The character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that is most affected by McMurphy's encouragement to be an individual is the protagonist, Chief Bromden. In the opening scene of the novel, Bromden describes himself as "cagey," as he is very wary, vulnerable, and at times feels "invisible" (3). Even as a child he felt lost and unidentified when white men came to his tribal land trying to buy it off his family and acted as if he was not there. This mentality of invisibility stuck with Bromden on the mental ward as well, as he acted deaf and dumb in the time he was there. He was always against the ways of the "Combine," the larger corrupted system of society, and Nurse Ratched's system on the ward, but he never acted upon his feelings. He says, "I know now there is no real help against her or [the] Combine" (113). Bromden simply followed and played his "role" as a "rabbit," until McMurphy showed up and convinced him to stand up against the system of society (64).
McMurphy pulls Bromden away from simply playing a mechanized "role" on the ward and steers him towards individual humanization. When Bromden first speaks, it proves how much stronger he is; soon after, he starts emotionally venting about the Combine. The fact that he is so passionate about the subject shows the humanization in him as the anger and discontent he feels are clear human emotions. His stray away from the mechanized ways of the ward and towards humanization represents the American Character's fight to flee from society and develop into an individual. Bromden takes part in the rebelling act of watching the World Series even when the nurse said no, and later he joins McMurphy in fighting the controlling black boys to stand up for the patients; Bromden transforms from an invisible follower, to a dignified leader who is able to take control of his own life and act upon his opinions. Bromden uses his physical and mental strength to escape the ward and he begins a new adventure, starting at the place he grew up, to discover and redefine himself.
McMurphy pulls Bromden away from simply playing a mechanized "role" on the ward and steers him towards individual humanization. When Bromden first speaks, it proves how much stronger he is; soon after, he starts emotionally venting about the Combine. The fact that he is so passionate about the subject shows the humanization in him as the anger and discontent he feels are clear human emotions. His stray away from the mechanized ways of the ward and towards humanization represents the American Character's fight to flee from society and develop into an individual. Bromden takes part in the rebelling act of watching the World Series even when the nurse said no, and later he joins McMurphy in fighting the controlling black boys to stand up for the patients; Bromden transforms from an invisible follower, to a dignified leader who is able to take control of his own life and act upon his opinions. Bromden uses his physical and mental strength to escape the ward and he begins a new adventure, starting at the place he grew up, to discover and redefine himself.
A clip from the 1975 film of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest showing Bromden exerting his strength to escape from society and live as an individual on a quest to continue to find his identity.