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

Kingpins of Nonconformity Risky. Reckless. Rebellious. These are the traits associated with characters that are able to galvanize crowds of people. However, these behavioral traits are created during the early parts of their lives. Two characters that embody this idea are McMurphy in One Flew over a Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and Luke in Cool Hand Luke. Both characters are introduced to new settings, McMurphy to a mental hospital and Luke to a prison, and start to rouse trouble. Although McMurphy and Luke both have charismatic characteristics and a propensity for rebellion, the intrinsic differences prior in their lives result in different forms of success for their uprisings against authority. With an enigmatic charm, some people are able

After the patients went on a cruise, on the way back, McMurphy points out his old house from his adolescence. One dress remains on the branch of the trees from the first girl he had sex with when he was ten. Even though he was so young, that girl “taught [him] to love” (Kesey 218). Out of his various traits, McMurphy addiction to sex and gambling are the most prevalent. These antihero characteristics in him spur interest in the other patients. Although they are too afraid to defy Big Nurse, they can live though McMurphy and still experience the thrill of it through McMurphy. Since he is a maverick, he never gives in to the system. Nonetheless, he is often rash in many decisions, just like his first love. The headstrong mentality prompted him to attack Big Nurse without much forethought after she blames Billy’s death on him. Without thinking of the consequences, he chokes her and rips the front portion of her dress off just like he jumped into his first love without thinking about the long run. Although he had selfish motives to better his life at the hospital initially, his ideas aligned with those of the other patients’ desires and his struggles served as a moral compass. The other patients saw the true colors of Big Nurse in the end, and decided to leave the place after McMurphy’s disappearance and Billy’s death. This action signifies a successful insurrection. While

In his youth, without a father figure, Luke carried the responsibilities of the house. His mother gave him a lot of flexibility and freedom in the choices he made. Mixed with disillusionment after fighting in the war, he questioned the purpose of life and doubted his self-worth. His mother saw his existentialist crisis and wished to rather be a female dog so that she does not need to have “hopes, no love to give a pain and doesn’t need to give a damn” (Cool Hand Luke) her children. Exemplifying a lack of role models, Luke’s mother feels guilty for not helping her child grow into a more successful man. The prison’s strict rules only intensified Luke’s elusive nature and shattered his optimism. Although he easily gained the respect of the other inmates by showing persistence and winning bets, his form of rebellion involved running away from authority. Each time, his escape attempts become more advanced and deceiving, proving that the guards and captain are not able to stop a person if the person truly believes in freedom. Unlike McMurphy, he never lays a hand on boss or captain, but rather arouses disobedience in others. His effect on other the Dragline allows Dragline to gain the audacity to attack the Walking Boss in the end, signifying the crucial moment of success. In both manners, McMurphy and Luke demonstrated that autocracy can be