Always Look On the Bright-Side of Life

       In class yesterday, we talked about whether we thought McMurphy had selfish or selfless intentions when he convinced the patients to go on the boat trip and use their insanity as a strength in society, rather than a weakness. While some of my class thought that he at first was selfish but then changed once he got to know them, many people believed he was simply doing this for his own personal benefit or creating a rebellion against Nurse Ratched. I find it very interesting that people, including myself, tend to believe that others always have ulterior motives for their actions. For example, in the novel, the patients themselves begin to doubt that McMurphy has other intentions when Harding states, "'Everything he's [McMurphy] done was done with a reason"' (266). The fact that Harding would think this of McMurphy after McMurphy has risked himself so many times to give the men more freedom in the ward mad me kind of upset. Also the fact that Nurse Ratched barely had to say anything to the men to get them to turn on McMurphy made me upset also. Another example is my close friend who believes whenever someone asked them what they got on a test or essay, that person is always trying to make them feel bad. People are curious and tend to ask others how they do on examinations, and this isn't normally to put the other person down. Also, in psychology we talked a while ago how if a person goes to McDonald's or another fast food restaurant and offers to buy other their food for free, few people accept the offer. Society cannot understand why a person would want to pay for their lunch or breakfast, which no compensation. Overall, society needs to view people in a better light, and to give them the benefit of the doubt rather than always believing people to have other selfish motives.