In the movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, another theme emerges as Randle
ID: 3444680 • Letter: I
Question
In the movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, another theme emerges as Randle McMurphy becomes a member of the psych ward. That theme depicts Institutional Control vs. Human Dignity.
Respond to the question below:
Explain how this theme is interwoven among the many scenes in this movie and give two specific examples.
In this course, we have studied the brain and how it works. One of the preferred treatments in the movie was EST (Electro Shock Therapy). Nurse Ratchet uses it to control the men and seems willing to go as far as to encourage the doctor to do a lobotomy on them if she cannot control them. Research EST and then answer the following questions. (Cite your sources.)
What is EST?
When is it used in today’s clinics?
What are the risks?
What are your thoughts on utilizing EST as a means of therapy?
Explanation / Answer
Nurse Ratchet is shown to be a neurotic administrator who is depicted to be quite controlling with regards to people who fall under her jurisdiction within the ward. She is the entire personification of institutional control with the movie.
The theme plays over in the entire movie many a times, but the two striking parts when it really hits home is when Chief Bromden says that it is awfully strange where a human does not give into a basic desire like to let loose and laugh, but has to conform to a flour faced lady (Nurse Ratchet).
The second is when he provides the viewers with the rabbit (human dignity) and the wolf (Institutional Control) analogy wherein he says that how can a rabbit who is weak combat a wolf, who devours the rabbit (weaker) only to become stronger. What can the rabbit do in such an instance but dig a hole and hide.
In simple terms EST was a shock therapy wherein seizures were artificially introduced within patients via an electric shock in order to alleviate the mental disorder.
In todays clinical practices EST is still prevalent but not on a large scale, and it is taken as a form of last resort when the mental disorder reaches a phenomenal level and the patient becomes manic. It is used in case of Schizophrenia and Severe Major depressive disorders.
Th risks that follow this form of treatment are there, but not as many as the general notion that proceeds it: disorientation and partial memory loss being the most common of them all. Cognitive impairment is noticed as well in some patients by the use of EST.
According to me, although EST is considered as safe means of therapy, it should be used as the last resort after medication and other efforts cease to function and the patient shows no signs of recovery.
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