R.P. McMurphy’s developing relationships in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with the numerous patients on the ward depicts the evolution of everyone’s identity to show how McMurphy changes the dynamic of the ward, which Ken Kesey uses to take a closer look at problems he sees in the world at the time. Randle Patrick McMurphy’s new and sudden appearance on the ward in the mental hospital provides a clear and drastic change in the development of the
Towards the falling action of the book, McMurphy is a vegetable and Chief suffocates him so he can die with dignity rather than to be a symbol of Nurse Ratched's power. Randle McMurphy is belligerent and expresses himself as he pleases. He is tryig to manipulate the system and lift the heavy hand of oppression. Throughout the novel, McMurphy attempts to gain back the individualism that Nurse ratched has stripped them of. Chief Bromden believes that McMurphy is " a giant who [came] from the sky to save us fromt he combime."
McMurphy is the joker needed to save the men from paralyzing angst and lack of self-confidence. He accomplishes this by exposing the men to new experiences and stirring conflict with the nurses and guards. The antagonist of the film is Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) who is the chief caretaker of the patients. Her character is the antithesis of McMurphy as she is cold and follows the rules absolutely. At every instance McMurphy tries to free the patients of routine Nurse Ratched is there to corral the men back to mundanity.
Chief hears it and remarks it as the “...first laugh I’ve heard in years.” (Kesey 12) This moment is significant because it initiates laughter in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as a symbol of strength. As previously explained, McMurphy has resolve the patients do not, thus granting him the ability to laugh boldly and unadulterated exemplified in “He laughs til he’s finished for a time … Even when he isn’t laughing, that laughing sound hovers around him, the way sound hovers around a big bell that just quit ringing-it’s in his eyes, in the way he smiles and swaggers, in the way he talks” (12). This quote demonstrates the symbolism of laughter, because like the way McMurphy exudes strength, he is also emblematically exuding laughter, thus further connecting the two. The reason Chief can’t recall a “real” laugh is because he, Billy Bibbit, Harding, and all the other men have never felt strong enough under the nurse’s rule. She controls the men through her manipulative and authoritarian attitude, creating an atmosphere of unease, consequently making the idea of laughter completely unfathomable to the patients seen in “The air pressed in by the walls too tight for laughing.” She is able to belittle the men to the point that she chips away at their self esteem and self image proven by the fact Chief believes he is a small man,
In Ken Kensey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, it conveys messages all throughout the novel. The messages conveyed towards the reader regards oppression, role models, and living a self-determined life. Although McMurphy is cast as a savior of sorts, ultimately Bromden saves himself. McMurphy’s role and Bromden’s thoughts and actions throughout the novel, especially at the end. Although the novel does not have many role models, it does have one important one that is McMurphy.
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a film by Milos Forman released in 1975, based on an adaptation of the 1962 novel written by Ken Kesey. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, and Will Sampson. The movie tells the story of Randle McMurphy, a criminal who was sent to a mental hospital to be evaluated if he is really mentally unstable or if he is faking it to avoid hard labor in prison for raping a 15-year old. Upon arriving at the hospital, McMurphy finds that the ward is run by the hard and resolute Nurse Ratched, who intimidates the patients by her manipulative tendencies and suppresses their actions through a passive-aggressive routine. McMurphy with his stubbornness tries to contradict Ratched whenever he can and gained the trust
McMurphy also exhibits attributes of a leader or perhaps an individual whom all the other men trust more and leads them all on a journey to become proud and confident again. In the end, even though McMurphy suffers a great deal, he is shown as a capital figure he is willing to sacrifice what he has in order to save the other men in the hospital. One of the main times the men decide to defy the nurse and ward rules is when they decide to plan a fishing trip. This is an absolute crucial part of McMurphy’s story because of the fact that it references directly to the bible, Matthew eight. In the story, Jesus goes out on a boat with his twelve disciples when they are hit by a storm.
In this instance, Prendick shows just how strong a moral code he has. Even in situations where he has seemingly no chance of survival, he does not compromise. Throughout the rest of the book, the main character is placed through tests to see how he changes over time. H.G. Wells tests the true extent of Prendick’s moral uprightness, consequently exploring the shifts that may happen to the human psyche under certain conditions and the basic animalistic nature of humanity.
For example, on their fishing excursion McMurphy “knows [they] have to laugh at the things that hurt... to keep the world from running plumb crazy… he’ll let the humor blot out the pain” (Kesey 250). Accepting the absurdity and adopting a sense of humor is important to get through the negative and spread laughter and joy rather than accept the dull fate of ordinary life. McMurphy acts as a savior who brings happiness and vibrant life to the patients by exposing them to laughter and humor. McMurphy gives confidence to the
One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest, is merely one of the millions of pieces of art and literature that have reflected the thoughts and lives of their creators. Ken Kesey, the author, knew what it was to be rejected because of a powerful man´s personal opinion, he knew what it was to be a guinea pig for drug tests, in which those who conducted them had no interest whatsoever on your wellbeing. Finally, he was also able to understand what it felt like to be cataloged as insane for simply being an outcast who did not agree with the postulates imposed by society. All of these experiences, which forged Kesey’s character, are reflected in the novel and the characters that form a part of it(especially McMurphy), and it is through this novel, that like many writers, Kesey was able to show his profound disagreement with the American Asylum Association, and with how society ostracized those who were different and consumed them in confinement by falsely tagging them as