What is Fog? What does it represent? Why is it used?
Chief uses fog as a gateway. An escape from reality. Somewhere, surpressed in his mind, is an event which needs removal. The book briefly and vaguely mentions an airstrike during the war of Vietnam, and Chief's need to omit these memories from his present reality. The book actually doesn't mention his role in Vietnam, which is odd, but is heavily implyed that an incident occured which resulted in Chief losing his hearing. Was it the airstrike which did this to him? Chief separates himself from reality by using Fog as a sort of safe place for his mind to go. When Chief experiences dissatisfaction or insecurity, it seems as though Fog or another iteration of it appears. Is this a clear illustration of what Ken Kesey was experiencing? Perhaps something happened to him which made him feel the need to resort to drugs, or perhaps writing this book was his gateway or "fog".
What use does modern society have for "fog"? Well, its said that there are certain types of gateways drugs, and some which lead to even more "hard" drugs. What are they "getting away" from and what are they using? It varies by person, but some people use gateway drugs to escape a situation without actually escaping it. Marijuana, cocaine, meth, among other drugs are known to be gateway drugs. BUT it is not just drugs that are used to escape reality. Sugar and caffeine are also gateway drugs, depending on the person. So is watching TV. So is playing games. There are virtually endless amounts of activities that one can do to "get away", not just drugs. We all, including me, have activites or habits (or sometimes, addictions) to use as our fog, similar to Chief’s need to in One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest.
I think if Chief was receiving the proper treatment (what is proper..?), he may not have the need for using fog. Instead of surpressing memories and avoiding reality, it may be better for his character to confront his insecurities and fears. Giving himself purpose and allowing change could go a long way. What I know isn't proper treatment is total control, mixed with medication. Big Nurse may have the right intentions, but controling their self existance and forcing medication on them is not helpful. The only helpful treatment I see from Big Nurse is from the Group Therapy session they have each day. Is it helpful to force it on them? No. But it allows them to speak their mind, and more importantly the truth, which helps combat their urge to ignore reality by using a gateway. Other than the group therapy session, they do not allow the patients to learn through their bad experiences, which creates the need for fog.
All in all, I think Ken Kasey is illustrating several good points from the first chapter alone. Each person is different, which creates the need to have treatment suitable for all people. In One Flew over the Cukoo's nest, Big Nurse is the one who essentially dictates how they can be cured. Her routine, and the routine of the instituion itself, doesn't allow for healing through change and experience. Healing\Curing people should not be relied on medication alone, it should go beyond that. He also wants us to fight conformity and rise up against the system. The system in the book is clearly not the answer, and arguably makes the patient worse. This creates the need for reform within the system.
While reading your blog I would say I have to agree on the idea of fog being getaway. Chief uses it as his escape or security blanket. You relating the fog back to drugs or addiction made complete sense. The idea of drugs giving you that brief escape, where you don’t have to worry, where you can be careless. What I liked most was the relation of “getaways” to modern day society. People use activities as a way of escaping. Things like reading, television, videos games or writing as a way to get away. A way they let their mind rest but focus. These activities allow us to get away from our real problems without having our problems disappear. It’s a way to face reality, just not for the time being.
ReplyDeleteWhen you start to get into the treat meant aspect, I agree that Big Nurse didn’t not give her patients the proper treatment they needed. I don’t think that she had the patient’s best interest in mind. I believe her organization and control was her “get away” in a sense. She uses her power to slightly allow them help, but doesn't react any different to certain situations or conditions. I believe she is a main reason that Chief has his “fog”.
Hello. I agree with your opinion that patients with mental conditions all need different treatment, even if they have the same issue. We cannot assume if two people have similar issues, them may need different treatment to cope and begin the healing process. Like a snowflake, we are all different, and should be seen as such. While some have the ability to see this, some feel society should work like a snow machine, pumping out the exact same thing for one sole purpose. But like snow, we can be many different things, like snowballs or igloos. Anyways my point is we are not all the same, and should be cared for differntly lol.
ReplyDeleteHello there Geoff
ReplyDeleteI like and agree with you opinion for the most part. But I have a couple questions to ask and points to raise about your answers to your questions. Like for instance you never answered what you think the fog is? You just describe it as a gateway, from what I gather you are implying that it is mental not a physical or real-world thing and in the mind of the individual person. You also imply that drugs as well are a gateway. Aren’t drugs a physical objects? And are they the same gateway that lead to the same place? Mentally speaking. For that matter does the “fog” have to be induced by medication/illegal narcotics or another activity or can one enter the fog freely?
Other than that I like describe the fog and how the chief uses it to escape reality. I also like how you’re drawing the same conclusions with ken Kelsey and his drug use, also how it has affected the storey and possibly altered the charters personally and the way they’re described by ken/chief. I like that you connected not just medication and hard core drugs as the only keys to the gateway. Using caffeine, sugar, television and even reading a book as a gateway to entering the fog. Not many people would of realized those connections as a disconnect from reality. All in all like your blog look forward to reading more.
P.S sorry of I sounded harsh, I don’t intend it that way just trying to stir up some controversy and I just needed two hundred and fifty words not including this.
Geoff - excellent writing, strong analysis of the fog. Remember that I need to see all three ideas of analytical writing (text, self, world). I found text and world in your post.
ReplyDeleteBlyyn - please make sure that comments are adding to the discussion, rather than just restating the blogger's original ideas.
Tyler - Good snow metaphor
Brett - good job taking this discussion in a new direction and for critiquing Geoff's original statements. This is where blogging gets interesting - the back and forth exchange (its like a written debate).