"McMurphy helps the people in the ward find their way back from the fog and return back to the real world" (Lupack). McMurphy's laughter and jokes, along with his personality, cause a great change in the patients of the ward and he helps them cure their "mental illness".
McMurphy wins the money back after betting again about how quickly the butter chunk will slide down the wall.
McMurphy approaches shock therapy like a martyr, and acts unafraid because he cannot allow himself to be afraid because of his leadership position with the men. If he breaks, they break, and he knows it.
How is McMurphy different from other patients on the ward? He gambles, drinks, and loves women.
McMurphy was upset that Ratched declined his request that Candy Starr couldn't come and see him. He broke the glass after the news symbolizing that his old actions are in the past and he's a new person now.
McMurphy apologizes to Chief for getting him involved in the fight as the two are led to electroshock therapy. Alluding to his stay in a Chinese prison camp in the Korean War, McMurphy refuses to cooperate with Ratched to prevent the electroshock.
McMurphy's trajectory through the novel is the opposite of Bromden's: he starts out sane and powerful but ends up a helpless vegetable, having sacrificed himself for the benefit of all the patients.
Under the invisible but heavy pressure of the other patients' expectations, McMurphy makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that Ratched cannot use Billy's death to undo everything they have gained. By attacking Ratched and ripping her uniform, he permanently breaks her power but also forfeits his own life.
She cannot regain her former power over the ward. Eventually the only patients left on the ward are Bromden, Martini, and Scanlon. McMurphy is given a lobotomy for his attack on Nurse Ratched. When he is returned to the ward after the operation, he is a vegetable.
Randle Patrick McMurphy is an Irish American brawler found guilty of battery, gambling and statutory rape.
Jack Nicholson's R.P. “Mac” McMurphy, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest's protagonist, has Anti-Social Personality Disorder, three times more likely in men than women.
Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, portrays a group of male patients who rebel against the authorities in their asylum. The novel explores the importance of free expression and the need to challenge authority.
He was considered a chronic but after Mcmuprhy showed him that he has the ability to laugh and coincide with a group he was some what cured. “jokes and commissions enable individuals to defend against anxieties, fear, anger, and other disturbing emotions.”(G. Samuel) This was true in the chief’s and Harding’s case.
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McMurphy plays Monopoly with Harding, Martini, Scanlon, and Cheswick.Martini hallucinates, thinking he sees things on the board. McMurphy keeps high-class manners around the nurses and the boys in spite of what they say to him—in spite of every trick they pull to make him lose his temper.
Soon McMurphy reaches his one-month anniversary at the ward, which gives him the right to request an Accompanied Pass to allow a guest to come visit him. He lists a girl he knows form Portland named Candy Starr.The pass request is brought up in group meeting a few days later, the same day a new glass is installed at the nurse’s station.
On his first day on the ward, McMurphy explains to the inmates that he is not afraid of what Nurse Ratched could do to him—even send him for electric shock—because he’s not really insane but just chose the hospital over the work farm.
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Finally, George and Lennie are foils based on the facts that George is cruel to Lennie and Lennie is clam. In the beginning, Steinbeck, shows George’s personality when he’s yelling at Lennie cause he forgot where they were going, “You crazy son-of-a-bitch. You keep me in hot water all the time” (11).
It is then that it becomes noticeable that the blind man makes the woman happier than her own husband does. Later on in the story, the blind man tells a joke and the woman laughs. Her husband notices this action.
He is initially very rude and abrupt with his sister however she doesn't seem to be too fazed or affected by his aggression as her response is, to laugh. We then see him call his mother a bitch and we start to see a pattern of frustration and anger towards his family. We then see a contrasting personality when Gretchen, a love interest, is present.
He said, “I noticed that several of his punch lines had been unintelligible, and the audience had actually laughed at nothing but the cue of his hand slap.” (111) Martin felt that the audience was forced to laugh not because of the joke or because the man was being funny, but because of the cue that was provided.
The young man is anxious to get a clear picture of his behavior, realizing that it could have been indecent the night before. He asks many questions, implies a lot of interjections (“My God”, “Oh, Lord”) and constantly reproaches himself for being a fool (“I was comical”, “I made such a fool of myself”).
McMurphy plays an essential part in helping the patients attain independence, the ability to co-exist with others, realize their weaknesses, and live amongst others in society . McMurphy's attitude is essential in overpowering Nurse Ratched, because his laughter and humor help the patients bond with each other. With this bond, they become a bundle of sticks, unable to be broken by Ratched, as opposed to a single stick. Laughter is a key part in uniting the patients and with this newly acquired unity, the patients become stronger, unable to be influenced anymore by Ratched. "In the course of the novel, good finally subdues evil, and although McMurphy loses his life, most of the inmates in the asylum go free, their health and vitality restored" (Wallace). Although McMurphy's sacrifice was huge, it was not in vain, as the patients realized how independent they had become after McMurphy's arrival and that they could co-exist in society, something which Ratched viewed as not possible.
