Medical Procedures and Psychological Scars in Literary Works
Mental illness is a serious issue and is continuously brought up in many literary works and plays. The role that mental illness takes on for certain characters sends the reader on a confusing rollercoaster-like journey that explores the effects and boundaries characters cross in order to combat, defeat, or rebel against their mental disease alongside the support of family and friends. Within the literary works and plays that involve mental illnesses, there is a subtle yet noticeable connection that can be drawn between each other that reinforce the intensity and difficulty behind having a mental illness. A literary work and a play that focuses on mental illness within a certain character is grasped in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, and Next to Normal, by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. Chief Bromden, from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a schizophrenic mental patient in a psychiatric ward who experiences a psychological, rather than a literal “fog” that keeps him sane. This situation related to Diana, from Next to Normal, who also experiences a type of “fog”, as a result of the loss of her son, Gabe. These delusional symptoms from seeing figures that are not literally there can possibly be induced by the repetitive use of medication or the act of medical procedures. These two characters show a compare and contrast in relation to what experiences are faced due to the psychological affects that medicine and procedures have on them. Although, some may believe that mental illness is totally fixable or curable, I argue that with the consequences and illnesses brought up in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Next to Normal, the medication and medical procedures being used can create a temporary fix, but also have the capability of leaving an ever lasting psychological scar.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, has a main character, Chief Bromden, who narrates the whole novel in his perspective as a schizophrenic mental patient in a psychiatric ward undergoes Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) that changes him. Before he underwent ECT, the psychiatric ward is controlled by a very authoritative Nurse, who is responsible of keeping the place in shape and in control. Chief Bromden and his friends in the ward try to rebel against the Nurse, however, if they continuously test her, the Nurse will fight back by performing ECT or lobotomies on them to show who is in charge. This scares Chief Bromden and his friends, but they still test her authority and had to face the consequences. One of the symptoms in the novel that resulted from ECT was the deepening of the “fog” that the patients already experience. This “fog” is being represented to the reader as a hindrance to what reality really is. The “fog” keeps the patients from going out of control and leaves them in a somewhat zombie-like state of mind; physically present but not psychologically present. With the constant use of ECT on Chief Bromden and the mental patients, the psychological “fog” thickens causing them to never see their true reality and conscious state of mind.
(From left to right, Chief Bromden, Gabe, Diana, Dan)
In relevance other texts dealing with mental illness, in Next to Normal, a family of four, Diana, Dan, her husband, Gabe, her son, and Natalie, her daughter, try to live a normal life but with Diana’s mental illness (delusional bipolar disorder), it’s very hard for them to do so, therefore resulting in unorthodox medicinal usage and procedures. Diana in the beginning of the play uses countless medications to help with her mental disorder but the medicine fails to help her and only causes a large amount of symptoms if not taken regularly or properly. Due to the medicines inability to help with Diana’s sickness, the use of ECT was ultimately used. After the procedure, she did seem normal and sickness free; however, her delusions of Gabe came back. Medicine use and medicinal procedures don’t necessarily create a permanent fix in a patient, but with rehabilitation and realization, the symptoms of her illness can be temporary relieved.
In today’s development in health and medicine, there are a lot of medicine and procedures that can be done to assist those with mental disabilities. However, in the past, medicine was not as advanced and can be seen as archaic. ECT, or Electroconvulsive Therapy is a medical procedure that sends electric currents to a person’s brains resulting in a seizure to help cure or reverse the symptoms of certain mental disorders and illnesses. Between the two literary works, ECT is used in a contrasting way. For example, in One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest, ECT is more likely to be used as a punishment for patients who display erratic, rebellious, or irregular behavior. Seldom does this procedure actually help a patient recover from their illness. In contrast, in Next to Normal, ECT is portrayed to be a good and useful procedure to help Diana’s symptoms from her bipolar disorder. According to an article, Risks and Side Effects of ECT by Lawrence Park, there are many complications and sides effects from the ECT procedure. One of the most common is cognitive and memory problems which in summary and “anterograde verbal memory and retrograde autobiographical memory”. These are symptoms that Chief Bromden and Diana have both faced. With the symptoms of memory loss and dysfunction, there are additional abnormalities that can be present, which is the psychological scar these procedures cause. Overall, It is important to know of how ECT is used between two separate people because of their reaction and interaction that they have with others in a medical standpoint and personal standpoint.
