How Power and control lead to conformity and lack of Individuality

Ratched behavior appears mechanical, commanding and controlling. She represents the conformist originations which control our world. His behavior is portrayed through the Chief Bromdem narration “I see her sit in the center of this web of wires like a watchful robot…. knowing every second which wires run where. ” (Kesey et al. In this Kesey elaborates the nurse’s efforts to suppress the patients’ individuality to keep her control over them. Nurse Ratched power and control over the patients is absolute, but it decomposes slowly as McMurphy starts breaking it down. McMurphy is a troublemaking criminal from the prison where he has been staying, and the prison gets rid of him because his behavior has grown out of control. As McMurphy tries to settle in the hospital, he quickly realizes that Mildred Ratched the head nurse in the hospital is running a tight ship and she is using her power to manipulate the patients to conform to her leadership.

The first thing McMurphy that Ratched aim is to emasculate and weaken the men. In every meeting men could write any issues down and address them later as “therapeutic reasons,” but when McMurphy arrived at the hospital, all this changed. This move made the Nurse furious because it is through this that he maintained control and power over the patients. McMurphy character shows the freedom of speech, sexuality, and individuality to patients. McMurphy is rebellious and a non-conformist to whatever Nurse Ratched represents. Kesey in his effort to explain the importance of Individuality and the rudeness of conformity uses McMurphy’s rebelliousness in an occurrence between Ratched and her ward rules. Example of this is the two prostitutes who were McMurphy friends.

Kesey also illustrates the concept that repressing sexuality is damaging to a person’s individuality. A good example is Billy who the Nurse controls by repressing his sexuality and using the advantage of his awareness of Billy’s relationship with his mother. Nurse Ratched knew his issues with her mother, and she controlled him by mentioning her mother often. For instance, the event when Billy starts dating Candy and sleeps with her, It improves his confidence. Is through this that Chief starts regaining his confidence and individuality lost due to the power of combine expressed by Nurse Ratched. Another substantial incident is where Murphy takes the men on a fishing trip without Ratched approval. This trip played a significant role in the McMurphy effort to lead the men in rebelling against Nurses rules.

After the tour, the men rediscovered their power in a natural environment outside the ward. The trip made the men start believing in McMurphy leadership and his war against Nurse Ratched. For instance, a scene where Harding says "Lady, I think you’re full of so much bullshit,"(Kesey et al, 42) while addressing the Nurse showed how McMurphy actions had restored individualism and non-conformity among the patients. Ultimate Ken Kesey's message is simple. Predisposed rules and expectations of society directly suppress Sexual, personal, and individual freedom. He points the finger at an over-protective society that seeks to eradicate 'difference' with rules, laws and biased perceptions. Through Ratched and McMurphy, he highlights power clashes that exist between leaders and activists and the differences between order and disorder.