One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Blog Post Number Five

PART IV

Coming back stronger than ever, McMurphy plans a prison break.  Utilizing the lack of night time security and his two prostitute friends, McMurphy bribes the night watch and brings his two accomplices into the ward with enough booze to get Ireland drunk.  Reveling in McMurphy’s accomplishment, the ward members party hardy.  Billy, now having seen Candy twice implores McMurphy for some time with her.  Enthused at Billy’s request, McMurphy obliges and sets Candy and Billy up in one of the cells together and they proceed to bang.  Meanwhile, McMurphy falls asleep and is awoken by the sound of Nurse Ratched coming into the ward.  Furious, Nurse Ratched has her underlings scour the hospital for Billy only to find him naked in a bed with Candy.  Initially confident in his actions, Billy becomes distressed when Nurse Ratched threatens to tell his mother.  Distraught, Billy leaves the seen to head to a cell, where he slices his own throat.  Nurse Ratched blames McMurphy, who in a fit of rage, assaults her - ripping off her clothes and choking her.  Subdued by the security guards, McMurphy is hauled away.  Some time later, Nurse Ratched is no longer in charge of the ward as McMurphy took her ability to speak away, and thus her ability to control.  Returned to the ward as a lobotomized vegetable, McMurphy is set free from his vegetative state from Chief who smothers him with a pillow as an act of mercy.  Feeling as big as a mountain, Chief rips the shower control station from the ground and throws it at the window, creating a huge hole from which he escapes into the outside world.  

Undoubtedly the most powerful ending to any book I’ve ever read.  This ending clearly demonstrates the concept of sacrifice - with McMurphy essentially sacrificing his life for the well being of the other inmates. He won.  He fought the good fight and ran the great race, all while beating Nurse Ratched to the finish line.  An incredible feat of will, McMurphy’s act bring memories of Frodo to the surface - a seemingly insignificant whelp who helps spur and drive a force against incomprehensible odds. McMurphy’s struggle is no different that of the American Revolution and shares stark similarities with the lives of the common teenager and their ongoing rebellion against their tyrannical birth givers. This story is a powerful classic, and rightly so.  It’s unexpected climax and  fun delivery of such a strong message will keep this book in the annals of history.  An imperfect hero, a controlling villain, and a sense of hope inspired by every page makes this book the best I’ve ever read.