McMurphy uses humor and laughter to battle Ratched in every opportunity he finds. When Ratched makes him clean the toilet bowls in the bathrooms, he scrubs them once and tells the black boy that the bowls are clean enough. The black boy pleads to Ratched and she personally inspects the toilets with a mirror and reprimands McMurphy, who replies only with wisecracks and laughter. He sings, dances, and makes comments that completely throw Ratched off balance. The patients see the effect that his actions have on Ratched, and like electrons attracting a proton, they follow, sticking with McMurphy whenever they have the chance. "McMurphy's singing, like his laughter, his booze, and his sexuality is capable of 'joggling the wiring in all the walls'" (Wallace). McMurphy persistently taunts the nurse and her attendants with wisecracks and laughter, succeeding in turning the ward against Ratched (Discovering Authors).
In Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, laughter truly is the best medicine. Before McMurphys arrival, there was almost no laughter within the asylum, and the patients performed chores and daily routines like robots, without emotion. Upon McMurphy's arrival, however, the insensate mood of the patients took a turn for the better. With McMurphy's guidance, the patients learned to laugh at jokes and at themselves, eventually becoming able to correct their inadequacies. By learning their inner-strengths and interacting with each other in a consolidated manner, the patients were able to overpower Nurse Ratched and break her hold on them. As the story progresses, the patients realize their potential, overcome the belief that they are mentally ill, and eventually become able to live independent lives, all due to McMurphy and his laughter.
Mental health is defined as a state of psychological well-being in which an individual possesses the ability to function in society and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life. In such a society, "people freely, even humorously use these terms to not only define others, but themselves" (Leon). This may mean that people usually judge others relatively by their own mental state. As the patients in the ward share similar personalities, they believe that they are mentally ill, and this reflects their views on others around them and vice versa. McMurphy and his laughter help the patients realize that mental health is reflected by a view of oneself. When McMurphy first steps into the ward, all the patients immediately notice him as soon as his handcuffs are removed, because he jumps for joy and thanks the guards. McMurphy asks to see the "bullgoose loony" and wants to challenge him, giving McMurphy immediate popularity amongst many of the patients. He jokes around with everyone and the patients eventually grow to like him and start to lead different, more exciting lives. McMurphy's vitality is loved by many of the patients as his outlook on life is appealing (Tanner). The patients like McMurphy and associate with him, learning to laugh at jokes and to express themselves to others. The ability to express emotions is a valuable asset provided by McMurphy to the patients, as the patients use this newfound skill to loosen Ratched's hold on them.
Nurse Ratched wants everything in her ward running smoothly, to the extent that anything even remotely out of place frustrates her a great deal (Discovering Authors). She strikes fear in all of the patients until McMurphy is committed to the ward. As the story progresses, the patients express their wants and suggestions to Ratched, and when she does not accept, they circumnavigate her wishes and find a way to throw her off balance. This first occurs when McMurphy and the other patients want to watch the World Series and the nurse won't let them, calling for a majority vote. The patients are terrified of Ratched and many do not vote to watch it, but even with this setback, McMurphy sits in front of the TV and pretends to watch baseball on the TV screen. The patients find this extremely funny and chant out plays with him, using laughter to allow themselves to get closer to each other. Without McMurphy and his laughter, this would not have been possible, because the patients would not have dared to engage in such open emotion, as they were used to catering only to Ratched's commands.
When he takes the group of patients fishing, he is like Christ leading his twelve disciples to the sea to test their faith.
Throughout the entire moment of his introduction, not a single voice rises to meet his. McMurphy represents sexuality, freedom, and self-determination—characteristics that clash with the oppressed ward, which is controlled by Nurse Ratched. Through Chief Bromden’s narration, the novel establishes that McMurphy is not, in fact, crazy, ...
Taber was subjected to electroshock treatments and possibly brain work, which leaves him docile and unable to think.
McMurphy’s self-sacrifice on behalf of his ward-mates echoes Christ’s sacrifice of himself on the cross to redeem humankind. McMurphy’s actions frequently parallel Christ’s actions in the Gospels. McMurphy undergoes a kind of baptism upon entering the ward, and he slowly gathers disciples around him as he increases his rebellion against Ratched.
Randle McMurphy—big, loud, sexual, dirty, and confident—is an obvious foil for the quiet and repressed Bromden and the sterile and mechanical Nurse Ratched. His loud, free laughter stuns the other patients, who have grown accustomed to repressed emotions.
Through Chief Bromden’s narration, the novel establishes that McMurphy is not, in fact, crazy, but rather that he is trying to manipulate the system to his advantage. His belief that the hospital would be more comfortable than the Pendleton Work Farm, where he was serving a six-month sentence, haunts McMurphy later when he discovers ...
