being an individual in a society which discourages individuality. The main character in the novel who imposes this mass society is Nurse Ratched. As the head Nurse on the ward she imposes her own strict daily routine which all of the patients must obey.
             'Six -forty-five the shavers buzz and the Acutes line up in alphabetical order at the mirrors'
             Here is an example of part of the daily routine imposed upon the patients by Nurse Ratched. This is just one of many parts of the strict routine. It shows us the extent to which Nurse Ratched likes her ward to run like clockwork. The Chief explains how he and all the other patients adhere to the routine and never question it or the Nurse Ratched's policies. Nurse Ratched is referred to as the Big Nurse by the Chief. She comes across as frightening and intimidating which we later find out is the main reason as to why patients obey the rules and routine of the ward.
             A theme linked to the one I have just talked about is that of "the combine". "The combine" is the Chief's idea of what society really is. Throughout the novel he refers to the actions of the combine and what it's aim really is. The Chief sees society as a giant machine, which he calls the Combine, and he sees the same machine at work in the hospital. He believes that the Combine's aim is to turn everything into a machine so that the world will run like clockwork.
             'Yes. This is what I know. The ward is a factory for the Combine. It's for fixing up mistakes made in the neighborhoods and in the schools a
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