Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is set in a psychiatric institution, where mental illness characters reveal a lot to the reader. Kesey enlightens the reader by characterizing the reluctant leader Bromden, who narrates the main events of the story, as mentally ill. In particular, the novel succeeds in revealing the symbolism of Bromden's delusions and writing the poignant story from Chief's austere point of view. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The original characterization of the Chief describes him as very mentally ill, and his delusions help advance the plot. Kesey begins the book by revealing layers of information to the reader, stating that Nurse Ratched "let her arms out long enough to wrap around" several misbehaving aides (Kesey 5). In doing so, not only does he describe what her character is like and how she is perceived in the room, but he also tells readers that the leader's narration may not be reliable. Additionally, Chief is obsessed with what he calls "the Combine", which he defines as "a huge organization that aims to adjust the outside as well as [...] the inside" (Kesey 22). The boss constantly complains about the combine, but he's actually right. One night, he swears he saw “an entire wall [slide]” (Kesey 67). This happens after a dramatic event in the ward because he fears that the Nurse will win, providing insight into how the actions of the Nurse and Mcmurphy affect the other members of the ward. The illusion of the group leader reacts and adapts to the real world, telling the reader what each action means in the context of the plot and its symbolic importance. Therefore, his illusions give the reader a broader understanding of the text and the world. outside of him. Chief Bromden's delusions and hallucinations color the perspective from which the otherwise clear story is told: "They don't bother to speak their secrets of hatred out loud when I'm nearby because 'They think I'm deaf and mute. » (Kesey 4). This gives him an insider's view of everything that goes on in the room behind the scenes, especially as the foul-mouthed McMurphy begins to subvert Nurse Ratched's authority. The Chief describes Nurse Ratched as a "true veteran in the art of adjusting things" (Kesey 22). This information seems reliable; As far as we can tell, there is no disparity between the chief's account and the attitudes of the other patients. The nurse is shown manipulating and engineering circumstances to get what she wants. Conversely, some of the leader's illusions are less literal. After believing that a group of men had killed a patient on the ward, the chief says he thinks "someone will pull me out of the fog" and erase all evidence of what happened (Kesey 69). All this makes Chief's life calm and somewhat angry and gloomy, but chaotic, which gives flavor to the story. Likewise, the Combine is a symbol of the conformist pressure of American society, but it has a dual role in that it also symbolizes Chief's madness. since he legitimately thinks that there is a group. The "Combine" is a symbol of power and control, an extended metaphor used throughout the book. The leader defines the group as “a huge organization that aims to adjust the outside as well as the inside” (Kesey 22). The chief constantly writes about control beyond the suit, claiming that patients "inhale [sic]...and exhale...in an order.