2. Was McMurphy a hero (by Zimbardo’s definition) or a trouble-maker? How would you characterize Nurse Ratched? Zimbardo defines a hero as someone whose actions help others in emergencies or challenge corrupt systems without concern of reward or negative consequences. Throughout the movie the main character McMurphy proves that he is indeed a Hero. When he gets shipped off to the mental ward of a hospital he clashes with the main authoritative figure on the ward, Nurse Ratched. In the movie they have a battle of wills. McMurphy helps give the fellow patients a voice against the oppression, making them question the situations they are in. The ward is undoubtedly corrupt, even McMurphy says it at one point referring to Ratched lying when
McMurphy is a man who comes to the ward, destined to change it forever, and to restore the power taken from the patients by Nurse Ratchet. [1] His actions and motives during the text to follow what he has set out to do, follow a liking to another anti-hero who plans to change the course of someone else’s life, through his own actions. Ferris Bueller – the main character in the popular 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – like most anti-heroes, has a bad side, [2] which in his case is easily forgiven as his enemies are considered ageist and worse than him. The same can be said for McMurphy when he acts out against Nurse Ratchet and the staff on the ward, because although McMurphy is flawed and has continuous bad behaviour, these people are seen as worse than him so his actions are forgiven easier than theirs.
Welles Remy Crowther Heros are idolized for their noble qualities. A hero is a selfless, brave, inspiring individual. A hero is a courageous person who is willing to do what it takes to help others. Welles Remy Crowther is well known as a hero because of his outstanding achievements.
In the novel, McMurphy attacks the nurse brutally and attempts to kill her, “doctors and supervisors and nurses prying those heavy red fingers out of the white flesh of her throat as if they were her neck bones, jerking him backward” (Kesey 319). Also, the narrator shows mercy towards McMurphy by smothering him in his sleep, “and scissor the kicking legs with mine while I mashed the pillow into the face. I lay there on top of the body for what seemed days. Until the thrashing stopped” (323).
The word “Hero” has many different labels. In “ Heroes Versus Sociopaths” Andrea Kuszewski explains what she thinks the word “hero” means to her. In the article she also talks about sociopaths and what they mean to her. Towards the end of her article she starts to compare and contrast heroes and sociopaths so you can have a better understanding. She quoted, “ They are people who possess extraordinary traits of altruism - selfless concern for the well-being of others - even at the expense of their own existence”, talking about heroes.
A tragic hero must be fundamentally good but have a fatal flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall. McMurphy truly was a fundamentally good person.. Throughout the course of the novel, he grew to really care about the other patients on the ward. In the beginning he annoyed Nurse Ratched solely for his own benefit and entertainment.
His rebellious and free mind makes the patients open their eyes and see how the have been suppressed. His appearance is a breath of fresh air and a look into the outside world for the patients. This clearly weakens Nurse Ratched’s powers, and she sees him as a large threat. One way or another, McMurphy tends to instigate changes of scenery. He manages to move everyone away from her music and watchful eye into the old tube room.
Nurse Ratched was very controlling and wanted complete power. This caused many of the patients to rebel and break loose from her control. McMurphy lead the ward in this uprising. From brushing his teeth too early to sneaking prostitutes into the ward, he shows Nurse Ratched that she cannot rule him. This story reminded me of Malala Yousafzai and her retaliation against the Taliban.
would fundamentally change the way the patients of the ward would act, and be treated by the hospital staff. McMurphy has the spotlight for the majority of the novel, and embodies the very meaning of individuality. Throughout the book, he displays numerous times the positive effects standing up for oneself can have, as well as the negative ones. The narrative builds an interesting picture around the theme with intruiging character building, evolution, and the completion of many story arcs.
“ I didn’t think the nurse had the say-so on this kind of thing”. “She does indeed” ( Kesey, pg 191). So, McMurphy understands that nurse Ratched has a say in when he can leave the ward. After learning this he becomes quiet and nice towards nurse Ratched. But before learning that she had say in when he could get out he used to go against her orders and laws.
In the struggle between freedom and power, McMurphy’s sacrifice allows freedom to prevail. His leadership in a rising rebellion parallels many of the countercultures that arose during the 1960s. His rebellion fights against Nurse Ratched in the way that the countercultures fought against the government and society in the past to the present. The men in the asylum are unknowingly unhappy before the arrival of McMurphy. Through his antics, the men are saved from society in the form of Nurse Ratched’s regime.
Determining what defines an abnormal behavior is not simply black and white. To evaluate and diagnose someone it takes clinical assessment and observation of their character and behavior. This paper will review the character of Randle McMurphy from the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. By utilizing the DSM-5 criteria for Personality Disorders Randle could be diagnosed as Antisocial Personality Disorder because of the behaviors he exhibited throughout the movie.
By weakening McMurphy’s power in the ward, she creates an environment where can continue to thrive in her power through the systems she has set in place. However, Nurse Ratched’s plan does not succeed and McMurphy is allowed to proceed with his fishing trip. He continues to undermine the nurse’s authority to the point where he physically assults her after she blames Billy’s death on him. His actions give Nurse Ratched an opportunity to give him the ultimate punishment, a
First thing you know he’ll begin to think she’s tougher than he is…” (Kesey 75). McMurphy acts as an unlikely Christ figure in the novel. He has a dominant force challenging the establishment and the ultimate savior of the victimized
McMurphy arrives to the ward thinking he is different from the other patients on the ward, but throughout the novel his hidden subconscious thoughts of his true mental state are revealed. While introducing himself to the patients, McMurphy tells the background story of how he ended up where he was. He says that the “court ruled that [he’s] a psychopath” (13), and he didn’t argue with that ruling. Although he doesn’t deny that he belongs on a mental ward, he claims that he only acted the way he did to leave “those damned pea fields” (13) and quit working. Because he is a true gambler at heart, he bets the patients that he can get under Nurse Ratched’s skin and shake up things on the ward.
The movie was mostly focused on the feud between the warden/nurse Ms. Ratched and McMurphy. McMurphy tried to go against the hard-set plan set by the institution. More he tried to establish dominance and leadership within the group. This threatened the nurse’s ways of subduing patients, and they felt of less importance in their own institution. This led to a bitter rivalry and because of it the nurse tried to subdue, with same techniques as with other patients, McMurphy even after realizing that he was not a mentally unstable person.