One Flew over the Cocos Nest

476 Words2 Pages
Chief Bromden, the narrator of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, is a complex character. His own story is revealed as he tells the story of the ward at large. Chief pretends to be deaf as well as dumb and blind and because of that, he knows information that is kept from the other patients. In this way, he is a more informed narrator than any other patient. However, sometimes Chief’s narrating gets interrupted by him talking about some strange event which reminds the reader of his psychological disorder. These events are caused mainly due to his illnesses like paranoia and frequent hallucinations. His paranoia is often justified, as the patients are indeed treated barbarically. His hallucinations might seem crazy at first, but they actually reveal his deep, intuitive and understanding of his surroundings. For example, the fog machine he hallucinates is a representation of his state of mind, he is overmedicated or simply too fearful to face the unambiguous and harsh reality of what his life truly is. The fog machine also represents the powerlessness of the patients, who are encouraged and sometimes forced by the staff to stay hidden in their own individual fogs (to not express their views and opinions). Chief sees modern society as a machinelike, oppressive force and the hospital as a repair shop for the people who do not fit into their role as parts in the machine. Chief’s way of interpreting the world emphasizes the oppressive social pressure to conform. Those who do not conform to society’s rules and conventions are considered defective products and are labeled mentally ill and sent for treatment. A hospital is normally a place where the ill go to be cured, but in this case a hospital becomes a dangerous place; Ellis, Ruckly and Taber, for instance, are electro shocked until they become submissive or even vegetables. The hospital is not about healing, but about
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