Monday, November 3, 2008
The Buzzard
When McMurphy is talking to Harding he calls Nurse Ratched a buzzard. A buzzard is a bird of prey that eats small mammals, worms, and carrion. This fits very well with McMurphy's piont about Nurse Ratched being a ball cutter because small mammals and worms can be interpreted as symbols for the male genitals. Buzzards eating carrion, previously dead meat (aka they are scavengers), can also refer to McMurphy's disgust of Nurse Ratched for getting pleasure by manipulating the weak patents of the ward. A buzzard is a very appropriate comparison for McMurphy to make knowing his views toward the Nurse.
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2 comments:
I think your dead on with the description of Nurse Ratched's bird, but what interests me more is McMurphy's bird. What type is he? I wonder what birds,if any, can scare buzzards away? Back to the first point, I think a buzzard/Ratched is the perfect type of bird or person to be overlooking a ward like this. A powerful character is the only type of person who could stand up to such a variety of personalities or lesser birds.
I also agree with your interpretation Michael. But i think something should also be added....McMurphy calls Nurse Ratched a buzzard but he also calls the patients birds, such as on pages 70 and 71. I think there are both similarities and differences between Kesey calling some one a bird and some one a buzzard. Both symbolize a certain sense of "craziness" but the buzzard is in a violent, harmful, crazy way and the birds are simply crazy, less intimidating. Therefor the patients and Nurse Ratched are both being catagorized together but also seperately.
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