Cuckoo's Nest # 3

Throughout part three of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, McMurphy is determined to gain control. He is basically competing with Nurse Ratched to have control of these men. He isn't trying to control them physically, he is just trying to help them for more relaxed while being a patient at the ward. He plans a "fishing" trip for himself and some of the other men at the ward and tells them that his aunt would be attending. He then shares with Bromden that it would be two "whores" coming along, not his aunt. However, one of them was recently married unknowingly to McMurphy's knowledge which was a bit of a let down for him and the guys, but there was still Candy Starr. Candy Starr and McMurphy reunite when she arrives at the ward to prepare for their trip. Every guy in the ward's eyes were glued to her when she walked in considering how beautiful she was. McMurphy sticks by these guys and tries his best to help them feel better about themselves. To him, this trip will boost their confidence since the prostitute would give them all the attentiong they've been longing for. He is trying to his full ability to be strong for these men, even though he is mentally sick as well. Nurse Ratched is trying very hard to get above McMurphy, but the men in the ward respect the both of them just from different perspectives. The Nurse scares the patients rather than pick up for them like McMurphy does. She tries to end the trip when she confronts McMurphy about pocketing some of the money that the men have given him for the trip. This still doesn't bring him down. He covers it up by saying it was for gas money, which isn't remotely believable, but still gets him away with his plan. McMurphy seems to me to be the strongest character in this book so far. But I'm starting to wonder how much longer it will take until he cracks. I feel as though there is only so much you can do and say before you are overwhelmed by your own problems and situations.