This psychological scar that Chief Bromden and Diana both experience due to their ECT procedure cannot be cured complete, but can be rehabilitated. According to an article called, Impact of torture, long-term psychological scars, by Lauran Neegaard, there are “stressful experiences” animals and humans have that result in the brain never being “the same as it was before”. For instance, in Diana’s situation after she had undergone ECT, she was left with a loss of all her major memory, which included who was in her family, where she’s gone before, and most importantly, lose of who she was. Although ECT went well in the means of getting rid of her delusions of Gabe, she still had the loss of her memory. To treat that, she had to go through rehabilitation which consisted of slowly and steadily reminding her of her memories through trinkets, photo albums, and symbols. Diana ultimately regained her past memory, but Gabe still returns in her psychological mind. Gabe can be the psychological scar that Diana still experiences throughout. For Chief Bromden, the ECT deepened his scar, which was the “fog” he experiences. With the help of his friend, McMurphy, he was able to rehabilitate as well and have feasible thoughts. The things that Chief Bromden couldn’t do after the ECT without the help and support of his friends was easily done and executed. The psychological scar that both these characters experience can be similar to how a dog reacts to certain situations. For example, I had 2 dogs, one who was found in the street, and one that has been with me since I was born. The two major differences between these dogs is the way they react to certain things, just like how Chief Bromden and Diana do. When you throw a ball to a dog, a common normal reaction would be to chase after it, in my situation; only one dog went after it, while the other dog ran away and hid. The dog with the psychological scar is the one who hid, most likely because of the past experiences he has had. The psychological mind that both these dogs have developed makes way on how their behavior is progressed and how their personality is set. In Chief Bromden’s case, in his early life it is unclear whether he did have a mental disease however, due to the experiences he has faced such as war and neglect, the way he acts in his older years may not be normal for society. In contrast, Diana does have a mental illness and is heightened by the memory of her son, but isn’t as exposed to the same extreme experiences that Chief Bromden faced, giving them both a different kind of psychological scar. However, with help from rehabilitators, normalcy can be achieved, which is what Chief Bromden and Diana both received from the friends and family.
Overall, both One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Next to Normal, show their similarities and differences in how ECT is used, their mental illnesses and symptoms, and the way they rehabilitate from the psychological scar that is embedded to their minds. Mental illness should not be an abnormality being placed on others, but as an opportunity to grow and regain through of who they really are. Sometimes medicine isn’t always the best answer, but the willingness and courage brought from the friends and families both these characters, Chief Bromden and Diana go through are what portrays the true battle of having a mental disease. Both characters sought improvements in their own way. Diana regained her memory and is aware that Gabe is dead, however that psychological scar of still having delusions of Gabe is present. As for Chief Bromden, he ultimately escapes the psychiatric wards and steps into reality in hopes of living a normal life. All in all, mental illnesses can play a huge role in someone’s life regardless in books or in reality.
Word Count: 1590.
In today’s development in health and medicine, there are a lot of medicine and procedures that can be done to assist those with mental disabilities. However, in the past, medicine was not as advanced and can be seen as archaic. ECT, or Electroconvulsive Therapy is a medical procedure that sends electric currents to a person’s brains resulting in a seizure to help cure or reverse the symptoms of certain mental disorders and illnesses. Between the two literary works, ECT is used in a contrasting way. For example, in One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest, ECT is more likely to be used as a punishment for patients who display erratic, rebellious, or irregular behavior. Seldom does this procedure actually help a patient recover from their illness. In contrast, in Next to Normal, ECT is portrayed to be a good and useful procedure to help Diana’s symptoms from her bipolar disorder. According to an article, Risks and Side Effects of ECT by Lawrence Park, there are many complications and sides effects from the ECT procedure. One of the most common is cognitive and memory problems which in summary and “anterograde verbal memory and retrograde autobiographical memory”. These are symptoms that Chief Bromden and Diana have both faced. With the symptoms of memory loss and dysfunction, there are additional abnormalities that can be present, which is the psychological scar these procedures cause. Overall, It is important to know of how ECT is used between two separate people because of their reaction and interaction that they have with others in a medical standpoint and personal standpoint.
