Lauren Crom Comparison Post 4

Hiren, I really thought that you did a fantastic job assessing the two books in your last post.

I would like to comment about an earlier conversation.  I believe that I had it a man, and this particular conversation was about A Separate Peace.  He said that he has known men who attended private universities... with no women.  These men turned out to be super competitive towards other men because that is their nature.  Reseraching further into this meaning, Stanford was not an all-male school.  I guess it will remain to stump me as to why nothing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest... not even the view on women was positive.  That is still disturbing, and I think you are correct in assuming that this book could inspire negative behavior.

As to the title of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I believe a little differently than you.  I think that it represents more of McMurphy than the Chief Bromden, simply because he seemed to be the focus of the story.  Yes, Chief Bromden surprised us all when he talked.  Yes, he surprised us all when he showed the world that he understood their view as much as anyone who had been previously and actively engaged.  But that wasn't the point of the story.  I feel as though the plot was to show how corrupt this society was--it's a Catch-22 of its own sort.  The people who are sane are labeled the chronics, while the chronically insane are free to move about the country (aviation connection of the day!)  Directing this post on a more serious note, I think that the "one" in the title represents McMurphy.  He was the one person who saved and freed and destroyed and imagined (think back to how the crazy author imagined things) this "cuckoo's nest."  He was the one that literally flew--approached, went over, then left--the cuckoo's nest.

As for A Separate Peace, I believe this novel was given this title because... well I am torn between several reasons.  I believe that the relationship between Gene and Phineas was separate from the rest of the world, no matter how anyone tries to connect it.  Separate in the way that no one else understood their relationship, especially how Finny played sports through Gene.  They lived in a separate world, similar to how it is believed that tunnels in space are connected via incomprehensible tunnels in the fabric of space-time.  Or, the title could be quite simple.  The book begins with Gene venturing to his home town and visiting this school where he killed his friend, his enemy, and his idol.  He wants Finny to continue to rest in peace.  He wants Finny to be alone because he knew how eventually people might "crack" him.  Needless to say, "separate" is the most tell-tale word in this title.  It can be implied as stark, friendly, or peaceful.  It is up to the reader to imply which one works best for them.

Again, thanks for being such a thorough partner for this project!  I enjoyed the "word-count challenge!" I also appreciated the variety by which we chose our books.  And if you choose to attend Stanford University, please don't become a writer.