Sunday, November 9, 2008
Taking the red pill?
I think the motif of hiding is shown directly when Chief Bromden decides not to take the red pill. As an experienced member of the ward, Chief knows the effects of this red pill as he puts it, "...you don't just go to sleep; you're paralyzed with sleep, and all night long you can't wake, no matter what goes on around you." (82) While choosing not to take the pill, Chief is alone among the rest of the ward patients who are paralyzed by the pill. As the staff make their rounds to the patients, Chief hides his alertnes and makes sure he doesn't wake up to them "performing all kinds of horrible crimes" as they do to the patients around them.
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2 comments:
I completely agree. I think the pills are another way to dullt he patients senses and supress their individuality. Bromden’s dream or hallucination is that he is surrounded by fog that stretches to the other patients as well. He thinks that they are lost in the fog, which is right. Ratched’s rules restrict the patients personalities and senses. Her routine makes the clock move too slow or too fast and the radio is too loud which restricts conversation. During the Industrial Revolution it was illegal to gather in groups due to fear of revolt or protest; I think the same goes for the ward. By resisting Ratched, McMurphy drags the others out of the fog.
Eric- I think this is really interesting that you brought this up because i think that this is Chief coming out of his "hiding" and not going along with the other patients, by taking the same pill that makes one paralyzed. I think this comes to show that he is coming out of his shell and realizes that he needs to start controlling his own life rather than the ward controlling every little thing about his soul and personality.
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