Cuckoo's Nest Seminar questions

Why did Chief smother McMurpy, did it benefit McMurphy? Throughout the entire book McMurphy rebels again Big Nurse. This eventually causes her to feel the need to lobotomize him, turning him into a vegetable. As a vegetable McMurphy is unable to do anything, the process basically turns him into a display for Big Nurse’s power. By defeating Mcmurphy Big Nurse is able to prove that she is “all powerful” and nothing can stand in her way. Chief smothering McMurphy allows McMurphy to not have to watch the treacherous control of Mrs. Racthed and be able to do nothing. Also, Chief is destroying Big Nurse’s display of “total control.” With McMurphy dead the patients do not have to see a constant reminder of someone beat down completely by Big Nurse. Therefore, yes, by killing McMurphy, Chief greatly helped Mcmurphy, who would have to watch what he once rebelled against and do nothing. Did Big Nurse really want to help any of the patients? No, she wants total control. She doesn’t care about the patient’s health or well-being. She wants to take control, like a communist. She holds the meetings to point out the patients weaknesses. For example, Harding’s problem with his wife and sexuality are brought up in one of the group sessions. In this sessions some of the other patients raze Harding about his problems. The fighting between patients allows Big Nurse to maintain control because few rebellious relationships can be formed and patient’s self-confidence is lost. Would a different narrator change our viewpoint on McMurphy or Big Nurse? Most definitely. Chief looks up to McMurphy for his rebellion and despises Big Nurse for her torture. If one of the black boys or nurses was the narrator, Big Nurse would have been viewed as a woman struggling to keep control over a villainous patient. McMurphy would have been viewed as the villain, instead of Big Nurse. Chief’s narration allows McMurphy to be viewed as heroic; any other narrator would not have given this feeling.

Cukoos nest blog 1

In One Who Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest there are some distinguishable villians and antiheros. However, there aren't any clear heroes. The villains are Bit Nurse and the black boys. The antihero is McMurphy. The black boys may or may not be acting the way they are by will. Mrs. Ratched, whose nickname is Big Nurse, may be forcing them to act the way they do, so that they can keep the job they have and she can maintain the high level of control held in the institute. The black boys may have not wanted to "kick [Mr. Taber] in the shins" when he was giving them trouble, however it was needed for Big Nurse's control to be maintained. Mr. Harding says that the staff desires our cure as much as the patients do, and they aren't monsters. They only act as monsters to help Mrs. Ratched, who may, in some way, harm them if they do not do exactly as they are told to do. Mrs. Ratched, "a bitch and a buzzard and a ball-cutter" according to Harding, is a villian. Everyone fears Mrs. Ratched and in return she abuses them to keep them in control. She is a monster to keep control of her patients. Everyone fears her. Even "Doctor Spivey is completely conscious of his inadequacy. He’s a frightened, desperate, ineffectual little rabbit, totally incapable of running this ward without our Miss Ratched’s help, and he knows it. And, worse, she knows he knows it and reminds him every chance she gets." It sounds like the doctor is the person who is actually susposed to be in charge. But, Big Nurse has taken control over him and is making him never forget that without her the combine would not run smoothly. This corruption is evil, making her a villain.  McMurphy, the antihero, does not like the way thing happen in the institute at all. He sees how terribly the patients are treated and makes a bet that he can get the best of [Big Nurse] —before the week’s up—without her getting the best of [him]. One week, and if [he didn't] have her to where she don’t know whether to shit or go blind" he lost the bet. This week continues on, past the end of the section we were to read. So, we don't know how it ends up. We want McMurphy to be successful in "getting the best of her."  He is an a anti hero because he has had sex with underaged girls, that is not acceptable on our society. In our society we would put them and pit them on the sex offenders list. So, because he rebels against Big Nurse he is a hero to us. But, because he has sex with younger girls he is an antihero.

Cuckoo's Nest blog post 2

The conflict between Big Nurse and McMurphy is in full swing at the end of "Part One." Who is getting the best of their rivalry at this point? Why do you say that (specific evidence)?

              I think McMurphy is getting the best of the rivalry between him and Big Nurse. Big Nurse is continuously getting upset with McMurphy’s actions. For example, Mcmurphy wants to watch the World Series but they are on Tv in a time aloted to chores. McMurphy doesn't care for the schedule though and he quits what he was doing, goes over to the Tv, pulls over two chairs (one for him to sit in and one for him to put his feet in), and turns on the game. The patients can see "the nurse’s face get red and her mouth work as she stares at him." Clearly, she is angry and in disbelief that he is still doing what she said not to. She barges into the room and yells at him. Many of the other patients come over and sit in front of the television. "Then Cheswick goes and gets him a chair, and then Billy Bibbit goes, and then Scanlon and then Fredrickson and Sefelt, and then we all put down our mops and brooms and scouring rags and we all go pull us chairs up." The nurse is furious now "'You men—Stop this. Stop!' And we’re all sitting there lined up in front of that blanked-out TV set, watching the gray screen just like we could see the baseball game clear as day, and she’s ranting and screaming behind." 

