One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Part 1

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tells the tale of two enemies McMurphy and Nurse Ratched in the ward of a mental hospital told through the eyes of one of the patients, Bromden. Bromden seems to have little to do with the progression of the main plot and yet he is the narrator. The way in which Bromden narrators the story in my opinion adds emphasis to where the story to takes place and gives us inside information on each of the characters. While having a discussion in class many people asked why the story wasn't written in McMurphy's point of view? As confusing as it can be at times I believe this was a very good choice on Kesey's part. With Bromden as the narrator we are given a much further insight into the ward then could ever be given by McMurphy even after his stay in the ward. Brodmen's point of view also gives us insight into the mind of a "mentally disturbed" person, unlike McMurphy, who says that he is only in the ward in order to be moved from the work camp where he was previously serving his court ordered time.

Bromden gives the ward a much more difference appearance then what I believe would have been projected by McMurphy. He knows all of the ins and outs, as well as all of the people and what is done there. He also progresses as a person through the work of his flashbacks which make him appear different as you read further into the novel. In the beginning of the novel I imagine Bromden as a large quiet older man that I would cross the street to avoid because he seems scary and deranged but as the story progress Bromden has changed in my mind. After finishing Part One, Bromden seems like a regular guy someone calm and collected like someone you might know. That doesn't seem like a good explanation but that is the only way I can think to put it.