One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: An Analysis

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McMurphy’s altruism demonstrates the importance of a savior when evil darkens life. Kesey’s religious imagery in his novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, reflects the power of kindness in terms of escaping wickedness. McMurphy’s Christ-like characterization parallels the biblical story of Jesus. He entered the mental institution, taught the men a new way to live, and died for their sins. “He seems to do things without thinking of himself at all, as if he were a martyr or a saint” (222). Specifically, he fights the aides after they attempt to clean the patients with a mysterious disinfectant. In the confrontation, “[McMurphy] kept coming, taking ten blows for one“ (230). Kesey alludes to Christ by comparing physical punches to metaphorical punches. Jesus faced many temptations and …show more content…
Over time, however, goodness prevails. This fight causes McMurphy and Bromden to be sent to another ward. After being imprisoned on the Disturbed Ward, McMurphy was subjected to electroshock therapy. The treatment includes, “things like headphones, [a] crown of silver thorns over the graphite at [the] temples” (237). Here, Kesey suggests the implication of electroshock therapy is much like the crucifixion of Jesus. McMurphy did not deserve this punishment, as it has detrimental effects, but Nurse Ratched forced it upon him. This treatment mentally changes McMurphy because he realizes what will eventually happen to him. Nonetheless, McMurphy’s fight does not end with this treatment. He returns to the other patients and decides to have wild night before he leaves the hospital. As the men party, Kesey likens this gathering to the Last Supper. Importantly, as the night begins, McMurphy creates a makeshift communion. He takes the cough syrup “in paper medicine cups with the liquor and the port wine” and transforms it into an alcoholic beverage (253). By doing this, Kesey alludes to Christ and how he changed water into
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