With just thirty-five pages left in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest I am anxious to see what happens. This has been my favorite novel in AP English so far. I enjoyed reading it and hold high expectations for the ending. Throughout our group discussions it plainly became evident how everyone desires McMurphy, Bromden and the patients to overcome the nursing staff and defeat Nurse Ratchet. However, as Ms. Serensky asked our class multiple times, “what exactly do you want to happen?” Personally, I just want the patients to win. In order for this to happen they need to take down the staff. I realize it would be unrealistic for them to literally get rid of the staff and live with complete anarchy. But if the staff stays there the patients clearly did not win. The ending of this novel needs to keep a balance between the two which keeps it both realistic and optimistic. So I will answer Ms. Serensky’s question and give a short synopsis of exactly what I would like to happen. Ideally, I hope for an intervention to take place. I want the patients to ban together with their new found strength gained through McMurphy’s teaching and devise a plan to get outside help. I want an outsider, not a part of the Combine, to recognize the abuse taking place inside the ward and make others take notice. This group of concerned outsiders must highlight the injustices taking place and take over. All the staff must be fired, except for the doctor, and replaced with new, caring workers who treat the patients compassionately. I want McMurphy to go back into the outside world, because I really do not see anything wrong with him, and for the other patients to actually work at getting better in order to leave one day. This may seem a bit idealistic and a lot to happen within a mere thirty-five pages, but I hope for an ending along these lines. I realize that Kesey and my viewpoints may differ a bit and I am guessing it may turn out differently then I wish. I will go now to finish my reading, hopefully to a happy ending.
Kathryn, I felt the same way before I read the last section of the book. I really wanted the patients to win and in the end, I think they did. But their victory over the nurse did not come without a cost. McMurphy's death really made me sad but I now consider him a true hero for giving his life to the other patients. I liked the bittersweet ending.
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