Final Book Blog: One flew over the cukoo's nest by Ken Kasey

Comment on the perspective from which the book is told and how the
author’s choice affects your relationship with the book’s content.

The story is told by Chief Bromden's perspective. His perspective is very unique because a reader can note changes in his mental state just by analyzing the way he thinks. Because he is a "deaf mute", the reader is more involved with the story since he or she is the only one who knows what he is thinking.

In the beginning, a reader can automatically acknowledge chiefs mental disabilities because of the way he describes the story. As the story continues, chief talks about the "Fog" clearing in his mind, the reader can tell he is recovering because the narration becomes more precise and clear. The style of writing follows the plot of the story and makes the book more intriguing.

"One Christmas at midnight on the button, at the old place, the ward door blows open with a crash, in comes a fat man with a beard, eyes ringed red by the cold, his nose just the color of a cherry. The black boys get him cornered in the hall with flashlights. I see he's all tangled in tinsel,
and he's stumbling around in it, in the dark.....'Ho Ho Ho', he says.'Ho Ho i must.. be.. going...'

The black boys move in with the flashlights. They kept him with us six years before they discharged him, clean shaven and skinny as a pole"
(Kasey, 73)

Over the years, Chief has come up with many opinions about what the ward can do to a man.For example, he is terrified by the big nurse's clock, the clock is special in the way that it can be manipulated to alter the intervals of time. By analyzing his thought processes, it is apparent that he is still confused and full of conspiracy theories, the reader can observe his progress.



Chief is the unofficial observer of the ward and, although he never talks, he hears and knows everything that happens in the hospital. Chief's gossip includes both the secretive plans made by the other patients and R.P. Mcmurphy, and what was said in the latest staff meetings. Because Chief knows what is going on from both parties of the ward a reader can take on an all knowing perspective of the plot. Forseeing the latest punishment for Mack, or the latest evil trap set for the Big Nurse, allows the reader to analyze characterization as well as of the book's figurative style.

number two, one flew over the cuckoo's nest

"Even the embalmers, usually a pair of penny-pinching tightwads, are swayed. 'Yeah, look at him there: old Max Taber, he was a good sort. What do you say we use that expensive thirty0weight at no extra charge to his wife. No, what the dickens, let's make it on the house'."

Chief has been there for so long that he knows the routine. This phrase relates to the dismissal of the hospital. It leads me to believe that he is jealous of them because they get to leave. The sad thing is that the Chief probably just doesn't have the confidence to talk, because if he did then he would be just like the men he is jealous of. I think he makes fun of how the hospital works because he is really mad with himself. Chief is pretty much normal, maybe a little aggressive with the way he talks (meaning, the way he thinks), but no one can dismiss him from the hospital because he hasn't talk since he came there.

Questions:

Is there a reason cheif won't talk? Is he just scared of living on the outside?

When did he arrive at the hospital? And what caused his admittance?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken kesey

In the beginning of the first chapter you meet the narrator, Chief Bromden. He has been a patient of mental institution for a very long time. There is only one other person who has been there longer than he has. Chief is a mute, at least everyone thinks he is

" They're out there. Black boys in white suits up before me to commit sex acts in the hall and get it mopped up before I can catch them" (this is the first line of the book)
pg.1

Because this is the first line of the book, the reader automatically understands that the narrator is not sound. Chief Bromden is extremely paranoid because of the staff. He truly believes there is a conspiracy run by the ward to cause as much suffering and frustration as possible to him.

Mr.McMurphy, on the other hand, is a loud and rambunctious newcomer. In every way he is the opposite of Bromden, yet Bromden envies his charisma and personality

Final Post: Beasts of no Nation by Uzodinma Iweala

Did the book come to a satisfactory closure?

Yes and no. Agu has been through so much since the last time i posted. He has been raped, given up his faith in God, and has forced himself to be an unhappy boy with no perspective future so he does not get killed. The conclusion is very satisfactory in a sense that a once innocent boy is safe in a rehabilitation center. Yet, long term, can anybody who has been put in such an awful situation move on from their past. How can Agu grow up to be anything more than the awful people he was exposed to? I felt happy for Agu to be in a safe and genuinely caring environment but i don't think he can ever avoid his experiences with war.

