Final Battle Between The Nurse And McMurphy example essay topic

Religious images and references appear in One Flew Over A Cuckoo's, yet not in purest forms. Blasphemous action and sinful transgressions fill this book. There remains, in this text, a strong religious reference to Christ and his crucifixion, from the very event of crucifixion, to relevant events in his life. The basis behind these references show McMurphy as a representation of Christ, who comes to the ward in an attempt to free the patients from the Combine and their impending mental illness. Evidence of a religious theme consisting mainly of Christ-like associations, manifested itself early on in the book. Through the Chief's description of the ward, he observed the chronic Ellis, .".. nailed against the wall... arms out, palms cupped".

His fate illustrates the effect the combine has on the patients of the ward, and foreshadows the fate of anyone who comes to cross it. McMurphy comes into the scene of the ward as an outsider; not fitting in with the rest of the patients. He has an air of confidence and leadership, compared to the meek and quiet residents of the ward. The people of the ward see him as a Christ-like figure whose actions amaze them and intrigue them with thoughts of salvation from the Combine. He comes into the ward causing much commotion and excitement.

Acting out of the ordinary for a new arrival, greeting everyone, laughing and cracking jokes. "grinning and shaking hands with everybody he comes to... he's making everybody over there fell uneasy, with all his kidding and joking and with the brassy way he hollers and the black boy... and especially with that big wide-open laugh of his". This tall redheaded man brings a new light to the ward. The Fishing trip is an integral representation of religious allegory in this book; conceived by McMurphy partially for monetary gains as well as to undermine the control of Nurse Ratched. He does his best to interest the patients in the trip, whether as an adventure into the real world, or as a rebellion against Nurse Ratched.

He tries to convert the men from weak compliant followers, to strong self-assured individuals. Excitement builds as the trip nears, partially due to the knowledge of a prostitute who will be accompanying the men on their trip. This is an example of the sinfulness of men being present while in the presence of Christ like images. Finally, the day comes for McMurphy to set out with his twelve followers into the world.

This journey is an allusion to that of Christ and his 12 apostles. As they leave for their journey, Ellis gives a farewell, seemingly to McMurphy, in Christ's words, "be a fisher of men". The men now embark on their journey into the vastness of the world and freedom from the Nurse's powerful control. McMurphy takes them out onto the boat without the permission or accompaniment of the captain and crew. They go on their own to make their own path and discover a new sense of being. All aboard find a new self-satisfaction in this freedom.

George Sorenson begins to teach the patients how to fish as well as taking the helm. The group is wildly successful at catching fish and navigating the water; they are able to solve this crisis and hopefully the crisis of their lives. The trip ends up being very successful; the patients now have boosted confidence and a feeling of importance. The Nurse attempts to bring down the success of the fishing trip much as Christ's adversaries attempted to quash his beliefs.

She focuses on dividing the men from each other, revealing McMurphy's flaws and in the end shattering any self-confidence gained by the fishing trip. She claims that he is not a martyr or a saint, but simply a con man who manipulated the patients. Disbelievers in Christ performed similarly when refuting his claims of being the son of God. Through the Nurses attempt to disband the feeling of pride among the patients a brawl ensues.

The Chief and McMurphy are sent to the Disturbed ward due to their involvement; as Christ punished for his religious claims. For their transgressions, the nurse sentenced the both of them to electroshock treatment". 'Anoint est my head with conduct ant. Do I get a crown of thorns?' " McMurphy's last statements before electroshock treatment was began. His body sprawled out on a cross-like table, hands and ankles bound to the table, crown of silver contacts around his head. Arms spread and legs together Christ like in appearance.

Singing and speaking in a content tone, fearless and ready to receive his treatment. The Chief's treatment commences shortly after McMurphy's, in which the Chief fell into a fog-filled state of mind. Quickly, however, was his recovery from the treatment; his strong will allowed him to return to the real world in only a day. McMurphy refuses to give into the nurse after his first treatment; the Nurse continually subjects him to shock treatments. After a few more procedures, it is evident that they are having little effect on McMurphy and he returns to the ward along with the Chief. Soon after his return, the group decides that his escape must take place that Saturday night.

The group made plans for a festive going away party at the ward on that night which would conclude with McMurphy's escape. On that night, the guard is bribed with the services of Candy (a prostitute), who manages to get him drunk and immobilized. Chaos ensues in the ward, the drug room is broken into and some men search through the nurse's files. At the end of the night, Harding comes up with a plan to point blame for the events to McMurphy and allow his escape. McMurphy however ends up sleeping through the night and never makes his escape. This seems a bit too convenient and it appears as thought he never intended to leave.

He decided to put himself up on the cross for the patients of the ward, to protect them from the Nurse's retribution. After this night, the evidence of their disobedience's is discovered, Sandy is allowed to escape, but Billy Bibb it is discovered with Candy in the seclusion room still a little drunk. Nurse Ratched breaks him down back to a blithering fool again and sends him to the doctor's office. It is at this point that the final battle between the Nurse and McMurphy occurs. He again shatters the glass of the Nurse's office, but this time he does not stop there. He proceeded to attack her, eventually ripping her uniform down the front, exposing her breasts.

This exposure strips all hope of her having power away. However, this act does not go without recourse, McMurphy is quickly flogged and falls unconscious. As a Christ-like figure McMurphy's actions lead to many changes in the ward. The other patients finally had the courage to sign themselves out of the hospital, or at least of the ward. In addition, the doctors as well no longer feared her.

However, McMurphy suffered for these changes, for he returned to the ward lobotomized. This left him much like the other vegetables, unresponsive, white faced and staring blankly. He chose this fate, for it was necessary to overcome the power of the nurse; to release her grasp on the patients of the ward. The Nurse left voiceless and now could not hide her womanhood; her power over the patients lost.

McMurphy, like Christ, suffered for the patients of the ward; he suffered to overcome the evil presence of Nurse Ratched. He became a martyr for the people, allowing them to regain self-confidence and sanity. McMurphy cannot be a direct comparison toe Christ because he is a man, a man who sins. McMurphy is instead a man of Christ like ideals; he sins as a man would, but suffers for the people as Christ would.