The Role Of Insanity In One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest

In the novel “One flew over the cuckoos nest” by Ken Kesey, the story was set in a mental health instiution where most of the patients voluntarily committed themselves to avoid the pressures of society. Kesey throughout the novel showed many different psychology lens that society placed a label on people and the difference between sanity and insanity was based on individual perception. The main characters so called “madness” played an important role in the novel. We are introduced to the main character, R.P. Mcmurphy by the narrator, Chief Bromden. Chief was a half Indian who had been a patient at the institute for many years. He pretended to be a deaf mute as a defense mechasim to protect himself against a society which had labeled him as

The author Ken Kesey wrote Mcmurphys behavioral as more of a threat to the orders of the rules and norms in the 1960’s. If one did not fit the norm or the order of the rules they were labeled mentally ill. It is by other peoples thoughts and perceptions that Mcmurphys is labeled mentally ill. Mcmurphy drinks, uses foul language, gambles and has a short temper. His behavior today would be judged but in the 60’s his behavior was seen as more insanity. Mcmurphy admitted to being a gambling womanizer with a short temper but that is what made him interesting to the other patients, cheif, and nurse. Mcmurphy would intrigued the other patients with his craziness. Overtime the patients developed an emotional attachment to him. They relied on him to discuss issues with Nurse Ratchad that had been bothering them for a long time. The patients had begun to vocie more of their opinions this way. Mcmurphy fought for them. He saw there so called “madness” and treated them normal which this quote shows “I mean-hell, I been surprised how sane you guys all are. As near as I can tell youre not any crazier than the average assholes on the street.” (pg.58) It was thought quotes like this one from the novel, Mcmurphy changed all the men around him with his truthful and funny remarks. He became hopeful and more confident for the men. Mcmurphy had a positive impact on all the patients including Cheif Bromdan, who eventuall broke free and escaped the institution at the end of the novel. I believe that he truly did care for these men and this was evident after billy bibbit committed sucide, Mcmurphy brutally attacked Nurse Ratchad and attempted to strangle her, blamming her for billys death. It was at the point, that Nurse Ratchad had the excuse she had been waiting for since Mcmurphy entered the institution. She had been removing the life out of him. Nurse Ratchad used her