THe Animal side of Cuckoos Nest

My first thoughts about this blog immediately turned to the discussion of the animal analogy employed by Harding and McMurphy. These two “insane” patients have a reasonable conversation about their roles in the hospital opposed to the role of Ms. Ratched, the head nurse. They compare themselves to rabbits while Ms. Ratched and other tough people like her are referred to as wolves. They speak about a hierarchy within the animals. The Wolves are the most powerful, where as rabbits are weak and must submit to the wolves. However, the rabbits do have some slyness on their side. This characteristic is clearly evident as McMurphy and other patients make plans or bets behind Ms. Ratched’s back. Yet, she does remain the dominant wolf of this floor. She is willing to betray her own staff to maintain control according to Harding. If the doctor were to become too lenient with the patients, she would supposedly call up the head of the hospital and insinuate his alleged use of prescription drugs. No matter what she will remain a wolf. Another part of the analogy they refer to is sex. Rabbits are well known for frequent proliferation and McMurphy is known as oversexed. He fits right in. As for the rest of the acutes and chronics, many of them cannot perform sexually or have some problem in that area. For this reason they are even lower rabbits than McMurphy. I think this analogy holds true for much of what I have read so far. The patients are timid and if they ever attempt to stand against the head nurse, she waits with a cold silence that forces them to back down. She is a master of her craft. Earlier on, Chief Bromden describes how she meticulously selected her staff, apparently looking for other wolves like herself. No matter what she will remain the wolf of the floor.

Also, this conversation reminded me of Animal Farm. The hierarchy of animals and the message of both sets of leaders are similar. The rabbits must not step out of line, the wolves will teach them their place. If necessary the main wolf of the hospital, Ms. Ratched, can send any too bothersome rabbit to the disturbed floor, where they will probably never be seen again. In Animal Farm the pigs, as the leaders, act similarly by not allowing any animals that think differently. They rose to power in a similar way that Ms. Ratched maintains it. Both convince their respective groups that they are acting in a way that is best for everyone. Ms. Ratched is trying to cure these people. In order to do so, she needs to keep a strict schedule that everyone must follow. There is no room in her world for talking back or new suggestions. She remains this confident and powerful wolf, keeping her little rabbits in line, until McMurphy decides to try and crack her. His first successful action gets the Acutes a new day room through the doctor’s help. However, she continues to have her game face on. I am curious to see what his next action will be and what her response will be. I cannot imagine Ms. Ratched allowing much else to happen. In her world, there are always consequences.