Which event signals the ward's turning point as described?

• A. Nurse Ratched organizes a group meeting to undermine McMurphy
• B. The fishing trip is canceled
• C. A new patient arrives with full medical staff
• D. A new nurse takes charge of the ward

Answer: (A)

The turning point here is about how power on the ward shifts from McMurphy’s rebellious spark to Nurse Ratched’s controlled authority. When she calls and chairs a group meeting to undermine him, she formalizes the ward’s order and uses the group’s dynamics to delegitimize his influence. This moment shows how the institution can marshal the patients’ fears and loyalties to enforce conformity, marking a decisive change in the ward’s atmosphere. Up to this point, McMurphy has been shaking things up; after this meeting, the ward leans back toward compliance under the hospital’s rules, signaling the turning point in their power struggle. The other events are important, but they don’t crystallize the shift in how authority is exercised the way this organized meeting does.