in psychology class: The Rosenhan experiment more commonly known as “On being sane in insane places”.

McMurphy pretends to be psychopathic to escape from the work farm. Along with Andy in The Shawshank Redemption McMurphy is a protagonist who tries to go against the rules, but of a much stronger kind. The intention of his rebellious behaviors changes as the story progresses. At first, he goes against the authority simply for his own sake. Therefore, when he acknowledges that the Big Nurse has the power to manage his stay in the hospital, he decides to obey just like the other wards. However, Cheswick’s suicide marks for a change in McMurphy’s intention. McMurphy notices that his rebellious behaviors give hope and happiness to other wards who’ve been oppressed for years, and decides to continue his role as a protagonist, not for his own entertainment, but for the others. McMurphy recognizes his responsibility, and constantly strives to achieve such goal. Personally, I could find some hope through McMurphy and his struggle against the oppressive authority. Hopefully, his efforts will bring out some fruitful results, and the wards will gain back their real lives that they've long lost since their entrance into the hospital.