In "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey, there is an underlying tension about the power dynamics in a mental institution. The quote reflects the control that the staff, particularly Nurse Ratched, have over the patients' lives. Mr. McMurphy, who represents defiance and individualism, is subjected to the whims of the hospital authorities, emphasizing how institutional power can dictate one's fate, whether it be for weeks or years.
This...