ft of the tub room. Was that actually his to give? Did he lose anything by acquiring it as a gambling casino? On the other hand, how much do you suppose he made in the short time he was croupier of his little Monte Carlo here on the ward? How much did you lose … I think you all have some idea what your personal losses were, but do you know what his total winning came to, according to deposits he has made at Funds? Almost three hundred dollars”(222). The Nurse begins to convince the patients that McMurphy is harming them more than helping them. Until the novel’s conclusion, McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are the most authoritative people in the ward. They both have ultimate control over the inmates in accordance with their objectives. McMurphy cons many of the patients into giving him money and had them hanging on his every word. Nurse Ratched struck trepidation into the patients as they were confronted with the possibility that she might physically injure them or refer them for shock therapy. In light of her dominating persona, the patients too follow her command. However, the novel’s close highlights Ratched’s and McMurphy’s loss of power, proving that speech alone can’t be the sole way of gaining control within an environment.Silence can also be used as a combatant to gain supremacy. “Keeping quiet,” is the best remedy to counteracting an aggressive persona. Rather than attacking, the response of quietude is most effective. It frustrates the hostile individual, causing him to introspect and rethink his belligerent position, and in effect quells the foe. (Silence can also be used to help obtain information that one wouldn’t be able to gain if one is very outspoken. People willingly confide in others who assure them silence and provides them with the solace that “their secret is safe.)The utilization of silence during a power struggle is prevalent throughout ...
