one flew over the cuckoos nest

Author Ken Kesey effectively reflects the social climate of the 1960s in his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. By creating a fictitious mental institution, he creates an accurate and eye-opening mirror image of repressive modern day society. While its’ both a microcosm and exaggeration of modern day society, Kesey stresses society’s obsession with conformity, while demonstrating that those individuals who reject societal pressure and conformity are simply deemed insane. However, Kesey infuses the power of the individual in his portrayal of the charismatic outlaw Randall McMurphy, and proves that it only takes one to defeat the restrictions of a repressive society.

McMurphy’s evident superiority among the other patients in the hospital immediately establishes his power and authority over the other patients. From the minute he enters the ward, Bromden notes his charismatic and overbearing personality as signs of his power. “Even though I can’t see him, I know he’s no ordinary admission. I don’t hear him slide scared along the wall… he sounds like he’s way above them… he sounds big” (15-16). Instantly, McMurphy radiates power and defiance that the other patients in the ward notably admire. He boldly challenges authority and battles conformity in the ward, determined to eradicate the authoritarian governance of the institution. He proves to be a symbol of defiance and gradually begins to beat out the authority in the ward.

McMurphy’s influence on the other patients steadily grows as he singlehandedly instigates reform in the hospital. Each minor triumph he accomplishes steadily undermines and threatens Nurse Ratched’s tyrannical rule. His most notable victory over Nurse Ratched occurs when he changes the schedule in the...

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...r on the ward, Nurse Ratched’s only move left is to lobotomize McMurphy. However, despite McMurphy’s lobotomy, it was impossible for Nurse Ratched to return the ward to its previous order; “it was difficult with McMurphy’s presence still tromping up and down the halls and laughing out loud in the meeting and singing in the latrines. She couldn’t rule with her old power anymore” (269). McMurphy had served his purpose by helping the patients gain confidence and break free from Nurse Ratched’s evil power. He helped Chief grow big again and overcome his silence and Billy Bibbit gain confidence. He showed the patients that they deserved better and had another life available outside the ward, and, although McMurphy accepted he would never get to be free again, he sacrificed himself to allow the other patients to experience freedom. His legend lives on in the ward.