Maya Huggins-2

As part 2 drew to a close, I began to pick up on McMurphy's sudden change in relationship concerning Miss Ratched. Once finding out about how his sentence to the ward depended on her, he has decided to start playing games from her side. This, however, dealt a mighty blow to the mental health of Cheswick. He is not supported by mcMurphy when he brings up the issue of rationed cigarettes to Nurse Ratched and is sent to the Disturbed. Cheswick later dove into the pool where McMurphy had recently found out about how his fate rested in the hands of the Big Nurse. Upon diving in, he drowns from having his fingers caught in the drain; it's possibly an attempted suicide. Could McMurphy have possibly played a role in this tragedy? I think his selfishness is definitely not being picked up on by the other patients.

Seeing as he holds the advantage of not suffering from an apparent mental illness, McMurphy holds the influence and guidance over his fragile fellow patients.   They have been accustomed to the routine Nurse ratched has established for them and have taken strongly to the new, rebellious manners McMurphy has drawn up. Even after Cheswick was sent to the Disturbed, Chief reported, "After McMurphy doesn't stand up for us any longer, some of the Acutes talk and say he's still outsmarting the Big Nurse..." (Kesey 173). They don't even wonder if McMurphy doesn't care anymore about their unfair treatment because they are still so stuck on his guidance. I wonder if McMurphy has completely given up on the idea of pulling one over on Nurse Ratched. He might possibly have been overwhelmed by the leadership the others saw in him. He also might not want to risk being kept at this institution longer than his original sentence, so painfully siding with the Nurse, though against his character, may be his best option. I still have hope that McMurphy will provide the justice the patients deserve.