Final answer:
In 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' several factors prevent voluntarily admitted patients from leaving the hospital, including control and manipulation by the staff, fear of punishment, and dependency on the hospital.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' several factors prevent most of the voluntarily admitted patients from leaving the hospital.
- Control and manipulation by the staff: Nurse Ratched, the head nurse, exerts a significant amount of control over the patients and ensures they comply with the hospital's rules and regulations. She uses various tactics, such as medication and group therapy sessions, to maintain power.
- Fear of punishment: Patients who resist or disobey Nurse Ratched's orders are subjected to disciplinary measures, such as electroconvulsive therapy or lobotomy. This fear of punishment deters them from attempting to leave the hospital.
- Dependency on the hospital: Some patients may have developed a sense of dependency on the hospital environment and its routines. They may feel safer or more stable within the hospital than outside in the outside world, which makes them hesitant to leave.