One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (4)

Christine Witmer
English IV
Spring, 2009
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The ending of “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” has a bittersweet resolution. The very end is exciting, with the Chief busting out of the ward into the night. However, the fact that McMurphy ultimately looses to the system and become a victim of the lobotomy really got to me. All though the book, I thought that he could really win. Even though he didn’t win every “challenge” that the Nurse threw at him, I really felt that he would what it takes to beat her and the combine.
The fact that McMurphy delayed his escape to help Billy really showed me his true character. He knew the consequences of his actions and he stayed after to help his friend. This shows that McMurphy really didn’t care about himself, and he wasn’t just in the institution to “get something out” of the other patients. He sacrificed his escape, and really his sanity, to be with Billy, and I really admired that.
Looking back on it, I really cannot decide who really won, McMurphy or the combine and the nurse. Literally, the combine won because McMurphy was forced to receive his lobotomy and bend to the rules that were given to him. But instead of going down without a fight, the Chief busts him out right at the last minute, and in a very fitting fashion. By lifting up the water fixture, the training that he had done became full circle and everything fit into place.