Chief bromden is a paranoid schizophrenic as well as the narrator of the novel. Kesey uses the mental hospital as a metaphor for the oppression he sees in the modern society. This makes us question accepted definitions of what we regard as sane or insane
Until the arrival of the anarchic mcmurphy, the patients co-operate. They swallow their tranquillisers, agree to any guilt-mongering diagnosis or humiliating treatment the authorities say is for their good. They take part in democratic therapy sessions that adrupt end if anyone tries to change anything, and know that the ultimate sanction is lobotomy
The characters themselves can be viewed as a metaphor of society as well MM for example represents the rebellious faction of society that was so loudly expressing itself during the 60’s and 70’s, he like the hippies challenge authority and brings about change by inciting others to rebel as well.
Bromden sees modern society as a mechanical oppressive force and he views the hospital as the repair shop for people who don’t fit into their roles as cogs in the michine. His way of interpreting the world emphasizes the oppressive social pressure to conform. Those who don’t conform to the rules and conventions are considered defective products of the”schools, churches and neighbourhoods” those who don’t conform are labelled mentall ill and sent for treatment
Kesey demonstrates the change in chief bromden when the character awakes and watches the dog outside the window. Thi shows that chief bromden is now more aware of the outside world. He can conceive of exsistance outside of the institution, as he could not before. MM is the primary cause of this change.
When things aren’t going well for the chief he sees for surrounding him.. he is sure that the combine and the nurse will destroy him, just as his father and his tribe were destroyed mcmurphy however is able to expose the combine and nurse R for what they truly are. As a result, he helps the chief to have faith in himself and make his fog disappear. The chief grows so strong and self reliant in the course of the novel that he is able to realise what nurse R has done to MM through the lobotomy and takes matters into his own hands by taking MM out of his pain, suffocating him with a pillow and escaping from the institution.
In the last analysis, it is this character who truly understands the meaning and value of mcmurphys liberation crusade. The indian is given back to himself. His escape from the hospital stricks a note for freedom .
At the end of the novel,CB suffocates MM with a pillow and then escapes from the hospital to freedom. He is finally able to stand on his own