One Flew Over Research - Unit 12 extended project

Character Analysis

My main research source that I will be using is from the book, to fully understand these characters as it is closer to the portrayal and have more similarities of what both of them are like in this show compared to what they are like in the film. For Cheswick I think the film and book do a really good job at diving into the character similarity wise whereas for Dr. Spivey you don't get to see too much interaction with him and McMurphy in the film to fully understand and see the strings McMurphy wins over the Dr. 

Charles Cheswick

Like in the book and the same as the other acutes Charles is seen as a significant secondary character because of the actions him and the other acutes do to help pave McMurphy's life in the institute. Whilst also bringing to life the harsh reality of what they all have had to suffer for to the hands of Nurse Ratched before McMurphy's arrival. 

From the start of the show you can already see a more angry side to Cheswick, this is due to him having a switch in his personality at one moment he can be enjoying himself and being childish as it is mentioned he is childish in nature at times and then other time he can be aggressive and argue back with the rules of ward. Not much come of these outbursts of aggression or anger till McMurphy's arrival where he finally has someone to support him and so he is one of the first to be sucked into Mac's game. Cheswick is portrayed in the film by Sydney Lassick who does a great job at portraying these outbursts that Cheswick has. I also have took a bit of the characteristics that he gives Cheswick and put them into my performance this helped me to slowly find the character aswell. It is said in the book that Cheswick serves as someone recognises the severity of the system but feels powerless to fight it alone which when McMurphy arrives he takes those rebellious and defiant traits and grows a connection with Mac. 

His relationship is Mac is one of admiration this is shown by how much Cheswick backs up Mac, not only in the book but also in the film and show aswell, as Cheswick is always asking where Mac is when he's not there or always saying that Nurse Ratched is wrong when she says something bad about him. Mac also helps in aiding Cheswick become a lot calmer because Cheswick now has a saviour so all he feels he needs to do is follow what Mac says and he will help in going against Nurse Ratched tyranny.  This character arc leads to the biggest difference between the book and this show which is Cheswick's death, his death in book symbolises the destructive impact of the institute and the feeling of being let down by his saviour when Mac doesn't stick up for him leading to him feeling abandoned. In the novel the impact of Cheswick's death is what drives McMurphy to fully commit to this gamble that he has put on his life going against Nurse Ratched. On the other hand in the show and film, Cheswick doesn't die showing a different character arc for him, instead he follows Mac's journey to his end and he grows as a person and in my opinion I think he would grow the courage to finally act independently and leave the institute after Mac has died. 

Cheswick in the novel shows the tragic game of what Nurse Ratched and McMurphy played, showing his journey from a hopeful follower of Macs to a despairing victim. Whereas in the show and film it shows his journey from hopeful follower to a victorious and grown character at the cost of the person who he admired the most but helped to make Cheswick a better person to be able to join the outside world. 

Dr. John Spivey

Dr. Spivey adds depth to the exploration of power dynamics and the control of the institution. He is the head psychiatrist of the ward and is supposed to have the control over Nurse Ratched to make the shots, but is being blackmailed due to his addiction problems, this all changes once McMurphy arrives and worms his way into the good books of the Dr. 
 
Dr. Spivey from the first scene and how he is written in the book already comes across as more approachable than Nurse Ratched and he immediately gets sucked into McMurphy's charm and is interested in him quite a lot since he hasn't seen anyone like this come into the institute. His role in the institute as head psychiatrist shows he his the higher up in the ward but leaves it all to Nurse Ratched showing that power imbalance already, it is not till later when he starts to challenge the wicked Nurse and her methods because of strings that Mac is pulling. This is shown by agreeing to allow the carnival to happen on the ward and allowing Candy Starr to make her visit to the ward. His role in the institution before Mac's arrival symbolises the dehumanising practices of the institution that was aimed at helping the patients. There a multiple accounts throughout the show, and book as well where the Dr. shows promise of change and that he is not entirely without empathy or awareness of what Nurse Ratched is doing. The only issue is the amount of leverage she has on him and his lack to follow through with some stuff when questioned that ultimately lets him down. 

My References 

(Kesey, 1962) - Book

(One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975) - Film