Examples Of Oedipus Complex In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey has created complex characters that can be seen through the lens of psychology, in particular through the Freudian theories including Oedipus complex. Sigmund Freud’s Oedipus complex is portrayed through character Billy Bibbit, who is the antagonist of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. According to Freudian Theory, human behavior and personality develops through three specific stages: id, ego, and superego. One is able to understand the characters and their psychology by having a knowledge of Oedipus complex and Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory. This novel successfully explores the intricacy of human nature and how the psychological process functions through the development of the characters. It is

evident that Billy Bibbit and his mother is a clear example of Oedipus Complex and how other characters can be explained by Sigmund Freud’s theory.

Oedipus, a mythical Greek King of Thebes, the son of Jocasta and Laius, was the one who intentionally killed his father and married his mother. His extreme ambition and false belief led him to kill his father. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus was warned by the Oracle at Delphi that he would kill his father and destined to marry his mother. In his own belief, Oedipus believed that his father was Polybus, the king of Corinth, who raised Oedipus as his own. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus stated “My sire was Polybus of Corinth, and My Mother Merope, a Dorian” (Sophocles 771-773). His false belief led him to separate apart from Polybus and to take first step toward his prophecy. Therefore, Oedipus decided to leave Polybus and set off toward Thebes. On his way to Thebes, Oedipus met Laius and killed Laius. This shows how he met the first stage of his prophecy. When he arrived in Oedipus, he solved the sphinx and finally became as the king of Thebes. Oedipus, then married the queen, Jocasta, who is his mother. Unfortunately, he met the second stage of his prophecy. Oedipus the King has the tragic ending that Oedipus eventually learned the terrific truth and went into exile. The 20th century neurologist Sigmund Freud stated that sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex is the Oedipus Complex.

“Oedipus complex, Freudian term, drawn from the myth of Oedipus, designating attraction on the part of the child toward the parent of the opposite sex and rivalry and hostility toward the parent of its own” (Oedipus Complex).

In other words, it includes the sense of rivalry and a desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex. Oedipus complex is well-depicted in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Billy Bibbit is the antagonist of this novel and his relationship between his mother is a great example of Oedipus complex. Billy Bibbit and his mother portrayed as an abnormal relationship of mother and son. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Billy Bibbit is portrayed as a momma’s boy. “The first word [he] said [he] st-stut-stuered: m-m-m-m-mamma” (Kesey 134). This shows how Billy Bibbit’s mother is the source of his problems. All the actions that Billy Bibbit and his mother have done is very insane. “Billy lay beside her and put his head in her lap and let her tease at his ear with a dandelion fluff” (Kesey 295). Children at this age usually doesn’t lay beside their mother’s laps. However, Billy Bibbit’s mother also doesn’t act like as if she’s the mother. Her actions toward Billy Bibbit can be seen as the relationship over the mother and son. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, “she wrinkled her nose and opened her lips at him and made a kind of wet kissing sound in the air with tongue, and I had to admit she didn’t look like a mother of any kind” (Kesey 295).

This clearly shows how Billy Bibbit’s mother’s action is very aberrant and different from other normal mother. Opening her lips at his son and making a kind of wet kissing sound can be defined as sexual motions. The relationship between Billy Bibbit and his mother clearly portrayed as Oedipus complex. There is a clear sexual desire and affection between Billy Bibbit and his mother.
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist, who “devised the therapy for mental disorders known as psychoanalysis” (Sigmund Freud).

He introduced psychoanalytic theory. Psychoanalytic theory is divided into three functional sections including id, ego, and superego. The id operates the pleasure principle. It is the fundamental component of personality. The id consists all biological components of personality such as sex. The ego operates the reality principle. It is where you make the decisions and differentiate between the real and unrealistic world. On the other hand, the superego are divided into two systems: the conscience and the true identity. The superego controls the id’s impulses and morals of society that are learned from parents. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is clearly shows the development of character with Freudian psychoanalytic theory. Nurse Ratched, the antagonist of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, was a clear example of Freudian psychoanalytic theory. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next, Nurse Ratched had a complete control over the ward and used absolute power over the patients. This eventually led people to abide to the rules. This is an example of id. Nurse Ratched used her id to become as the absolutist of the ward, which could be an example of ego. There is an example of superego, Nurse Ratched did not like to express her feeling of anger to the patients. “She didn’t lose control. That doll’s face and that doll’s smile were forged in confidence”

(Kesey 160). Nurse Ratched wanted to keep her doll face because she wanted a good self image. Three fundamental components of psychoanalytic theory was well-depicted in the development of character.
The complexity of human nature and how the psychological process functions through the development of characters are illustrated through Oedipus complex and Freudian psychoanalytic theory. It is clearly proven how the development of characters are well-connected with Oedipus complex and the three fundamental components of psychoanalytic theory.