Final answer:
Chief Bromden tells Randle McMurphy that Nurse Ratched has the authority to control patient releases in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' The novel explores the power struggle in a mental institution between McMurphy, representing the patients, and Nurse Ratched, who embodies oppressive control.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, it is Chief Bromden who informs Randle McMurphy that Nurse Ratched has the power to control the release of patients from the hospital. Unlike the excerpts provided, which talk about various interactions with doctors and nurses in different contexts, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest deals with the power dynamics in a mental institution where the character of Nurse Ratched represents the oppressive authority exerting control over the inmates.
The Chief's revelation to McMurphy highlights the central theme of the story, which is the struggle for power and autonomy within the psychiatric ward, and frames Nurse Ratched as a manipulative figure with a significant influence over the fate of the patients. This situation positions McMurphy in direct conflict with Ratched, as he begins to challenge her authority and question the hospital's system.