            McMurphy- who, after a vote that was unfairly ended, has the support of a majority of the patients, around 21 of the 40 patients- presses a rebellion against Big Nurse. She wants to move McMurphy to a different institute, referred to as the Disturbed. This shows that she sees McMurphy as a threat and that she can be torn apart if the right actions are taken.

 What is your perception of the Chief at this point in the story? Why? And how has the presence of McMurphy changed the Chief's character or his narration (be specific)?

            I believe Chief is a reliable narrator, for the most part. I am unsure as to if he really saw the part where the man was hung by his ankles or not. He perceives this dream as if it really happened, and when he awakens he can’t decide if his dream really happened, or not. However, he does show that he is an observant person in many scenes, especially scenes were McMurhpy is doing something bizarre compared to normal actions that occur in the institute. The scenes with McMurphy appear to be some of the most important scenes in the book thus far. He may be a reliable narrator when it is absolutely necessary.  

Who are you rooting for at this point in the story and why?     

            I am rooting for McMurphy and the rest of the patients. They have been mistreated by the staff of the institution and are finally rebelling. We, as a society, should want the patients to win because we frequently root for the underdog or someone who is fighting someone villainous. I am glad McMurphy came to the institute because since he did many of the patients have been able to finally stand-up against their abusers.

Great Gastby 3

How are the circumstances and setting of Gatsby’s death consistent with his personality and life?

     Gastby is a quiet man with one main goal in his life: to get Daisy to love him, again, and only him. He throws huge parties in hope that one day she will come. Everyone comes to these parties, but very few people actually talk to Gastby or even meet him. He doesn't seem to have a problem with that. He seems to be the man to be with in the town. But when he dies, he dies completely. He is forgeten about by everyone but his one true friend, Nick. Nick tries to get many of Gastby's friends to come, but, for multiple different reasons, none are able to come. His father, who is proud of his son's achievements, is one the few people who attend the funeral.! It is ironic that he appears to have all these friends and all these people like Gastby, but when it cone down to the end, he has no one.

     Now, Gastby is a criminal, he got all of in money from criminal activity; therefore, getting shot seems to be an appropriate way to die.  He was killed while layonfbon the pool of his massive house, obtained by his criminal activity invjopes to attract Daisy. Daisy is married to Tom. Tom cheats on Daisy with Myrtle. Myrtle is Mr. Wilson's wife. Mr. Wilson kills Gastby. The connections seem to match the oddness of Gastby's life.

Why isn't Tom extremely angry over the situations between Gastby and Daisy?

     Tom can't possibly be mad at Daisy for cheating on him with Gastby because he is cheating on her with Myrtle. But, is thee a more in depth anwser? Well, no matter how awful the relationship seems between Daisy and Tom seems, thet are married and the have been married for a while. Married couples work through difficult situations, even if originally she only married him for money, she eventually fell in love with him. Tom knows that she loves him, especially after the scene in the hotel room when Gastby tried to get Daisy to say that she never loved Daisy. "Oh you want to much! I love you now- isn't that enough? I can't help what's past.... Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom." Daisy admits to loving both men at one time. Tom can't be angry with her after she says that she can't do what Gastby wants her to, say she never loved Tom.

What is the meaning of the title?

     Nick idolizes the Gastby, viewing him like he is a God. Gastby is great in Nick's eyes because of his extravagant mansion, enormous parties, and polite composure. This may be one explanation for the title. However, the title may be more in depth, Fitzgerald may view Gastby as great himself. Throughout Fitzgerald's life he has tried many different activities and failed. He may see Fitzgerald as a great human because he doesn't give up on his goals. Gastby wants nothing more than to have Daisy love him again. He pours his life into achieving this goal. Fitzgerald may admire this trait in him. However, after the many times of failure in his own life, Fitzgerald must make Gastby fail in his life. Gastby does not end up with the girl of his choice and he dies. 

 What is the theme of The Great Gastby?

