Table of Contents
Symbols
The Fog Machine
As part of his delusion, Bromden regularly sees a haze of fog. Fog is a natural phenomenon that clouds the way the world is seen, and in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fog is used to symbolize lack of awareness and to offer an escape from reality. As Bromden slips further and further into his delusions, the fog gets thicker. He begins to believe that there are fog machines hidden in the vents of the ward and the staff are using them as a method of mind control.
Even though the fog can be considered to be frightening at times, he starts to see it as a safety net – it enables him to hide in plain sight. Outside of the obvious meaning of the fog for Bromden, it represents the state of mind that Nurse Ratched forces upon her patients, with her strict routine and demeaning treatment.
McMurphy’s Boxers
The boxer shorts worn by McMurphy are black satin and patterned with white whales and red eyes. He states that they were given to him by a literature major, claiming that he is a symbol himself. The shorts are richly symbolic. The white whale represents Moby Dick, one of the strongest symbols in American literature.
A common belief is that the whale is a phallic symbol, which suggests that McMurphy has strong sexuality. Moby Dick is also representative of pure evil, inspiring Ahab’s obsession. In the novel, McMurphy is to Nurse Ratched as the Whale was to the Captain.
The Electroshock Therapy Table
The table used for electroshock therapy is loosely associated with crucifixion. It is described as being shaped like a cross, with straps across the head and the wrists. Furthermore, the table acts similarly to the public crucifixions of the Roman era. The Acutes who were destroyed by electroshock therapy act as examples of what will happen to anyone who attempts to rebel against the ruler of the institution. One patient even comments that he has been nailed to the wall.
Quotes
Famous Quote: “Never before did I realize that mental illness could have the aspect of power, power. Think of it: perhaps the more insane a man is, the more powerful he could become. Hitler an example. Fair makes the old brain reel, doesn’t it?”
In this quote, Dale Harding states that a man who seems insane to other people might frighten them and manipulate them because they fear him.
“I been silent so long now it’s gonna roar out of me like floodwaters and you think the guy telling this is ranting and raving my God; you think this is too horrible to have really happened, this is too awful to be the truth! But, please. It’s still hard for me to have a clear mind thinking on it. But it’s the truth even if it didn’t happen”
Spoken by Chief Bromden in Part I. This passage provides the audience with a brief look into the delusions and paranoia the man is afflicted with. From this, we gather that it is not likely that he views the world as an average, every day person would. He asks the audience to consider the validity of his words with an open mind, even if they appear to be outlandish or impossible.
In Popular Culture – the Play and the Movie
The popular book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was eventually adapted into a Broadway play.
In 1975, the book was turned into a movie of the same name. Directed by Milos Forman, it starred Jack Nicolson and supporting cast Louise Fletcher, William Redford, Will Sampson and Brad Dourif.
Touted as being one of the greatest films of all time, it is the second movie to have ever won all five major academy awards.