Bromden Analysis (Cuckoo's Nest Part Iv)

Cuckoo’s Nest Analysis Part IV
In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, McMurphy unconditionally helps Chief Bromden discover his freedom and individuality. McMurphy’s passion for freedom from Nurse Ratched, mixed with his courageous martyrdom allows Bromden defeat the “combine” and escape the asylum. When in the showers being washed by the black boys, McMurphy stands up for himself and the other men and fights back. Seeing McMurphy standing up to authority helps Bromden gain individuality when Bromden steps in and fights alongside McMurphy, showing Bromden’s initiative. As a consequence for the McMurphy and Bromden’s actions, they are both scheduled for EST (electro shock therapy). Bromden develops courage from McMurphy as he sees McMurphy’s calm attitude while going into EST. As Bromden becomes lucid he says “It’s fogging a little, but I won’t slip off and hide it. No…never again…I saw an aide coming up the hall with a tray for me and knew this time I had them beat” (Kesey 287-288). Nurse Ratched uses EST to hold control over her patients and to scare them into obedience. By Bromden being reluctant of the negative effects of EST and his determination to not get sucked into the fog, Bromden defeats Nurse Ratched and her control over him. To regain control Nurse Ratched orders McMurphy to a lobotomy leaving McMurphy as a vegetable. Bromden shows his individuality and control when he says “I watched and tried to figure out what he would have done. I was only sure of one thing: he wouldn't have left something like that sit there in the day room with his name tacked on it for twenty or thirty years so the Big Nurse could use it as an example of what can happen if you buck the system. I was sure of that…The big, hard body had a tough grip on life. It fought a long time against having it taken away, flailing and thrashing around so much I finally had to lie full length on top of it and scissor the kicking legs with mine while I smashed the pillow...