The conflict between Big Nurse and McMurphy is in full swing at the end of "Part One." Who is getting the best of their rivalry at this point? Why do you say that (specific evidence)?
What is your perception of the Chief at this point in the story? Why? And how has the presence of McMurphy changed the Chief's character or his narration (be specific)?
Who are you rooting for at this point in the story and why?
1. By the end of Part 1, McMurphy is getting the best of Big Nurse in their argument. "But she doesn't blow up, not right off, not until about an hour later" (page 124). After they are done arguing, Big Nurse must keep her cool and remain calm in front of the patients. However, McMurphy's rebuttals are finally getting to the Big Nurse and remaining constantly collected is proving to be extremely difficult.
2. At this point, Chief is being "lifted out of the fog" by McMurphy. His personality and thoughts are consequently changing because of his interaction with McMurphy. Soon enough, Chief starts to think of the people around him as insane instead of his fellow peers. "If somebody'd of come in and took a look, men watching a blank TV, a fifty-year old woman hollering and squealing at the back of their heads about discipline and order and recriminations, they'd of thought the whole bunch was as crazy as loons" (page 126).
3. At this point in the story, I am rooting for McMurphy, just as the author expects the reader to. I think McMurphy is crucial to the battle against society and conformity, and McMurphy represents the counter-culture urging people to break free from the holds of society. McMurphy is slowly but surely influencing and changing the atmosphere of the mental hospital, challenging the woman who usually enforces strict order and discpline.
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