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Examples Of Mcmurphy In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

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Randall McMurphy, the protagonist of Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has an unlikely destination at a mental hospital in Oregon. There, he fights against the system that has been imposed on his recently made friends in the hospital, such as Billy Bibbit and Chief Bromden, who he helps overcome the unfair system imposed on them. With his imminent battle for power against the institution, McMurphy is an archetypal Christ-like hero, although some of his actions aren’t Christ-like. The duel between him and Nurse Ratched ends in the ultimate de-throning of Ratched and McMurphy achieving what he wants to do-- even if he wasn’t there to witness it. The willingness of McMurphy to sacrifice his own strength for his peers demonstrates his caring capabilities. McMurphy’s struggle for his peers’ individuality and sexuality regardless of Nurse Ratched’s oppressive force, which symbolizes modern society, determines his altruistic …show more content…

The determination he had for his “fellas” to be freed of Ratched’s dictatorship channeled his inner battle with a female “Pontius Pilate”. His crucifixion was the lobotomy at the end. Other symbols include taking the men fishing (“twelve of us patients headed towards the ocean," (203), since he wants to strengthen their confidence in him and being with Candy constantly throughout the story. Being with a prostitute may seem like it’s not Christ-like, but Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ followers, was a prostitute as well, and witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection. In conclusion, McMurphy also died with a “crown of thorns”, or the lobotomy, and left behind change that he desired, and had an impact on many that he didn’t live to see. In Page 266, Ratched even accuses him of “trying to be God”. Billy even “betrays” him when he blames McMurphy for throwing a party, channeling Judas. Also, Jesus came down from heaven, willing to risk it all, like McMurphy did by being in the mental

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