I realized how much of an introvert Agu is by the end. Once he is exposed to people who are treating him like the age he is, he gets offended. In a way, he thinks he is better than others because he has fought in a war. Also, Agu's dream is still to become rich. he wants to read so he can do great in school and become an engineer. Although his motivation has changed. Now, instead of wanting to be rich so he can give to his family and keep everyone happy, he wants to rich so he can better avoid war.

Beasts of no Nation by Uzodinma Iweala: Post #3

"All the dancer is removing mask.
All of the spirit are dying and now all the boy is becoming men.

I am opening my eye and seeing that I am still in the war, and now I am thinking, if war is not coming, then I would be man by now (Iweala, 56)."

At this point, Agu has two choices. He can either die refusing to kill an other person, or he can hide his fear and youth and kill whoever he needs to. Agu is being told by the other soldiers that he is a man, yet Agu knows he has not taken part in the ritual of becoming a man.

Agu's mother and sister left with the other women and children from the village, but agu and his father remained to defend their home. Since Agu is not safe at home or in the company of his father i assume dad is dead and their home is destroyed.

Around this part of the book (halfway) i started to sense Agu's comprehension of what is going on is growing. He has the dreams of a small and innocent child, yet fights like a heartless man. Except now, Agu is beginning to accept his plight. He understands that he MUST fight and he MUST carry on. Right now my only question is what is still motivating him to carry on?

He has no family. His best friend, Dike, is most likely lost forever. His home and village were probably ruined. His only new companion is a child so frightened he can't even talk. Besides that, he is basically a kidnapped child brainwashed into thinking fighting the war is HIS duty.

Right now their are many questions floating around in my head about morals, but nothing worth posting.

Beasts of no Nation ( By Uzodinma Iweala) - post #2

"So I am singing to myself,

Soldier Soldier
Kill Kill Kill.
That is how you live.
That is how you die.

And I am remembering to myself that I am doing all of this
before I am soldier and it is making me feel better. If I am doing all
of this good and now only doing what soldier is suppose to be
doing, then how can I be bad boy (Iweala, 31)?"


This chapter was VERY graphic. Agu is forced to kill a soldier of the opposing side. Afterward, he has to comfort himself. Agu is going through complete shock. I think he really knows that something is wrong with this band of rebels. Yet, even though he is scared, he is full of pride because he sees himself as a soldier. Whether he can handle the pressure or not, he seems to have a distinct form of accomplishment in killing. After this chapter, I also began to believe that Agu doesn't listen to his conscience, instead he focuses on growing up to soon. He sees himself as ahead of the game for killing another man at his age. Even so, he must keep telling himself that God will not punish soldiers for killing because that is what soldiers are suppose to do. I feel very bad for Agu because he is exposed to everything that a person, especially a young child like Agu, should never have to see. Also at his age he is so susceptible to adult figures that he can get almost brain washed into a killer, by nature.

For The Record:
By this point of the story, one discovers that Agu's parents may or may not be alive, they ran away from the village with everyone else.

So... Questions?

1) How far will Agu go? Will his character change entirely?

2) How did Agu get separated from his family?

3) If Agu had the chance, would he leave the rebel army? Would he force himself to stay?

(at this point i think the only thing that would make Agu leave would be finding his mother and sister)

Beasts of no Nation: post #1

"Commandant is saying it is like falling in love. You cannot be thinking about it. You are just having to do it, he is saying.
And I am believing him. What else can i be doing?
They are all saying, stop worrying. Stop worrying. Soon it will be your own turn and then you will know what it is feeling like to be killing somebody. Then they are laughing at me and spitting on the ground near my feets."

This passage represents the fear and confusion going on with Agu. Confusion is the biggest theme in this book, so far. Agu is god fearing. He believes that if he is forced to kill, he will go to hell. Eventually, he will have to kill someone. I think Agu likes the idea of being a soldier, but is desperately trying to figure out if he belongs here. From what I have read so far, Agu is forced into everything. All he can do is ask himself what his other options are, sadly he has no way out. He is surrounded by dangerous men who seem to be father figures at points, but they are really only harsh, cold, and insensitive men.

Predictions:
K-dub told me it was depressing, so, I bet Agu's situation is about to get a lot worse. I have no guesses in particular though.

Questions:
I want to know where his parents are, or what happened to them.

How did he end up in the stables?

Will Agu turn into a killing machine? Or, will good nature prevail against the rebel soldiers? (unlikely)

Will Agu escape? And if so, at what cost?