Jane Doe
Smith
English
8 December 2014
Throughout Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey’s characters consistently exhibit self-sacrificing behavior in an attempt to save their fellow patients on the ward, exemplifying that extreme circumstances are capable of paving the way for unlikely heroes. Randel Patrick McMurphy is one such character who experiences significant trials and tribulations as a patient yet still manages to put other’s needs before his own, making considerable sacrifices in the process. Yet McMurphy sacrifices much more than merely his time to be in the ward; for he also sacrifices his freedom both physically and mentally, eventually costing him his life. It is evident in this novel that McMurphy becomes a savior of sorts to the men on the ward, pushing them to break past their insecurities in order to escape the psychological prison created by Nurse Ratched and the ward itself. It is only through much of McMurphy’s rebellious behavior that the other men in the ward begin to find the courage to eventually stand up to Nurse Ratched themselves and break free from some of the oppression. Even after McMurphy learns that Nurse Ratched is the one who controls his time in the ward, he continues to defy her in an attempt to encourage the other men to advocate for themselves. Randel McMurphy demonstrates his resistance to the nurse after she takes away their privileges to the tub room by walking to the nurse’s station and simply “[running] his hand through the glass”(Kesey 172). This act of rebellion breaks McMurphy’s streak of appeasement to the ‘big nurse’ and is a turning point for McMurphy, sparking future actions towards the nurse and her totalitarian rule over the men. For patients such as Chief Bromden, McMurphy’s actions allow clarity to perceive the world as it really is compared to the misconceptions he has constructed in his mind. Bromden specifically acknowledges that the ringing in his head that has been evident throughout the entire novel has suddenly stopped when McMurphy’s hand goes through the glass. McMurphy’s actions not only empower the other men but also leave Nurse