Madness In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The poem, “Much Madness is divinest sense” applies directly to the story about McMurphy. In the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, he illustrates the difference between sane people and insane people. McMurphy is the main character in the novel and he is known for rebelling against the nurses and fighting for what he wants. He also has very different opinions regarding ward rules and regulations. He often goes against the norm, and thus, viewed as insane. A real world example of this is Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg. They are all college dropouts and people thought they were absolutely crazy for quitting school and pursuing an independent life. But those three people all had crazy ideas that ended up changing

the world for the better all because they did not conform to society. People who seem the most crazy are actually the sanest ones in society. When people have different opinions from the majority, they are looked at as insane.

McMurphy is really big on self advocation.

Unlike the other patients, he always has to challenge a decision and try to get what he wants instead. When the nurse says it is time for medication, McMurphy gives them a hard time when it comes to taking it. He says, “Wait a shake, honey; what are these two little red capsules in here with my vitamin?” The nurse replies, “It’s just medication, Mr. Taber, good for you. Down it goes, now” To which McMurphy says, “But I mean what kind of medication. Christ, I can see that they’re pills--” (30). McMurphy really wants to know what the pills are, and he does not give up very easily. Another time when McMurphy is very demonstrative is when he wants to watch the world series game. McMurphy wants this one activity as it makes him feel more normal and treated as more than a patient of a mental hospital, McMurphy says, “The hell with the schedule. You can get back to the bloody schedule next week, when the series is over. What do you say, buddies? Let’s take a vote on watching the TV during the afternoon instead of at night. All those in favor?” (104). McMurphy wants this so badly and he does not accept no from the nurse. His perseverance and advocacy is admired throughout the ward and he is seen as a leader because he is well spoken and people believe he can get anything he

wants.
“Much madness is divinest sense” can also mean that the one’s with crazy ideas, are actually sane.

They are often viewed as insane because they do not conform to traditional nodes of society. In the poem by Emily Dickinson she says, “Assent- and you are sane” (620). This means that if you conform, you are normal. McMurphy exemplifies this when he goes out with the other patients. He says, “Two whores on their way down from Portland to take up deep-sea fishing in a boat!” (192). If he acted as a normal patient in the mental hospital, he would not get anywhere or do anything he wanted to do, but by acting out and having a crazy idea, he benefits from this “madness”. In the poem, Dickinson says, “Demur- you’re straightway dangerous” (620). The reason McMurphy is considered a threat by the nurses, is because since he does not comply, he is considered dangerous. McMurphy is unpredictable, which is why the nurse keeps him on close

tabs.
McMurphy got to where he is by not conforming to the rules of the ward. He is directly related to “Much madness is divinest sense” because if McMurphy was normal, he would not get anywhere. But because he takes risks, and goes out of his comfort zone, he is able to accomplish anything he wants and succeed in his own mind.