did the Indian do the right thing in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest?

[ima_sinnic]

In the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, when the Indian discovers Jack Nicholson's free-spirited and rebellious character has been given a lobotomy, basically reducing him to a shell of a human being, he smothers him with a pillow without a second thought, rips the sink out of the floor, and uses it to smash the plate glass window and finally run from the loony bin.

Are there are any "right-to-life" people about at this ungodly hour (well, here on the East Coast--it could be a perfectly sane hour where you are) who would condemn the Indian for what he did? Does anyone actually believe that Nicholson's character would have had any kind of "life"?

[Skittles]

1. *sniff*

he said, "I'm taking you with me." He released him.

[xmas74]

2. It's what I would have wanted done to me in that situation.

[Dookus]

3. not an easy answer

dramatically, he did the right thing. Legally, he did the wrong thing. Morally?... I'd say yes. But we rarely encounter characters like McMurphy

[Richard Steele]

4. Yes he did.

The entire book made clear the fact that he NEVER acted upon his own desires; he never mentions that he ever HAS any desires of his own.

He only tries to do what others NEED...and Murphy NEEDED to pass on, as opposed to spending decades as a brain-scrambled vegetable.

The book makes it clear that his entire existence is defined by the needs of others...he is totally unaware of his SELF, he actually creates illusions to avoid his 'SELF', the fact that he is large and strong...

(QUOTE: I threw the guard against the wall; he only weighed about 15 pounds, because he was mostly full of tubes...)

The CHIEF was totally based upon the character in Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein"...He is Large, strong, and SIMPLE.
But HE is not the 'monster'; he is a creature of his circumstances; he is a huge, powerful INNOCENT who finds himself in an insane world.
The MONSTERS are the people who CREATED him; those who excersize control over his life.

Read the book; compare the scene when the Chief lifts the car for the family with the flat tire to Dr. Frankenstein's creation enjoying the flower with the little girl....

Murphy was GLAD to have a friend like 'Chief'!

"A friend, when you are in NEED, is a FRIEND indeed!"

[ima_sinnic]

5. I read the book so long ago, thanks for reminding me

-- I had completely forgotten about these nuances of Chief's personality (not to mention all the characters' names). I also agree that he did the completely right thing by Murphy.

[Floogeldy]

6. Just keep repeating to yourself . . . .

. . . .

"It's only a movie."

"It's only a movie."

"It's only a movie."

. . . .

B-)

[NVMojo]

7. too bad cuz Terry Schiavo could use a Chief right now ...