One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

2 Pages 564 Words

The story of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest takes place in a mental hospital. The main character is Randall McMurphy; he has led a troublesome life and been in and out of jail. He was put into the asylum because he committed assault and battery. He is a tall man with red hair, and has many tattoos. He is also a very loud and outspoken. McMurphy appears to be normal compared to everybody else but he can not leave until he gets the permission of nurse Ratched. McMurphy likes to gamble and feels he has an advantage over the other characters. He wants to be the main guy at the ward so he asks “Which one of you claims to be the craziest? Which one is the biggest loony? Who runs the card games?” (p. 22). McMurphy begins to cause problems with nurse Ratched and complains about things. McMurphy try’s to change their schedule so they can watch the World Series and do their work at night. McMurphy gets mad because the other patients will not stand up to the nurse. Billy Bibbit tells McMurphy that nothing he is doing will do any good in the future. But McMurphy says he can escape through the tub room by breaking the window. Nurse Ratched says, “That is exactly what the new patient is planning; to take over. He is what we call a manipulator… a man who will use everything to his own ends… this is an institution for the insane.” (p. 29-34). A man named Cheswick who stood behind McMurphy died shows McMurphy his friends need him. The rest of the patients are attempting to help McMurphy escape but McMurphy wants to leave with permission. Then his plans are set back when he tries to help his friend out who does not want to take a shower. But, a fight breaks out and McMurphy is sent to have Electro-shock therapy. Something went wrong with the therapy and McMurphy comes back brain dead. So his roommate suffocates him with a pillow to put him out of his misery.
McMurphy was a man who liked to be in charge and not pushed around. He would ...