I have just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and absolutely loved the ending! Now that Chief Bromden has defeated the Big Nurse, he has set himself free in the real world: "I been away a long time" (325). Personally, I do not feel Chief Bromden was insane. His resentment and paranoia towards the outside world has compelled him to stay in the asylum all these years. Now that the book is over I cannot help but wonder about other insane people that have left mental institutions and now live in the "real world." Although I have never been hospitalized in a mental institution and will never be placed in one (knock on wood) some of my actions over the past few days characterize me as insane according to the definitions we researched. I have composed a list below...
1. Monday morning I sped over the speed bumps, late to school as usual, with my little sister in the car. She forced me to drop her off at the middle school or else she would get a detention for her fourth tardy. Instead of driving all around the outer perimeter of the school to get to the senior parking lot, I decided to go against the one way traffic. Do not ask me why I decided to make this irrational decision. Luckily, my actions did not result in any type of accident and I made it on time to first period.
2. My dad and sister came running down the stairs to hear me screaming yesterday after school. They thought someone had died or I was seriously injured. Really I was just yelling because my mom left my new nail polish bottle open on the kitchen counter and it dried up.
3. During 3rd period commons, I went to the library to do my math homework. I wrote my name at the top of my paper but soon erased it because it looked bad. My attention kept reverting to my messy name in the upper right hand corner. I erased my name three times before I felt it was satisfactory. I think this supports Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
4. Wednesday morning. Sweating. I had to strip my sheets and take a shower due to a horrible nightmare. I compare it to those Chief Bromden experiences in his fog. I did not read for English class. I completely forgot to do the reading and I sat in discussion shaking and perspiring at the fact that I had no idea what anyone was talking about. Ms. Serensky stared me down and shook her head. She knew I had printed off SparkNotes the period before and had them hiding in my lap.
5. Today I came home from school and sat in my bed pondering whether I should drive 45 minutes to take an hour long dance class. I swear I heard voices in my head. A little angel Carley sat on my left shoulder crying, "Go to class like a hard-working and dedicated ballerina would!" A Carley with devil horns and a red cape sat on my right shoulder taunting me: "You are so sleepy. Why waste your gas and mileage when you can take a nap in your cozy, warm bed." In the end, I listened to the devil's voice.
Do you think I am insane? Realistically, aren't we all a little insane in our own ways?
Carley, I found this post to be very funny! I also believe that everyone is insane in their own way. The world would be very boring if this was not the case. I also sometimes imagine the little devil Jackie on one shoulder and the angel Jackie on the other shoulder talking to me while trying to make a difficult decision.
ReplyDeleteCarly, I agree with Jackie.This is extremely humorous. I too erase my name at the top of my paper if it does not look right. And if it is in pen, I will get a new sheet. Sometimes I question my mental and emotional stability after doing such things. In regards to your question, I believe that as long as we can recognize and laugh about such things, we are all good.
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