One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest

A detailed Summary of One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest

The Father, McMurphy, and the Holy Ghost

When Randle Patrick McMurphy first enters the insane ward in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, it is the state-committed McMurphy who enters with his sanity and the current, self-committed patients who are without it. But by the end of the novel, McMurphy teaches the men of Nurse Ratched's ward to escape the fog that surrounds them. McMurphy is like Christ in that he heals the men and awakens them by showing them the wonders of life and giving them a chance to truly live, but in doing so, he brings upon his own downfall and in that way, becomes a martyr.

McMurphy first helps the men become themselves when he takes them on the fishing trip. The twelve of them (an obvious reference to the Bible, that is, Jesus with twelve followers, a few of whom were fishermen) head out on a journey that, even though they may not know it, will change them. McMurphy, like Christ, shows the men how to be better people in subtle ways. He allows them to be the strong ones. When they realize that there is a lifejacket shortage, the men must make a decision as to who will go without one. In the end, Bill Bibbit, Harding and George go without jackets, "but everybody was even more surprised," states the n

Furthermore, as Christ returned from the dead, McMurphy too was not slowed by his "crucifixion." He too returns to the "world," the ward in this case, to continue to lead his men by example. He shows that evils of the Big Nurse cannot defeat him. McMurphy "insisted it wasn't hurting him (243)." He simply gives hope and life to the men of the ward:

arrator, Chief Bromden, "that McMurphy hadn't insisted that he be one of the heroes; all during the fuss he'd stood with back against the cabin, bracing against the pitch of the boat, and watched the guys without saying a word. Just grinning and watching (214)." In this instance, McMurphy is giving the other men a chance to prove themselves. He has allowed them to learn what it is like to be the brave one and no longer the quivering child in mother Ratched's command. The men return from their trip changed. They are now worthy of respect and have a sense of self-worth because McMurphy has led them away from the nurse and they have begun to find themselves. There are three instances where it is believed that Jesus awakened men from the dead, and that is what McMurphy has done for these men. Before, these men were dead. They were souls who lived a meaningless existence. Now McMurphy has healed them by showing them the real world, showing them true life.

All the guys came over and wanted me to tell them everything that had happened; how was he acting up there? What was he doing? Was it true, what was being rumored over at the gym, that they'd been hitting him every day with EST and he w

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Approximate Word count = 1048
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English