Examining mcmurphy s problematic figure and status

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’S Nest

“A hero such as Mac [McMurphy] needs to be perceived as a hero, and as the eyes and ears in the novel, the conventionally mute Chief Bromden becomes the word of McMurphys greatness” (Klinkowitz).

Chief Bromden, as an observant narrator, offers the eye and hearing that lead readers through the 1960’s American Mental institution in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Within the Cuckoo’s Nesting. Bromden unreliably narrates McMurphy’s confident admittance into the keep. McMurphy’s tenacity leads visitors to different thoughts regarding his character. Klinkowitz argues that Bromden’s prejudiced perspective makes McMurphy look heroic, and Kesey uses Bromden’s narration to represent McMurphy as being a beneficial head. However , McMurphy abuses his heroic features to take advantage of the other people, upsets the social dynamic in the keep, and manipulates the people driving these to dangerous scenarios. Randal Tanker McMurphy’s existence in the ward leads the patients towards their own death rather than their freedom, contradicting Kesey’s thesis that McMurphy is a hero within the ward.

McMurphy mocks the unstable patients in the keep, takes advantage of their trust in him, and tips them in to placing unfair bets. For example, Bromden observes the damage on the fishing boat: “I read McMurphy having a laugh and noticed him out from the corner of my eye, just ranking at the cottage door, not even making a move to perform anything¦ Everybody was shouting for him to do something, yet he wasn’t moving. Your doctor, who the deep pole, was asking McMurphy for assistance. And McMurphy was only laughing” (Kesey 213). McMurphy recognizes why these men need help and decides to poker fun at them instead of offering assistance. A true good friend would not chuckle at others’ failures as McMurphy truly does, here he shows his true do it yourself by teasing them. Bromden does not detect that he and the other patients are mistreated by McMurphy. He idolizes McMurphy and opinions him being a superior though he is an equal among the group. Likewise, Nurse Ratched evaluates McMurphy’s deceitful schemes towards the patients:

Check out some of these products, as dedicated fans of his may call these people. First, there was clearly the gift idea of the tub room. Is that actually his to give? Do he lose anything by acquiring that as a betting casino? On the other hand, how much do you suppose selection in the short time he was croupier of his little Bosque Carlo here at the ward? How much would you lose, Generic? Mr. Sefelt? Mr. Scanlon? I think you all have some idea what your personal failures were, but do you know what his total winnings found, according to deposits he has made by Funds? Nearly three hundred us dollars. (228)

Bromden describes Registered nurse Ratched in a negative way causing you to ignore anything she says, however her statement is valid. McMurphy gambles in this ward with minor objects including cigarettes, to entire personal savings, yet this individual never loses. To prove his point and communicate the file corruption error in power Kesey regularly writes regarding Nurse Ratched as a penurious tyrannical figure and McMurphy as a Christ-like figure. When McMurphy comes in the keep he gambles with all the people, making a profit due to their trust in him. McMurphy uses his higher mental stability to trick the other people to gamble against him and reduce their money.

When McMurphy enters the ward, Cheswick feels pressure to impress McMurphy by undermining Nurse Ratched. Eventually your woman sends Cheswick to Annoyed where he loses his mental capacity, in the end leading to his death. Consequently , McMurphy’s difficult to rely on behavior starts off the sequence of occasions that lead to Cheswick’s demise. To begin, during a group therapy period Bromden observes, “He [Cheswick] nods stiffly, then settles his chin down on his chest scowling. He’s very happy to be seated next to McMurphy, feeling brave like this” (104). Immediately after McMurphy enters the ward, Cheswick loses his filter hoping to gain the approval of McMurphy. Cheswick would like the compliment of McMurphy because he intimidates him, idolizes him, and treats him like a our god. McMurphy’s confidence creates a judgmental and untouchable atmosphere around him. Furthermore, during another group getting together with Cheswick exclaims, “‘I isn’t no tiny kid to have cigarettes held from me personally like cookies! We want anything done about this, ain’t that right Mack? ‘ and waited for McMurphy to back him up, every he received was silence¦He sagged just like he’d recently been punctured, as well as the two big ones pulled him approximately Disturbed, you may hear the soggy bounce of him going up the steps” (149). Cheswick compares on behalf of the other sufferers expecting the help of his “friend” Mack when he has been doing since his introduction. McMurphy decides not to speak up as they has had the epiphany that Nurse Ratched controls when he leaves the ward great selfishness helps prevent him coming from taking the risk of defying her. However , McMurphy disappoints Cheswick and the other patient simply by his narcissistic behavior and silence. To continue, immediately after Cheswick returns from disturbed Key observes his death:

While soon as we got to the pool this individual said this individual did desire something mighta been done, though, and dove into the water. And also his fingers stuck a way in the grate that’s over the drain at the bottom of the pool¦by the time that they got a screwdriver and undid the grate and brought Cheswick up, with all the grate continue to clutched by simply his puffy pinky and blue fingertips, he was drowned. (151)

Due to the electroshock remedy in Disturbed Cheswick loses his good sense, as a result he drowns in the pool. McMurphy’s inconsistent demeanor in this keep creates the events leading to Cheswick’s.

