A Real-Life Rebellion- Q2 Lit Log #1

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest, the ward represents a creation of society, with Nurse Ratched symbolizing the oppressive authority and control. McMurphy, A main character in this ward, is seen as the protagonist, challenging the authority and arguing with the patients to rebel against the structures forced upon them. In our lives, authority figures and mandatory structures can make us feel restricted or oppressed. In my own life, there have been moments where I have broken free from these constraints, which have led to personal growth.

In this novel, McMurphy’s character is defined by encouraging patients to rebel against the ward’s rules. McMurphy is often seen challenging the control of Nurse Rached and inspiring patients in this ward to follow his lead in asserting their independence. When McMurphy arrives at the ward, he challenges the rules and authority, questioning the strict routine and rules of the ward that could be seen as dehumanizing.

McMurphy shows a significant moment of rebellion when the patients vote to change the TV schedule to watch the World Series, while Nurse Ratched opposes this idea. A quote reads, “All twenty of them, raising not just for watching TV, but against the big nurse, against trying to send McMurphy to disturbed, against the way she’s acted and beat them down for years”(140). The narrator, Chief Bromden, describes this act of rebellion by McMurphy as one that makes Nurse Ratched question her power. The majority of men who voted on this can be inferred as an immense act of rebellion waiting to occur.

McMurphy foreshadows a personal rebellion evolving into a collective rebellion in which he is the “leader.” He often encourages other patients to join him in this battle against the authority. The actions that he creates inspire the people to stand up against the oppressive environment of the ward.

In my own life, I can relate to moments when I have felt the need to rebel against authority. There have been negative moments with significant people that I found myself around on a daily basis. I was in this rebellious state at a young age with my teachers, parents, and even coaches. I often thought they wouldn’t know better than me, so I would do what I wanted and often paid the price. Challenging simple rules like “Don’t talk while the teacher is talking” or “Stop playing video games and clean up your room” were moments where I felt the need to challenge rules because they were unjust. While I may not have faced the same extreme circumstances as the characters in the novel, these instances led me to question the oppression I faced from then until now.

This novel portrays the ward as a nature of society, with Nurse Ratched symbolizing oppressive authority and control and the character McMurphy, seen as a protagonist in this situation, challenging this authority. This theme of rebellion is seen to have resonated with real life as many people have experienced moments of trying to break free from constraints explicitly placed on them, which often leads to personal growth. The novel’s exploration of rebellion reflects humanity, highlighting the desire for freedom.