Chapters 18 and 19

"The lifeguard was standing on the edge of the pool; he had a whistle and a T-shirt on with his ward number on it. He and McMurphy had got to talking about the difference between hospital and jail, and McMurphy was saying how much better the hospital was. The lifeguard wasn't so sure. I heard him tell McMurphy that, for one thing, being committed ain't like being sentenced. 'You're sentenced in a jail, and you got a date ahead of you when you know you're gonna be turned loose,' he said" (147). Before talking to the lifeguard, McMurphy continually antagonizes Big Nurse and attempts to gain power in the ward. However, after this conversation, McMurphy questions his actions and rethinks his attitude towards Big Nurse. Since he is a "Committed" patient, only Big Nurse has the authority to release McMurphy from the ward, but he is frustrated with his behavior. As a result, McMurphy begins to show more respect for Big Nurse. Ultimately, he gives up power in the ward and among his peers to ensure that he has a chance of being released from the ward on time.

"And that afternoon in the meeting when Cheswick said that everybody'd agreed that there should be some kind of showdown on the cigarette situation, saying, 'I ain't no little kid to have cigarettes kept from me like cookies!' We want something done about it, ain't that right Mack?' and waited for McMurphy to back him up, all he got was silence. He looked over at McMurphy's corner. Everybody did. McMurphy was there, studying the deck of cards that slid in and out of sight in his hands. He didn't even look up. It was awfully quiet; there was just that slap of greasy cards and Cheswick's heavy breathing" (149). After he learns the consequences of disrespecting Big Nurse and her authority, McMurphy no longer stands up for his peers in these situations. McMurphy is known among the patients as the "Bull Goose," illustrating that he has the most power of all the patients. As a result, they always look to him for help during arguments with Big Nurse. However, selfishly, McMurphy does not stand up for his peers because he is only concerned about his release date, and he does not want to anger Big Nurse.

"McMurphy was doing the smart thing. I could see that. He was giving in because it was the smartest thing to do, not because of any of these other reasons the Acutes were making up. He didn't say so, but I knew and I told myself it was the smart thing to do. I told myself that over and over: It's safe. Like Hiding. It's the smart thing to do, nobody could say any different. I know what he's doing" (151). From the Chief's perspective, McMurphy is acting rationally because he is protecting his own interests. The Chief relates McMurphy's situation to a similar predicament his father was in when the white men arrived out west. They told the Chief's father that they would give him two hundred thousand dollars to move off his native land. Wisely, the father compromised with the white men instead of resisting. In McMurphy's situation, he must also adjust to Big Nurse's rules otherwise he will stay in the ward for several years instead of just a few months.