Gonzales 1

Beaux Gonzales
Mrs. Schwartz
AP English Literature
16 December 2015
Q3
The definition of madness can be quite ambiguous--it may imply mental delusion or
distinguishable behavior setting one apart from the rest. Within the novel One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey portrays the definition of madness that is crucial not only in
understanding the character of Chief Bromden, but also comprehending the work as a whole.
Throughout the novel, various central ideas revolve around the notion of insanity and how it
affects the lives of those considered to emanate their madness. Emily Dickinson's denotation and
connotation of madness is based on an author's ability to distinguish the behavior of specific
character. Kesey similarly distinguishes the madness of Chief Bromden before he met
McMurphy, after he met McMurphy, and after McMurphy died, and this dynamic feature of
Bromden contributes to the idea that society does not truly define insanity--an individual defines
their own insanity. I was able to clearly state the theme within the thesis of my
introductory paragraph, also implementing syntax variety.

Chief Bromden, unlike many of the other characters in the novel, is a Chronic, implying
that he has lived in the psychiatric ward for a long time and will continue to do so. His case of
madness has been building up and progressing, and while the novel begins right before he meets
McMurphy, the readers can insinuate Bromden's escalating insanity through his various
hallucinations, delusions, and overall unreliability as a narrator. Kesey discerns this Bromden at
this point in time as having irrational madness and insecurity due to Nurse Ratched's seemingly
omnipresent observation of every patient. This can be viewed through Bromden's irrational
tenacity in keeping his ability to speak and hear from the other patients as not to make a presence
at all. Furthermore, it is very easy for readers to forget that the novel is in first-person perspective
at the beginning of the novel--this is an effect Kesey creates to reveal Bromden's desired

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invisibility. His distinguishable madness stems from is overall security and belief of the
requirement to conform. However, his madness proceeds to drastically transform after meeting
McMurphy, who revolutionizes Bromden's years' worth of insanity building up. McMurphy is
the essential character that drives the plot forward, and while Bromden continues to only observe
when McMurphy arrives he eventually takes part in interacting with McMurphy's vices. As
Bromden continues to learn more about McMurphy and his tendencies to stand up against
society's standards, he gains a grasp on his delusions, albeit still prevalent. Here I was able
to summarize this part of the plot without taking up too many sentences.

The character of McMurphy influences Bromden's thoughts, causing him to question his own
fear of the Big Nurse's oppression. Kesey transforms this Bromden as having a madness in which
he reevaluates his past madness and begins to interact with McMurphy, who discovered the
precautions Bromden took to hide his presence. While Bromden continues to conform while
remaining silent, he eventually regains the madness standing up to society as the plot leads to
McMurphy's death.
McMurphy's death was detrimental to Chief Bromden--Bromden had been having
childhood memories rush through his head accompanied by complex hallucinations after his
constant electroshock therapy. Bromden begain to change and comprehend his own madness, or
his irrational past behavior. Regardless, this leads up to Bromden's instant disappointment.
Although he was beginning to understand that he did not have to conform, McMurphy's death
ended his progress to reaching resolution. Eventually, Bromden forced his way to gaining closure
by murdering what seemed to be an empty husk of what McMurphy was. The insanity that Kesey
introduces in Bromden following McMurpy's death through lobotomy redefines the belief that
society truly does not determine insanity. It illuminates that one actually discerns their own
dementia.

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Society places great emphasis on conforming to social norms, but as portrayed in One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, not all stigmas are meant to be followed. Throughout the world,
many individuals are oppressed because they define madness based on society's discernment
rather than their own, leading them to refuse the chance of ever challenging societal mores. If
more people begin to comprehend what separates insanity from rationality through their own
means, then oppression would be brought to a minimum.