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The Role Of A Christ Figure In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

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Throughout literature, many characters take the role of a Christ figure, resembling Jesus Christ. Along with other similar characteristics, a Christ figure is a martyr who sacrifices himself for the betterment of those around him. Prime examples of this archetype include the characters of Phineas, R.P. McMurphy, and Lucas Jackson. Ultimately, a Christ figure may be sacrificed for the betterment of those around him. Although upsetting, McMurphy’s death in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was beneficial to those around him. It allows Chief to make his decision of escaping the ward along with leaving behind his rebellious nature among the other patients. Luke’s ultimate sacrifice from Cool Hand Luke benefits others in a similar way. Similar to McMurphy, Luke was rebellious and his prisonmates idolized him for it. His death was not a total loss as Luke leaves behind the rebellious tendencies in his peers. A Christ figure’s sacrifice is commonly the result of a betrayal of a Judas-esque character. A Separate Peace describes the story of life in a boarding school in the early nineteen forties. When talented athlete Finny falls out of a tree and breaks his leg, his best friend Gene is to blame. Through a series of events, the breaking of his leg causes Finny to die. Though it may have been unintentional, Gene being …show more content…

Luke’s trial with the fifty eggs definitely caused him suffering as his efforts to complete the bet went all the way to the last second of the hour with a bloated stomach. As well as the eggs, Luke also voluntarily took on suffering during his boxing match with Dragline. He repeatedly stood back up after getting punched just to get punched again. As a result of getting into a fight to protect his friend, McMurphy is required to undergo shock therapy treatment. Although not necessarily voluntary, McMurphy certainly suffered through the fatiguing

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In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, Randle Patrick McMurphy, the protagonist, leads a rebellion within a mental institution and helps the patients learn the importance of self-worth and not conforming to rules that violate their natural rights. Kesey employs many biblical allusions in the novel that serve to build deeper meaning of the character McMurphy, who on the surface comes off as harsh and unpleasant at times to the reader. However, he is key in helping bring real change to everyone in the hospital. By alluding to the bible to establish Randle McMurphy as a Christ-like figure in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey is able to soften the hard edges of McMurphy, which is essential in the novel because it is ultimately

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I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor---cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess.

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All through the ages, the Christ figure archetype has appeared in literature and film. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry gives himself to Voldemort purposefully sacrificing himself for the benefit of the Wizarding World. In doing this he becomes the “Savior” and functions as a Christ figure in the novel. The Christ figure also emerges in real life, as anyone who acts as a role model and demonstrates moral fiber at an enormous cost to him or herself. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Helen Burns serves as a Christ figure in the novel and her fundamental role is to illustrate and reveal the pivotal Christian belief of forgiveness to Jane.

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A Christ figure is an element of literature that draws an allusion between a character and Jesus. A Christ figure is often used in to demonstrate how one should act in society. The idea of a Christ figure is presented in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey through the character Randal McMurphy. The idea proven in this novel is that sometimes one must sacrifice himself for the greater good. In the beginning of the novel, like Christ, McMurphy came from wilderness and he begins to collect followers by rebelling against Ratched.

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Weather in literature is often used to symbolize the mood or mental state in which a character experiences. For example, rain is commonly associated with sadness. As it is commonly identified, fog is a cloudy element of weather that affects one’s ability to see clearly, however, it is also used in literature to represent a character’s lack of clarity. Throughout One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, the motif of fog is used to represent the mental instability and confusion Bromden experiences under Nurse Ratched’s ward. As the story progresses and Bromden gains confidence, the fog diminishes and he is able to overcome the Big Nurse.

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“But at least I tried.” One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Ken Kesey The world we live in definitely would be less exciting if not the people who do not want to put up with the existing conditions. Constantly warned by cautious friends that they will not succeed, these courageous people keep trying to change their lives and lives of the contemporaries for the better.

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The author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey, presents the ideas about venerability and strength by using his characters and the way they interact with each other to establish whether they are a submissive or a dominant, tamed or leading, venerable or strong. Kesey uses strong personalities to show the drastic difference between someone who is vulnerable and someone who is strong. Nurse Ratchet is a perfect example of how Kasey presents the idea of strength over the venerability of others (the patients). Keys also exhibited vulnerability throughout characters such as Chief Bromden and his extensive habit of hiding himself in all means possible from Nurse Ratchet. Another idea presented by Kesey is a character’s false thought on what

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Having this many figures before him made him feel pressured to later lie so that he could pretend to be “saved.” The “jet-black faces” and “work-gnarled hands” are almost in the reader’s face, adding to the effects that Hughes was feeling, especially as a young child (183). Not to mention that “all the young people had gone to the alter and were saved” and left Hughes behind, all alone in the mourners bench

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Beowulf is a Christ-like figure because of his selfless leadership to protect others, not for himself. Beowulf is seen as a Christ-like figure because he is unearthly . Jesus and Beowulf are leaders who make loving decisions and

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