How does the concept of fog impact the story?
Fog is Chief’s illness. Chief’s perceptions seem uniquely limited by the fog. He acknowledges that “nobody complains about all the fog,” and while he concludes that this is a result of its comfort, he seems to be the only one aware of its existence (128). The fog thus clarifies that Chief is an unreliable narrator.
Fog is Nurse Ratched’s control. Nurse Ratched is able to maintain control over the ward through indirect and covert mechanisms, represented by the fog. Her mechanisms confuse and weaken the ward, and until McMurphy arrives, no one is able to combat the fog. Fog is always represented as something intentionally manufactured by a “fog machine” (42) and thus, there is clearly an actor, proven to be Ms. Ratched as she deliberately (as per Chief) confuses the patients with fog.
Fog is apathy. Chief repeatedly describes how the fog provides a refuge for the men of the ward. They hide and avoid action by clinging to the fog. Billy, for example, avoided confrontation when he “finally and forever crowded back into the fog” (134). Chief similarly cites the fog as a reason he does not speak, saying “the fog’s clogged my throat to where I can’t make a sound” (135).
Fog is shame. Not only do the men of the ward feel ashamed of their disabilities, society as a whole feels ashamed that they exist and seeks to mask them. Just as Chief’s first observation of a fog machine in use was to hide military operations (130, 131) and one of its functions in the ward is similarly to prevent society from seeing its broken refuse.
What is the role of Billy’s mother?
Billy’s mother serves as his standard of valuation. Each character in the book makes considerations on the basis of what someone else will think. Most of the men, including Chief, shift from trying to act in a manner that pleases Nurse Ratched towards McMurphy. Nurse Ratched herself seeks to please society. Billy, however, is the clearest example of someone living to please another. After a tryst with a prostitute, Nurse Ratched chastises Billy, stating that “’This is going to disturb [your mother] terribly’” (315). He ultimately breaks down and kills himself, thus epitomizing the dangers of living for another.
Why does Kesey describe Chief’s dreams in such detail?
Chief’s dreams are the most vivid example of Kesey speaking directly and explicitly to the audience. Chief’s dreams provide contrast from the life on the ward, which while torturous, could otherwise get at times routine and dull. The dreams imbue the book with another form of social commentary, with dream scenes depicting disregard for human life and dignity and a systematic form of repression.
Why are the men called by their last names?
Big Nurse calls the men by their last names as a form of dehumanization. By stripping them of personal character, she allays any feeling she may have had against acting to harm them. They become mere cases rather than people. Interestingly, Ms. Ratched uses the men’s first names only when patronizing and manipulating them, as when she chastises Billy (314, 315). Thus, Ms. Ratched’s callous disregard for her patients is subtly shown through her use of last names principally and first names merely for manipulation.
