Symbols In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest was an eye opener for the public about the mistreatment in hospitals. Symbolism played a crucial part in the novel but one recurring idea was the Christianity religion and how the character McMurphy “bears a crown of thorns” in biblical reference to Jesus Christ. Ken Kesey develops the idea of Christianity through the character of McMurphy and events.

Randle McMurphy was consider a pinnacle character in igniting a change in the other characters of the hospital. Ken Kesey stated that McMurphy bears the crown of thorns in reference to Jesus Christ when he was crucified on the cross wearing a crown of thorns. In the bible Jesus was known as a character who guided his disciples, and lead others to the Christian religion. In a metaphoric way Christ

related to McMurphy because he had his followers (disciples) which were the patients at the hospital. A crucial point in the novel were he shows the idea of acting like a leader was the fishing trip in part 3. McMurphy wanted to go on the fishing trips so he convinced some of the acute patients to go like how Jesus persuaded the people to follow in the steps of God. He lead 12 people on the fishing trip and the number 12 relates back to the bible because Jesus also had 12 disciples who followed in him. In physical terms with bearing a crown of thorns McMurphy went through electroshock therapy where they would put electrode pads on the patients temples and electric currents would travel to the brain which was painful (like the crown of thorns). McMurphy also uses the word anointed when he speaks of getting Electroshock therapy which is usually referred to in religious ceremony as getting oil rubbed on one’s head. Being anointed in the Christian religion shows that one is conferred to the divine or high holy office (according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary). A last relation to McMurphy was the importance of his death. As he grew weaker and submitted to Nurse Ratched’s orders the other patients (aka his followers) became stronger in meaning they were able to have a voice of their own. In McMurphy’s lowest point; going through a lobotomy and becoming a “vegetable” then leading to his death the patients where then able to follow their true desires and speak a mind for their own. When McMurphy was alive it was noticeable that he helped the patients find what they want but with the help of him. By the time of his death it made them dependable on their own terms. This relates back to Christ because when Jesus died on the cross his followers had to learn and follow the faith of God independently with Jesus (until he rose again on the third day but still).

Events that happened in the story relate to the bible and Christian religion.

In part 2 after McMurphy has the conversation with the lifeguard he joins the men in the pool where they seem to be dunking each other like a baptism. Baptism is used in Christian religion to usually younger children (it can be adult too) when they are rebirthed into the church. This dunking scene relates to the baptism because after McMurphy finds out the truth of how Nurse Ratched has say in how long he stays at the hospital he has now come to the realization that he has no definite sentence as he would if he went to jail. This dunking scene is thought to be a rebirth for McMurphy personally instead of into the Catholic church. The second event that pertains to a religious reference is the party thrown in Part 3. This is shown as the “Last Supper” for McMurphy before he receives a lobotomy. In the bible, Christ had a Last Supper before he was crucified on the cross. Small details that relate back to the “Last Supper” is the mixing of Cough Syrup and Vodka, which could be considered in comparison with the blood of Christ (aka wine). These events relate back to the Bible because of the small cues and

details.