Big Nurse Ratched Essay

How the Ward is run is a clear clue to Kesey's questions of sanity, one reason is the Big Nurse Ratched who is the unofficial controller of the ward. Over the years, she manipulates and twists the patients against one another in group meetings that give little to no help to improve any mental illnesses they have. Her own abuse to her prowess shines throughout the novel such as, by the denial of fun activities that can improve the patients. Kesey shows a large symbol of irony as well with Nurse Ratched. The irony is that nurses are there to help heal the patients well enough, so they can leave; however this not the case for Nurse Ratched as she wants to keep the patients in the Ward so she retains her sense of control. This makes readers question …show more content…
This example also shows questions of sanity by how different these Orderlies are than Orderlies in different, current, hospitals. Both of these examples tie into the ambiguity of sanity and insanity by the ironic and horrible acts they do to the patients, as well as their influence in the ward. The characters R.P McMurphy and Chief Bromden are also examples that question the definition of sanity. McMurphy’s first introduction into the ward is very abnormal to the patients, they are accustomed to new arrivals that are very much like themselves. McMurphy makes a very strong impression on the entire ward by his socialization and lack of modesty. This large contrast shows exactly how the patients react to normal behavior and situations. McMurphy tries to bring the outside world in little by little with the sacrifices he makes that go against the Nurse’s dense rules. For example McMurphy decides to take a vote to watch the World Series, not only is this a small bet for McMurphy he also wants the other patients to enjoy themselves and to feel some sense of normalcy.Even though McMurphy’s vote is denied, he still sits down and pretends the series is on. He does this