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Many strange events occur in the day room. Obscure, belittling "group thearpy" sessions, a concealed war between the patients and the staff, and an eerie aura that looms in the room. "The air is pressed in by the walls, too tight for laughing. There's something strange about a place where the men won't let themselves loose and laugh" (46). The day room is also where the patients spend most of their day, and is the central room that every other room seems to lead to, as if there's no escape from it. Ironically, although psychiatric wards originally intended to remove patients from the pressures of civilization, many of the outside society characteristics are still apparent within this room. |
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"The Chronics and the Acutes don't generally mingle. Each stays on his own side of the day room"(16), which is similar to how society seperates itself into different social classes in society. For instance, the upper class is seated at the front end of the plane, seperated from the middle class who are seated in the belly of the plane, who are seperated from the economy class, who are at the very back of the plane. The Acutes, though "they don't like to be reminded that here's what coupld happen to them someday" (17), in some manner, are less broken than the Chronics, who are permanently damaged, and perhaps seen in society a higher class..
Yet, this is not the sole aspect that makes this ward a "little world" (47). One of the main purpose that the day room serves is to allow patients recreational time for relaxation, during which they are given Monopoly sets and cards. These games come resemble something of the corporate world, betting their "property" on a chance to gain more "property". And where only the best corporations know how to lure their consumners--roping them in and leading them smack up to "the point where they were just about to give up" (78), then back down. As a result, "the game goes round and round" (112) in an endless cycle of winning and luring, so that the top dog, like McMurphy, keeps winning more and more. |
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