Oral

1. Context:
This excerpt is from "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest" by Ken Kesey. His book focuses on the oppressive American society in the 60's . In this scene McMurphy learns that most of the patients on the ward are not committed but voluntary. This passage is important because McMurphy realizes that he needs to play by the nurses rules, in order to leave the ward. He also realizes, that he is the only one that she is truly in control of.

2. Themes/ Characters:

Themes:
- Big vs. Small=> X-Ray machine
- Perspective vs. Perspective (friend vs. buddy=> juxtaposition of language)
- Living vs. Apathy=> McMurphy realizes that most of the patients are voluntary and therefore don’t oppose to the way they are being treated (apathy)


Characters:
a. Harding
- Leads the conversation
- Speaks in a condescending way to McMurphy because he knows he has valuable information for McMurphy
- Uses repetition of entire phrases


b. McMurphy
- Unsophisticated diction
- A change happens, he suddenly realizes how the ward works, and that he is one of the few committed patients
- He takes a while to understand what is going on
- Harding is in full control until McMurphy suddenly realizes



a. Characteristics are being:
- Expressed (shown)
- Reinforced
b. A change is happening


Motifs-> Symbols:
- Control panel
- Machinery


Quotes:
1. "Everybody moves down a place. Martini comes away from the X-ray machine, buttoning his shirt and muttering, "I wouldn’t of believed it if I hadn't saw it," and Billy Bibbit goes to the black glass to take Martini's place. (Big vs. Small)
2. "No. You've got ore to lose than I do, my friend." (Perspective vs. Perspective=> Buddy vs. Friend)