One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest: Reading Response 5

111-138

Nurse Ratched doesn’t seem to budge at all on her precise schedule she has laid out for her ward. Even after Dr. Spivey brings up the suggestion of having a carnival, which was actually McMurphy’s proposal, she simply comes up with an excuse as to decide upon it on the spot and says it should be discussed at a faculty meeting. Even after another suggestion to use another room, Nurse Ratched tries to stay in control, but finally Dr. Spivey wins the argument. The group meeting then begins, but taking control McMurphy starts it off by telling about his dream, this undoubtedly angers Nurse Ratched. When McMurphy asks for the TV time to be changed to the afternoon so all the men can watch the world series, Nurse Ratched explains that everyone is already used to the schedule, but that she will take a vote in which majority rules. Nurse Ratched knows quite well that the men won’t raise their hands because they are afraid of her. The next day they are all having a meeting about Billy, when McMurphy asks for another vote on the World Series, all the acutes raise their hands, but they only total half of the ward one more vote is needed. When McMurphy finally gets the last vote Nurse Ratched announces the meeting was over and the vote was already closed. She is very manipulative and sneaky with her ward.