     The theme of the Great Gastby is impacted by the life of Fitzgerald who failed in many different attempts. The theme is that no matter how hard one tries, or how much of oneself if poured into a nostalgic goal, nostalgic goals simply cannot be reached. The goal used as an example in this book is one of Gastby's. Gastby wants to return to the past love of Daisy, but since she is already with Tom, his goal cannot be met. 

*I left my book at school, so I don't have page numbers, but I did have my kindle to use for quotes. I apologize.

Great Gastby blog #2

1) What is the purpose of Meyer Wolfsheim as a character? How does he affect the way we see Gatsby?        Wolfshein shows another side of Jay that we havent seen before- a degrading side, a negative side. He confuses Nick to be some other "friend" of Gastby's and Gastby freaks out in a way that makes him seem like a criminal. Meyer makes Jay no longer appear to be a good person who we should look up too.
 2) What does the backstory about Jay and Daisy's past do to our impressions of Gatsby?
      The impression caused by the backstory of Jay and Daisy contrasts greatly with the impression causedby Meyer Wolfsheim. The background allows us to feel pity for Gastby. He loved Daisy and while he was away at war she married Tom for his money. Daisy could not have waited for the man she really loved andinstead maried onr for his money.
3) What does the story of the rest of Gatsby past due to our impressions of him?
     When Gastby tries to pay Nick to get him a date with Daisy, Gastby looks pathetic. It looks like the only reason Gastby wants to be friends with Nick is so that he can grow closer to Daisy, his loves. In our society that is considered "cheep" and "low". Therefore, Gastbys actions make him appear to be a unadmireable person.
4) How does your overall impression of Gatsby change over these three chapters - do you like him more, less, and why?
     These three chapters made me definately like Gastby less. Now, he is low and sleezy in my mind. He seems to be a criminal through the part with Wolfsheim. However, I almost want to feel bad for him under the cicumstances explained in the background story. In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about Jay, sometimes he sees sleezy and other times misfortuned.

The Great Gatsby-- Reading blog #1

Looking at first three chapters of The Great Gatsby, make some predictions about these characters and (unlike Nick) classify them into one of the three categories - hero, antihero, and villain. Give ample reasons for your classification, with support for the text (that means quotes...and page numbers).

            The heroes in The Great Gatsby appears to be Nick. Nick is the narrator of the book; therefore, he must have difficulty pointing out flaws in himself. This causes him to appear to be the hero. He appears to be a perfect person. While he may want to get drunk a few times, he does not when he sees Jordan at the party (42). This shows that he has the common sense to not make a fool out of himself when he is around a girl he is supposed to develop a romantic relationship with. He makes himself look like a person who is calmly there, no matter the situation. Weither or not Nick is what he tells himself to be in unknown so far in the book. I believe we will learn more about Nick and his personality as the book progresses. I also think Nick and the Gastby will become great friends.

            Jay Gatsby, looks to be a antihero. Jay “doesn’t want any trouble from anybody (43).” However, everyone seems to spread rumors about him because he is a mysterious man. Some of the rumors include: “he killed a man once (44)”, and “he was a German spy during the war (44).” Both of these rumors are degrading on Gatsby’s appearance. As the book progresses, I believe, through Nick, we will learn important information about Jay Gatsby. This information would then confirm or denounce the rumors spread about him.

            The villians appear to be Owl Eyes, and Jordan. Owl eyes simply seems foul from the beginning. Using words such as “snatched” when he takes the book from Nicks hands in the library (45-46) makes Owl Eyes seem like a foul person. His appearance is worsened by him saying he has “been drunk far about a week.” Being drunk is not associated with good behavior in our society, especially when one is drunk for a week. Owl eyes will likely appear again in the life of Jay Gatsby. I believe he will do something to harm the Gatsby’s great wealth. On the other hand, Jordan appears to be a sweet girl, but may not be on the inside. She has treacherous driving skills and believes the other drivers should be careful around her driving and not get in her way (58). She also cheated at her first golf tournament. There was “a suggestion that she had moved her ball in the semi-final round… [until] a caddy retracted his statement, and the only other witness admitted that he might have been mistaken (57).” Both scenarios show bad behavior on her part. The driving is definitely not  safe for her or the people around her. Cheating in a sport, particularly in the semi-finals of any sport, is undoubtedly frowned upon in our modern society.   

"Race of the Prize" by The Flaming Lips

    The theme of "Race of the Prize" is that there will always be competition and determination. The music is quite contrasting to the theme.  The music  is joyful ,when you are not focusing on the lyrics. When you are focusing on the lyrics the song does not seem so joyful.  For example on of the stanzas says, “Theirs is to win, If it kills them, They're just human, With wives and children.” “If it kills them,” is not the most cheerful line.