This psychological scar that Chief Bromden and Diana both experience due to their ECT procedure cannot be cured complete, but can be rehabilitated. According to an article called, Impact of torture, long-term psychological scars, by Lauran Neegaard, there are “stressful experiences” animals and humans have that result in the brain never being “the same as it was before”. For instance, in Diana’s situation after she had undergone ECT, she was left with a loss of all her major memory, which included who was in her family, where she’s gone before, and most importantly, lose of who she was. Although ECT went well in the means of getting rid of her delusions of Gabe, she still had the loss of her memory. To treat that, she had to go through rehabilitation which consisted of slowly and steadily reminding her of her memories through trinkets, photo albums, and symbols. Diana ultimately regained her past memory, but Gabe still returns in her psychological mind. Gabe can be the psychological scar that Diana still experiences throughout. For Chief Bromden, the ECT deepened his scar, which was the “fog” he experiences. With the help of his friend, McMurphy, he was able to rehabilitate as well and have feasible thoughts. The things that Chief Bromden couldn’t do after the ECT without the help and support of his friends was easily done and executed. The psychological scar that both these characters experience can be similar to how a dog reacts to certain situations. For example, I had 2 dogs, one who was found in the street, and one that has been with me since I was born. The two major differences between these dogs is the way they react to certain things, just like how Chief Bromden and Diana do. When you throw a ball to a dog, a common normal reaction would be to chase after it, in my situation; only one dog went after it, while the other dog ran away and hid. The dog with the psychological scar is the one who hid, most likely because of the past experiences he has had. The psychological mind that both these dogs have developed makes way on how their behavior is progressed and how their personality is set. In Chief Bromden’s case, in his early life it is unclear whether he did have a mental disease however, due to the experiences he has faced such as war and neglect, the way he acts in his older years may not be normal for society. In contrast, Diana does have a mental illness and is heightened by the memory of her son, but isn’t as exposed to the same extreme experiences that Chief Bromden faced, giving them both a different kind of psychological scar. However, with help from rehabilitators, normalcy can be achieved, which is what Chief Bromden and Diana both received from the friends and family.
Overall, both One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Next to Normal, show their similarities and differences in how ECT is used, their mental illnesses and symptoms, and the way they rehabilitate from the psychological scar that is embedded to their minds. Mental illness should not be an abnormality being placed on others, but as an opportunity to grow and regain through of who they really are. Sometimes medicine isn’t always the best answer, but the willingness and courage brought from the friends and families both these characters, Chief Bromden and Diana go through are what portrays the true battle of having a mental disease. Both characters sought improvements in their own way. Diana regained her memory and is aware that Gabe is dead, however that psychological scar of still having delusions of Gabe is present. As for Chief Bromden, he ultimately escapes the psychiatric wards and steps into reality in hopes of living a normal life. All in all, mental illnesses can play a huge role in someone’s life regardless in books or in reality.
Word Count: 1590.
Works Cited
Kesey, Ken. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. New York: Penguin, 2007. Print.
Sunstrum, Kelsey. "Risks and Side Effects of ECT.” Psych Central.com. Psychotherapy, 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
Neegaard, Lauran. “Impact of torture, long-term psychological scars.” Medicalxpress.com. Psychology & Psychiatry, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
Sunstrum, Kelsey. "Risks and Side Effects of ECT.” Psych Central.com. Psychotherapy, 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
Neegaard, Lauran. “Impact of torture, long-term psychological scars.” Medicalxpress.com. Psychology & Psychiatry, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.