Christopher Campagna as Ruckly
1. For Randle McMurphy, Nurse Ratched, and three other characters listed above: identify their archetype, briefly explain the characteristics of the archetype if it is not one listed in the introduction, and list actions that match the characteristics.
2. How does Nurse Ratched control the ward? Pay attention to the conversation between Billy and Nurse Ratched after the “date”.
3. There are five times when McMurphy could escape: after he climbs the fence, after the security falls asleep, while Billy is on his “date”, when the orderly asks him to just give him the keys, and after Billy commits suicide. For each explain, why he doesn’t leave? Then is there an overall reason why? Does McMurphy want to stay?
4. Why does McMurphy take the patients on a fishing trip? Is he trying to teach them something? or just being selfish? Or a little of both? If he is teaching them something, then what is it?
5. What does the title mean? Who flies over the cuckoo’s nest?
6. Is McMurphy mentally insane? What evidence do you have either way?
7. Was McMurphy a dangerous man? Was his punishment justified for the setting of the book 1960’s? Would it still be justified today?
8. Why does Nurse Ratched seem to despise McMurphy? Is this logical? Is she somehow responsible for McMurphy outburts and then ulimately his fate? Provide evidence from the movie.
9. Write a plot line for McMurphy.
10. What would the theme with McMurphy as the protagonist be?
11. What is this film/novel about? What dichotomy is being suggested by Ratched and the hospital vs. the patients? Could it be Good vs. evil? Power & authority vs. freedom? Repression vs. expression? Women vs. men? The machine vs. nature?
12. In the novel, Chief Bromden narrates the story and could be seen as the protagonist Would that change the theme?
13. In the novel, Chief Bromden tells us that Nurse Ratched is hiding her humanity and feminity behind a mask of animosity. We do not see this at all in the film. Would this change the archetype you identified her with? Why or why not?
14. Was it morally right for Cheif Bromden to suffocate McMurphy? Explain.
15. Chief Bromden accomplishes two things McMurphy failed at: lifts the bathroom control panel and escapes. Does this make him a better character than McMurphy?