McMurphy’s rebellious patterns initiates Billy Bibbit’s various insecurities causing him to act recklessly and eventually perish. To start, when Nurse Ratched finds Billy and Chocolate in the tub room after obvious lovemaking activities, the lady asserts, “‘Billy this girl could hardly have taken you in here forcibly’¦ ‘She d-did. ‘ He looked about and ‘And M-M-McMurphy! This individual did¦They t-teased me, named me issues! ‘” (272). Billy becomes ashamed of his behavior and rightfully blames McMurphy when he is trapped disobeying the ward rules by coming out of the bedrooms, drinking, and having sex using a prostitute. McMurphy and the others mock Billy for his lack of sexual performance and this individual wants to be accepted between his peers. Teasing and taunting becomes an issue only after McMurphy arrives inside the ward. McMurphy negatively improvements the cultural dynamic of the ward, making the patients feel inferior and humiliated. It is this unhealthy atmosphere that causes Billy to sleep with Candy, the prostitute. Actually Billy was so remorseful about his actions that “‘he minimize his throat¦He opened the doctor’s desk and found some intruments and cut his throat. Poor people miserable, misinterpreted boy slain himself. He’s there now in the doctors chair along with his throat cut ¦First Charles Cheswick now William Bibbit! I hope most likely finally pleased. Playing with human lives- gambling with human being lives- as if you thought you to be a Goodness! ” (274). Billy seems embarrassed by his behavior and terrified to face the consequences which may arise. This individual fears the judgement he may face from his mother as well as world, it is McMurphy’s scrutiny that forces Billy to rebel and his remorse that eliminates him. Nurse Rached phone calls McMurphy away, yet the Big Nurse’s adverse connotation in this book leaves the reader protecting of McMurphy. In the end, McMurphy is to to take responsiblity for the death of Billy Bibbit.

After McMurphy’s lobotomy medical procedures, Chief Bromden puts himself in a lawfully and morally dangerous situation by doing two felonies for McMurphy’s benefit. To start, during the initially his offences, Chief suffocates McMurphy to death and “It fought a long time against having it taken away, flailing and thrashing around a lot I finally had to lie full length on top this and scissor the hitting legs with mine while I mashed the pillow in to the face” (279). Bromden refers to McMurphy since an “it” to show that he is subhuman now, therefore an “it” rather than a personal pronoun. Bromden’s word decision creates a comprehension of the purposes behind the murder of McMurphy. It can help Chief length himself emotionally and morally from this offense, enabling him to dismiss the enormity of his action. Although this could have taken advantage of McMurphy, Main commits murder to help his perfidious friend, a crime punishable by loss of life. Moreover, Scanlon encourages Key to break out from the ward: “‘Was I you, Chief, I’d breeze my tail out of here. Yessir. I tell you what¦Oh, yep just like that. Just request ’em to unlock the door and let me out. ‘ ‘No. He showed you ways one time, if you believe back'” (279). Scanlon can be referring to enough time McMurphy shows to Chief that this individual has the ability to pick up the the control panel and put it out the window. McMurphy even recommends that it will be an easy way to flee the ward. Chief Bromden perpetrates one other crime in order to avoid confrontation with Big Health professional for McMurphy’s death. Right now Bromden, a mental affected person and criminal, is away from home with no money or relatives to turn to for support. McMurphy’s avarice coerces an ill ready Bromden right into a dangerous scenario.

Irrespective of Kesey’s thesis describing Randolph McMurphy being a heroic figure, his presence inside the ward potential clients the people towards their particular demise instead of their liberty. When McMurphy enters the ward this individual upsets the social active and sets pressure upon the other patients to prove their very own rebelliousness. Cheswick accosts Doctor Rached who have sends him to Elctroshock therapy in which he loses his mental capacity, ultimately bringing about his loss of life days later on. Also, Billy Bibbit commits suicide from the shame he feels after taking McMurphy’s advice to sleep with a prostitute. Chief murders McMuphy while in the ward and must break out to avoid consequence. These actions are accepted as a result of McMurphy’s influence, however Bromden is definitely put in the harmful position. Last but not least, McMurphy takes advantage of all the sufferers in the keep and unfarily gambles with them. Because Klinkowitz was saying, Bromden describes McMurphy and his activities as perfect to show Kesey’s belief that McMurphy ameliorates the ward. However , McMurphy’s careless behavior potential clients the people to their drop.

Job Cited

Kesey, Ken. One particular Flew Over the Cuckoos Nesting. New York: Penguin Books, 2007. Print.