A Review

The ward is a microcosm of society Society is represented as a ruthlessly efficient machine that makes everyone conform to its narrow rules

All individuality is squashed and joyful expressions of life are suppressed

Society is represented by the Big Nurse who embodies order, efficiency, repression, slavery and tyranny

The world in the ward is one of sexual repression and inhibition, both exemplified by Big Nurse and Nurse Pilbow

Big Nurse hides her breasts in an attempt to mask her femininity; Nurse Pilbow is frightened of the men’s sexuality

McMurphy is completely open about his sexuality and refuses to let the Big Nurse deprive him of his masculine sexual power

• Kesey’s novel illuminates some ways that people imprison themselves psychosomatically, using the mind to trap the body.

• The inmates tend to be prisoners of their own fear. Kesey suggests that modern society, preys on people’s fear; and that authoritarian, repressive groups, whether in the government, the home, or the workplace, rely on fear to control individuals.

The central metaphor of the novel is that of the machine, referred to by Chief as the Combine (the government/authority)

The Combine tries to make machines out of everything, including humans, so that it has complete control

The goal of the Combine is conformity, not only in actions but also in ideas/thoughts

Think about the rise of feminism in terms of the characterization of women in the novel

Women are either “ball-cutters” who are intent upon dominating men by depriving them of their masculinity (Big Nurse, Billy’s mother, Harding’s wife, Chief’s mother), or they are easy women intent upon giving men pleasure (Candy and Sandy)

There is no middle ground between these extremes, a technique typical of the book with its polarities of good and evil, mechanical and natural, civilized and wild

Kesey’s use of women was not an attempt to degrade women but to add to his fictitious world in which one of the cardinal virtues is masculinity.

In McMurphy’s case, masculinity is associated with nature, spontaneity and rebellion against the social organism of the Combine.

Keysey’s novel has been criticized for being racist and indeed, many horrible racist slurs emerge in the novel for black people, Japanese people, Jewish people, Native Americans, and others.

A close look at the novel, however, reveals that the free use of racial labels is akin to the labels used to describe the patients (and women), a practice of stereotyping that lumps people together and insinuates that everyone within a group is the same.

Through his overuse of labels Kesey reveals another ugly reality about society and the way in which it attempts to force conformity and crush individuality.

McMurphy’s character is worth considering in comparing the drives for altruism—helping others--and self-interest.

How is he like Christ?

McMurphy is to be regarded as a Christ-figure. His emergence into the ward is much like Christ’s birth. Christ entered the world as a man who was noticeably different than any other, and whose mission it was to awaken the people to his teachings.

Ellis is nailed to the wall with his arms outstretched as though crucified, a sacrifice

Ellis tells Billy before the fishing trip to be a “fisher of men,” which is what Christ said to Peter when he called Peter to be a disciple

McMurphy takes 12 people with him on the trip, just as Christ had 12 disciples; he uses the trip to free the men of their slavery to the hospital, even at the expense of his own safety

McMurphy and Christ step aside to show their followers that they are capable of caring for themselves, and overcoming obstacles.

McMurphy’s men truly realize they are men, not the "rabbits" they once thought they were. It is also a crucial moment for Christ’s disciples, who realize the true meaning of "the kingdom of heaven is within you."

McMurphy, like Christ, makes it clear that he does not need to be present for the men to survive and do good things. Mack shows his own twelve followers that they can live, even without his strong spirit guiding them.  

McMurphy is sent to receive EST after refusing to admit to Nurse Ratched that he was wrong, just like Christ refused to deny that he was the son of God.

If Christ had given in, he would have been spared his crucifixion; McMurphy refuses to let Nurse Ratched have power over him, and prepares to sacrifice himself for the sake of all the residents.

The EST table is shaped like a cross, suggestive of the crucifixion of Christ.  

McMurphy is strapped to the crucifix-shaped table, is “anointed” with conductant, and asks if he will get a crown of thorns which Jesus was forced to wear.

Shortly before the EST treatment, he hears one of the patients in the ward repeating "I wash my hands of the whole deal"-- an allusion to Pontius Pilate’s disassociation from Christ’s death. (This inmate utters these words 3 times—Christ told his disciples he would be denied 3 times.)

The party the men throw to celebrate Mac’s escape mimics The Last Supper, Jesus’ last moment with his disciples.

When Candy and Sandy are discovered in the mental ward, Billy tells Nurse Ratched that everything was McMurphy’s fault, an allusion to how Judas betrayed Jesus by making his location known.

After their confessions, both Judas and Billy commit suicide.

Nurse Ratched is an allusion to Satan; she is called the “Angel of Mercy”…Satan was an angel (Lucifer).

Although she appears to be rigid and stern, she has the ability to fool people based on her exterior. The Bible explains that Satan can take on any appearance and, therefore, can get away with deceiving people easily.

Even Nurse Pilbow, who works with and follows Ratched, bears the “mark of the beast” (from Revelations) and expels her breath in a hiss—Satan had rebel followers as well.

After Mack is taken away from the ward, Nurse tells the men with certainty that “he will be back,” just as followers of Jesus await and are sure He will return.

When Mack is brought back to the ward after his lobotomy, Chief has a “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD) moment in trying to decide what to do with Mack.

Through their belief in McMurphy, many of the men have been “freed,” either by transferring to another ward or checking themselves out of the hospital.

Ting. Tingle, tangle, tremble toes, she’s a good fisherman, catches hens, puts ‘em inna pens…wire blier, limber lock, three geese inna flock…one flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest…O-U-T spells out…goose swoops down and plucks you out.

• Who is the female fisherman?• Who are the hens (female birds)?• What is the pen?• Who are the three geese?• Who flew east?• Who flew west?• Who flew over the cuckoo’s nest?

I. Scantron Portion (50 points)◦ A. Matching Characters to Traits: 15 pts.◦ B. Multiple Choice (story details/author): 15 pts.◦ C. True/False (story details/author): 20 pts.

II. Written Portion (25 pts.)◦ A. Quote Identification/Explanation: 15 pts.◦ B. Short Essays--2: 10 pts.