Kesey’s characterization of McMurphy and Nurse Ratched is the element that makes the plot come alive. McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, the main characters in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, helped establish and embellish the plot and the other characters in the book. Kesey created these characters and used them as foils to bring about the characteristics of the other mental patients in the ward. Their relationship also enhances the tone for the reader and causes the realization that mankind can be extremely cruel to other human beings.

McMurphy is just the opposite of the Nurse. She concentrates on the patients' weaknesses and tries to subdue them by preying on their insecurities. She makes them believe that they are broken machines and the hospital is their "repair shop." McMurphy tries to make his fellow patients laugh and forget their problems. He concentrates on their strengths. The nurse is a symbol of the Combine and accepts all of its repressive rules. McMurphy has never lived inside the confines of the Combine, for he is his own man, f

Randle McMurphy is an obvious foil for the sterile and mechanical Nurse Ratched. McMurphy represents sexuality, freedom, and self-determination—characteristics that clash with the oppressed ward, which is controlled by Nurse Ratched. Through Chief Bromden's narration, the novel establishes clearly that McMurphy is not, in fact, crazy, but rather that he is trying to manipulate the system to his advantage. McMurphy's sanity contrasts with what Kesey implies is an insane institution.

Kesey created McMurphy and Nurse Ratched’s characters to enhance the novel and effectively used them as foils. Kesey used them to aid the advancement of the other characters in the novel. Kesey uses them as opposites to increase the sympathy of the patients and for the readers to support the patients and McMurphy, when they rebel against society’s repressive forces.

Some topics in this essay:
Cuckoo’s Nest, Nurse Ratched, Nurse Ratched’s, Chief Bromden's, Ratched McMurphy, Nurse Combine, nurse ratched, Randle McMurphy, mcmurphy nurse, McMurphy Nurse, repressive forces, Ratched Kesey’s, mcmurphy nurse ratched, mental patients ward, nurse ratched repressive, mental patients, ratched mcmurphy, nurse ratched’s, nurse ratched mcmurphy, ratched repressive, ratched repressive forces, freedom mcmurphy, kesey created, patients ward,