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

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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. McMurphy is shown as one who does do things for selfish reasons such as gambling and taking advantage of situations to get what he wants. But he is also shown as one who self sacrifices himself for the good of his people, which are the patients of the ward. The Nurse uses time as her strongest asset in her battle with McMurphy so even though she is losing in this …show more content…

There is no freedom amongst the people without a little chaos, yet to maintain order, there must be oppression towards its people. McMurphy upsets the established routine of the ward by bring his own agenda such as, asking for schedule changes and inspiring resistance during therapy sessions. He teaches his peers to have fun and encourages them to embrace their desires such as watching baseball and playing cards. “If somebody’d of come in and took a look, men watching a blank TV, a fifty-year –old woman hollering and squealing at the back of their heads about discipline and order and recriminations, they’d of thought the whole bunch was crazy as loons” (Kesey 134). He convinces them that not only are they sane like everyone else, but also they are men and they are superior to the matriarchal society they are put in. In contrast, Big Nurse is an authoritarian, she is always stoic and contrasts by McMurphy’s big persona. The