Individuals are literally forced to go where society wants them to, as society has taken away their ability to see their own way forward. Chief also uses his act as deaf and dumb to become invisible. Kesey uses Chiefs invisibility as a way to show that those who are seen as different because of their skin color, race, or expressing their individuality freely are pushed down by society. Until their true individuality becomes virtually invisible. Kesey is depicting to a reader that individuals who follow and conform to society's regulations, are influenced into concealing their rightful individuality.
The conception that society's manipulation can force an individual to suppress their true individuality is explored through the use of characterization. Kesey contrasts the characters of Chief Bromden and Randall McMurphy to achieve this. At the start of the novel Chief is "creep[ing] along the wall quiet as dust" and "hide[s] in the mop closet and listen[s]"(pg 6). Chief is manipulated by society into hiding, he becomes paranoid by those who are around him, and he would rather creep along a wall or hide in a mop closet rather than confront society. Chief's actions depict that individuals who are influenced by society are forced to secrete their individuality. Chief is said to be "a six-foot-eight sweeping machine, scared of its own shadow." (pg. 66). Chief's appearance, is used to represent the pain that society has forced upon Chief. Society has manipulated Chiefs ability to stand up for himself even though he is a six-foot-eight giant. Kesey then contrasts Chief with McMurphy. McMurphy's appearance is one aspect of his character, he has "red[hair] with long red sideburns". By making McMurphy redheaded he is able to display that he is different from everyone else, but it is not just his appearance that makes him different. His actions also confirm this,"he don't slide scared along the wall he sounds like he's way above them" and compared to Chief "He sounds big"(pg.