Nurse Ratched manipulates people by tearing them down, using shame and emasculation to make them feel so small and inferior that they don't have the strength to fight back. McMurphy, however, builds up those he wants to manipulate. He flat-out tells the other patients that the secret to a good con is to find out what the target wants and then make that person believe he or she is getting it. He knows that everyone in the ward, including Dr. Spivey, wants to feel better about themselves. That's why he jokes with Billy Bibbit about nights on the town with easy women and why he works so hard to get Bromden to think he's big again. Their resulting admiration allows him to do pretty much anything he wants with their full support.
Prior to his life in the hospital, Bromden studied and worked with machinery. He studied electronics in college and served as an electrician's assistant in the army. The machines he worked with in his previous life help him understand what he's going through as a patient in Nurse Ratched's ward. To Bromden, machines and the equations, drawings, and schematics used in their creation are "hard, sure, safe things," nothing like the hospital or the outside world. The machines in his mind, including the great Combine, help him explain the unexplainable, help him feel some measure of safety, and allow him to understand what is happening to himself and those around him.
McMurphy plays an essential part in helping the patients attain independence, the ability to co-exist with others, realize their weaknesses, and live amongst others in society . McMurphy's attitude is essential in overpowering Nurse Ratched, because his laughter and humor help the patients bond with each other. With this bond, they become a bundle of sticks, unable to be broken by Ratched, as opposed to a single stick. Laughter is a key part in uniting the patients and with this newly acquired unity, the patients become stronger, unable to be influenced anymore by Ratched. "In the course of the novel, good finally subdues evil, and although McMurphy loses his life, most of the inmates in the asylum go free, their health and vitality restored" (Wallace). Although McMurphy's sacrifice was huge, it was not in vain, as the patients realized how independent they had become after McMurphy's arrival and that they could co-exist in society, something which Ratched viewed as not possible.
McMurphy uses humor and laughter to battle Ratched in every opportunity he finds. When Ratched makes him clean the toilet bowls in the bathrooms, he scrubs them once and tells the black boy that the bowls are clean enough. The black boy pleads to Ratched and she personally inspects the toilets with a mirror and reprimands McMurphy, who replies only with wisecracks and laughter. He sings, dances, and makes comments that completely throw Ratched off balance. The patients see the effect that his actions have on Ratched, and like electrons attracting a proton, they follow, sticking with McMurphy whenever they have the chance. "McMurphy's singing, like his laughter, his booze, and his sexuality is capable of 'joggling the wiring in all the walls'" (Wallace). McMurphy persistently taunts the nurse and her attendants with wisecracks and laughter, succeeding in turning the ward against Ratched (Discovering Authors).
In Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, laughter truly is the best medicine. Before McMurphys arrival, there was almost no laughter within the asylum, and the patients performed chores and daily routines like robots, without emotion. Upon McMurphy's arrival, however, the insensate mood of the patients took a turn for the better. With McMurphy's guidance, the patients learned to laugh at jokes and at themselves, eventually becoming able to correct their inadequacies. By learning their inner-strengths and interacting with each other in a consolidated manner, the patients were able to overpower Nurse Ratched and break her hold on them. As the story progresses, the patients realize their potential, overcome the belief that they are mentally ill, and eventually become able to live independent lives, all due to McMurphy and his laughter.
Mental health is defined as a state of psychological well-being in which an individual possesses the ability to function in society and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life. In such a society, "people freely, even humorously use these terms to not only define others, but themselves" (Leon). This may mean that people usually judge others relatively by their own mental state. As the patients in the ward share similar personalities, they believe that they are mentally ill, and this reflects their views on others around them and vice versa. McMurphy and his laughter help the patients realize that mental health is reflected by a view of oneself. When McMurphy first steps into the ward, all the patients immediately notice him as soon as his handcuffs are removed, because he jumps for joy and thanks the guards. McMurphy asks to see the "bullgoose loony" and wants to challenge him, giving McMurphy immediate popularity amongst many of the patients. He jokes around with everyone and the patients eventually grow to like him and start to lead different, more exciting lives. McMurphy's vitality is loved by many of the patients as his outlook on life is appealing (Tanner). The patients like McMurphy and associate with him, learning to laugh at jokes and to express themselves to others. The ability to express emotions is a valuable asset provided by McMurphy to the patients, as the patients use this newfound skill to loosen Ratched's hold on them.
Nurse Ratched wants everything in her ward running smoothly, to the extent that anything even remotely out of place frustrates her a great deal (Discovering Authors). She strikes fear in all of the patients until McMurphy is committed to the ward. As the story progresses, the patients express their wants and suggestions to Ratched, and when she does not accept, they circumnavigate her wishes and find a way to throw her off balance. This first occurs when McMurphy and the other patients want to watch the World Series and the nurse won't let them, calling for a majority vote. The patients are terrified of Ratched and many do not vote to watch it, but even with this setback, McMurphy sits in front of the TV and pretends to watch baseball on the TV screen. The patients find this extremely funny and chant out plays with him, using laughter to allow themselves to get closer to each other. Without McMurphy and his laughter, this would not have been possible, because the patients would not have dared to engage in such open emotion, as they were used to catering only to Ratched's commands.