There is not much said about how Ken Kesey's character Chief Bromden came to The Ward. His diagnosis was never directly stated in the book and Kesey made no mention of it. There is evidence available both in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and in Ken Kesey’s personal life that suggests that Chief Bromden has what would now be diagnosed as schizophrenia. His unwillingness to talk and constant visions support this diagnosis. In the beginning of the book Chief Reveals himself to be unreliable. He says, referring to the events that will transpire, “ it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen”(Kesey 13). This suggest that every event that will happen in the book may not be completely accurate. Not to say that it is all a complete lie, but evidence
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He mentions a fog that looms over the patients and makes them complacent. He often hallucinates at night. On one occasion he sees Blastic getting butchered. It starts off “ When that worker appears again he’s pulling a hook along the trestle overhead and taking giant strides as he swings along it. He passes my bed and . . .He goes to the bed and with one hand grabs the old Vegetable Blastic by the heel and lifts him straight up . . . with the other hand the worker drives the hook through the tendon back of the heel . . . The worker takes the scalpel and slices up the front of old Blastic with a clean swing . . . but there’s no blood or innards falling out like I was looking to see - just a shower of rust and ashes, and now and again a piece of wire or glass.”(Kesey 79). This scene is probably the most vivid Hallucination that chief experiences. He also sees “faces all round trapped screaming behind the mirrors” which is more of a delusion, also a symptom(Kesey 12). All of these symptoms could result in having to rely on someone. This is backed by the analysis of the NIMH that says “Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help”(NIMH 1). Evidence for this included his admittance into the hospital and his reliance on Mcmurphy saving them from The …show more content…
It affects both males and females of different race and culture. Native americans are no exception. If Chief’s schizophrenia wasn't a product of LSD use, but genetic, it could explain why he was in The Ward in the first place. Judy M. Versola-Russo from Capella University writes about various cultures in her “Cultural and Demographic Factors of schizophrenia” study. Included in this study is an analysis on Native American and illness that says “Native American beliefs hold that the individual is ultimately responsible for his own wellness”(Versola 1). They also believe that illness comes from violating taboos. It stands to reason that if his family saw that he was ill, they saw nothing wrong in ostracizing him, believing he was at fault for his disease. That could have ultimately left him with no other choice but to check himself into The Ward for treatment. This idea probably came from the caucasian part of his background. The Native Americans traditionally use medicine practitioners like herbalists, and shamen to purify themselves and get rid of
He mentions a fog that looms over the patients and makes them complacent. He often hallucinates at night. On one occasion he sees Blastic getting butchered. It starts off “ When that worker appears again he’s pulling a hook along the trestle overhead and taking giant strides as he swings along it. He passes my bed and . . .He goes to the bed and with one hand grabs the old Vegetable Blastic by the heel and lifts him straight up . . . with the other hand the worker drives the hook through the tendon back of the heel . . . The worker takes the scalpel and slices up the front of old Blastic with a clean swing . . . but there’s no blood or innards falling out like I was looking to see - just a shower of rust and ashes, and now and again a piece of wire or glass.”(Kesey 79). This scene is probably the most vivid Hallucination that chief experiences. He also sees “faces all round trapped screaming behind the mirrors” which is more of a delusion, also a symptom(Kesey 12). All of these symptoms could result in having to rely on someone. This is backed by the analysis of the NIMH that says “Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help”(NIMH 1). Evidence for this included his admittance into the hospital and his reliance on Mcmurphy saving them from The …show more content…
It affects both males and females of different race and culture. Native americans are no exception. If Chief’s schizophrenia wasn't a product of LSD use, but genetic, it could explain why he was in The Ward in the first place. Judy M. Versola-Russo from Capella University writes about various cultures in her “Cultural and Demographic Factors of schizophrenia” study. Included in this study is an analysis on Native American and illness that says “Native American beliefs hold that the individual is ultimately responsible for his own wellness”(Versola 1). They also believe that illness comes from violating taboos. It stands to reason that if his family saw that he was ill, they saw nothing wrong in ostracizing him, believing he was at fault for his disease. That could have ultimately left him with no other choice but to check himself into The Ward for treatment. This idea probably came from the caucasian part of his background. The Native Americans traditionally use medicine practitioners like herbalists, and shamen to purify themselves and get rid of