Socratic Seminar Questions

1. Why did Kesey choose to kill Mcmurphy?

Mcmurphy had to die to gain his final victory. He couldn't remain trapped in a lifeless body. The real Mcmurphy died with the lobotomy and Mcmurphy's vegetable tomb of a body couldn't be a symbol of the Nurse's victory or a warning towards rebellion.

2. What message is being pushed?

The status quo at time can and should be disrupted. People cannot be stuffed into cookie cutter molds and expected to perform. They are unique and individual and a society must allow people to live.

3. Why did the nurse drive Cheswick and Billy to suicide?

The suicides were the nurse's way of gaining control over the men and attempting to turn them against Mcmurphy. If she could connect Mcmurphy to death she could scare away his following.

4. What does Chief's bias do for the story?

He gives us a natural inclination towards Mcmurphy because he doesn't like the combine. Chief as a narrator also allows us to gain a lot of extra information other characters didn't receive because his presence is so often ignored and people believe him to be deaf and stupid.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 2

It would appear that Mcmurphy is in control. He is constantly disrupting the ward and its staff. Most importantly he is clearly having his effect on Big Nurse. The viewing of the World Series game is just one example of Mcmurphy's dominance. He violates the schedule and convinces the rest of the ward to do the same. Even when Big Nurse turns off the TV, they remain watching the blank screen.

Chief seems a little crazy, but he seems to be reliable. I trust him as a narrator, it is just necessary to discern what is fact and fiction in his story telling. Mcmurphy's presence seems to have given chief some hope. He feels that maybe the Nurse's power is no longer absolute and sometimes the fog can be lifted.

I want to see a happy ending for the men of the ward. I like Mcmurphy's presence much more than that of the nurse and while he is cheating the men out of their money I feel he is helping them. He is a greater force of good so I hope he has success, but first and foremost I was people like Chief and Billy to get better.

One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest 1

Mcmurphy is set up in the beginning to be an anti-hero. He seems to inspire some of the men, but his gambling and fighting prevent him from being a traditional hero.

The nurse is a clear villain. Readers are instantly inclined to dislike her and she goes against our values. We side with Chief and the other patients and seeing as she tends to treat them cruelly we don't like her.

Chief seems to only act as a narrator for the story. He is neither a hero nor a villain at least from our current perspective.

Great Gatsby 3

1. Why are East and West Egg, named the way that they are?

This is because they symbolize the cultural and economic divisions that existed at that time in the United States. The East is routed in old money, while the West is the frontier where people work hard for what they have.

2. What purpose does Nick truly fill in the book?

Nick is simply a narrator and the middle man for reuniting Daisy and Gatsby. The story could have worked without him if we'd been given a different catalyst to unite Daisy and Gatsby, but with his presence we at least are given a relatable moral benchmark with which we can measure every other character.

3.  What message is pushed by the lack of attendance at Gatsby's funeral?

The idea that no one truly knew or cared for Gatsby is pushed by this. People came to his parties because it was the thing to do, not because they cared anything for Gatsby. Fitzgerald shows the lack of depth within the upper class. He shows how little "friendship" actually means within this empty self-serving upper fringe.

4. In what ways does Fitzgerald's life come through the story?

We see a similarity in the past of his marriage with the past of Gatsby and Daisy. Much like Fitzgerald's wife, Daisy doesn't want to marry a poor boy. Also the life style he lived was very much like that of Gatsby's because he was constantly within this party atmosphere, and the only difference was Fitzgerald drank. We also see that Nick and Fitzgerald come from similar Socio-economic backgrounds.

Great Gatsby 2

1. The purpose that Wolfsheim currently serves is to give us insight into the individuals who are actually close to Gatsby. His party guests are not his friends and few of them actually know him, but Wolfsheim can convey to us the type of person that frequents Gatsby's company or has a role in his past. It shows us that the respectable Gatsby may not be a completely straight shooter in the since that he deals with those who commit major headline making crimes. We don't turn against Gatsby despite his criminal affiliation, but rather we gain a respect for him because of the caliber of people around him and he is seen in a greater aura of mystery.

2. Knowing about Gatsby's past especially the parts in which Daisy plays a role creates a greater understanding of Gatsby. It shows us what drives Gatsby to action. His history with Daisy lead to his obsession with her. Every aspect of his life has been part of a scheme to get her back and we thus see his dedication and understand more about where Gatsby came from.

3. The additional back story on Gatsby helps establish his character. In the beginning it is hard to understand how Gatsby gained the status he holds, but with this additional information we understand the driven and gifted individual that is Gatsby. By knowing this we understand just how Gatsby could gain so much wealth and influence. It also further pushes the question about whether or not everything that Gatsby is involved in is completely legal.

4. I have a greater respect for Gatsby. He shows dedication in his love for Daisy and it is hard not to like someone who has given so much to just a glimmer of hope. Also from Nick's perspective Tom is established as a not likable character and the fact that Gatsby offers a possible escape to Daisy who is clearly unhappy in her marriage.

Grest Gatsby 1

 From my perspective it appears that nick will either be our hero or the only role he will fill is that of a narrator. He comes out and tells us that he is nonjudgmental and honest and as readers it is easy to align morally with someone like this. It makes him likable and difficult to distrust making him a clear hero choice.

The story seems to set Tom up to be a villain. He is depicted in a way that makes him pretty easy to dislike and he appears arrogant and morally atrocious. He cheats on his wife, abuses his mistress and feels that he is better than others. He is a clear choice for the villain because he violates the morality of the audience.

Gatsby is currently flying under the radar. He could be a hero or a villain or anywhere between. The fact of the matter is we know far too little about him to understand the role he will play in this story simply because we really only meet him twice and both of these instances were short lived and in passing, but I feel that Gatsby will certainly play a major role whatever that role may be later on in the story.

Picture Journal 2-16-12

It seems to be a slightly surreal style where everything is very angular and slightly distorted. He dwells a lot in Black culture specifically music and dance and uses lots of contrast in color.