What does the Japanese nurse explain about army nurses?

What does the Japanese nurse explain about army nurses?

• A. She explains that army nurses have a habit of trying to run the place as if it were an army hospital and are 'a little sick themselves.'
• B. They are compassionate and gentle with patients.
• C. They prefer to delegate all tasks to orderlies.
• D. They have no influence on ward politics.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how institutional power operates in the ward and the way those in charge justify their control. The Japanese nurse’s remark portrays army nurses as treating the psychiatric ward like a battlefield—keeping strict order, enforcing rules, and wielding authority as if it were a military command center. The phrase that they are “a little sick themselves” adds a layer of critique, suggesting that their rigidity isn’t just professionalism but stems from personal issues or moral dysfunction. This helps illustrate Kesey’s broader commentary on how rigid systems of authority can erode humanity and manipulate people through fear and discipline. Other descriptions don’t fit as well because they miss the central point about the militaristic, authoritative atmosphere these nurses create. They aren’t depicted as gentle and compassionate, nor simply as delegators of tasks to aides, nor as having no influence on ward politics. The focus is on their relentless, warlike approach to running the ward and the troubling personal cost behind that approach.

The main idea here is how institutional power operates in the ward and the way those in charge justify their control. The Japanese nurse’s remark portrays army nurses as treating the psychiatric ward like a battlefield—keeping strict order, enforcing rules, and wielding authority as if it were a military command center. The phrase that they are “a little sick themselves” adds a layer of critique, suggesting that their rigidity isn’t just professionalism but stems from personal issues or moral dysfunction. This helps illustrate Kesey’s broader commentary on how rigid systems of authority can erode humanity and manipulate people through fear and discipline.

Other descriptions don’t fit as well because they miss the central point about the militaristic, authoritative atmosphere these nurses create. They aren’t depicted as gentle and compassionate, nor simply as delegators of tasks to aides, nor as having no influence on ward politics. The focus is on their relentless, warlike approach to running the ward and the troubling personal cost behind that approach.