One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest By Ken Kesey

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In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey there are multiple instances in which the protagonist’s values and integrity are tested. Randle McMurphy, a tall and boisterous redhead, is committed to an insane asylum where he meets Nurse Ratched, who is also known as ‘The Big Nurse’, and Chief Bromden, and Billy Bibbit among other adult men on the ward. McMurphy is an outgoing new patient who makes it his mission to ‘break’ Nurse Ratched’s strict and overbearing rule over the ward without getting lobotomized, having electroshock therapy, or sent up to the Disturbed Ward. McMurphy’s values are repeatedly challenged when Nurse Ratched, a sadistic bulldog of a woman, attempts to get a rise out of him in various ways. She calls him by the wrong name on purpose, and yet he maintains his morals, and remains in control. In addition, McMurphy’s moral code or values are put to the test when The Big Nurse, again, attempts to set Randall off. She makes an effort to make the other doctors take McMurphy up to the undesirable Disturbed Ward, and still he keeps his values. McMurphy’s code of conduct was …show more content…

The nurse’s claims are stated when she says, “I’ll admit that my first thought when I began to recognize Mr. McMurphy for the disturbing force that he is was that he should most definitely be sent up to Disturbed.” Until, she contradicts this statement when she adds “We have weeks, or months, or even years if need be. Keep in mind that Mr. McMurphy is committed. The length of time he spends in this hospital is entirely up to us.” Seeing that he is trapped, McMurphy is anxious and struggles to remain calm, cool, and collected with the idea that the nurse may punish him severely with either option she has