One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest (Part IV)

Christ-Like

McMurphy is seen as a Christ like figure in the end of the book. There are many scenarios that support Mcmurphy as a christ like character. What stood out the most was the ending. Chief killed him even though he was like a best friend to him. It's just like when Jesus died. He was killed by a disciple whom he trusted. Nonetheless, in the end, Mcmurphy doesn't really instill a change in anyone but Chief Bromden. In fact, he indirectly caused Bibbits death and if anything made the conditions in the hospital worse. He takes the patients on a fishing trip, like Jesus and his twelve disciples, to test and strengthen their faith in him and his rehabilitation methods. Furthermore, the fishing trip seemed to be a success for McMurphy. He seemed to show the patients what they were worth and taught them not to bow down to society and helped them see it in a different matter and take a different approach to it. He taught them to stand up for themselves and make the best of what they’re given. He taught the patients not be brainwashed anymore but to be their own individuals with their own minds. When McMurphy is taken to get electroshock treatment, he lies down voluntarily on the cross-shaped table and asks whether he will get his “crown of thorns.” Under the big pressure of the other patients' expectations, McMurphy makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that Ratched cannot use Billy's death to undo everything they have gained. He sacrifices his own hopes of personal recovery when he attacks her. McMurphy rips her uniform to reveal her femininity, the evidence that she is not a machine but a flesh-and-blood person. His act succeeds in destroying Ratched's power. Although he himself dies as a result, his sacrifice becomes an inspiration to the other patients.