cuckoo quotes + analysis (side characters)

Question 1

“we can’t adjust to our rabbit hood. We need a good strong wolf like the nurse to teach us our place” (harding)

Answer 1

• kesey uses the imagery of rabbit and wolves to emphasise the relationship between the nurse and the patients. The patients physically and mentally feel small yet sometimes they still fight back
• however, the nurse always puts them in their place.

Question 2

‘we are victims of the matriarchy here.’ (harding)

Answer 2

…

Question 3

“she always wins my friends, always” (harding)

Answer 3

• highlights the powerless nature of the patients due to the oppression they feel in the ward
• due to the Nurse mentally and physically overwhelming them they have come to terms with the control and understand there is no point fighting back against it

Question 4

“Enough of these treatments and a man could turn out like Mr. Ellis you see over there against the wall. A drooling, pants-wetting idiot at thirty five” (harding)

Answer 4

• this emphasises the sheer effects that EST has on patients
• turning them immobile and braindead
• having the chronics on the wall serves as a constant reminder to people to conform to Nurse Ratched’s regime
• the effects of the electro shock therapy as it essentially turns patients braindead. The fact Mr ellis is left on the wall in sight of the patients serves as a constant reminder to them of their fate if they rebel against the nurse, furthering their oppression and fear