In One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest,

Kesey reveals the complexities and

ambiguities of schizophrenia through
Bromdens visions of fog and his
paranoia about being controlled by the
Combine. Because of Bromdens schizophrenia, the reader views the events in the ward from a distorted
point of view that an objective observer could not present. Kesey gives the reader clues, such as the
fog, to reveal when Bromden is not objective, but in some parts the reader has difficulty identifying
what actually occurs. Although the use of Bromden as the narrator sometimes creates confusion as to
the reliability of what he describes, it gives the reader a more insightful view of both schizophrenia and
the ward.
1. What is the Combine according to Bromden?

2. On what occasions have you found Bromden not to be objective and reliable?

Bromden displays symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia in the novel. For example, when he has visions
during the night of things too goofy and outlandish to cry about and too much true to laugh about, he
does not tell anyone about them because he does not think anyone will believe him (Kesey 86). He
comes closer than most schizophrenics would to understanding that others would question what he sees.
However, he still does not consider the possibility that he is hallucinating because he trusts his own
mind. A complex succession of visions, including his vision of the machines and the vision of fog that
blocks the machines from view, occurs because he accepts all of his previous visions as reality.
Bromdens refusal to share his visions reveals his paranoia more than it displays a real grasp of the
workings of a normal mind. In addition, Bromden reveals his uncertainty over whether the other patients
experience the world as he sees it when he admits that he has no proof that the fog exists for anyone but
him. On the other hand, he also rationalizes this behavior: Nobody complains about all the fog. I know
why, now: as bad as it is, you can slip back in it and feel safe (Kesey 123). Bromdens delusions may
place him in a confusing and indistinct atmosphere, but they also give him a sense of security.
3. How does Kesey create this ambiguity with Bromdens perspective and narrative? Is it explicitly obvious or is
Kesey more subtle? Does it become more obvious as the novel develops?

4. What stylistic devices does Kesey employ here when producing Bromdens perspective and the narrative?

In addition to illustrating his schizophrenia, Bromdens narration also accentuates the feeling of chaos
and paranoia in the ward. For instance, Bromdens fear of authority distorts the conflict between the
Nurse and McMurphy. Bromden exaggerates the Nurses capabilities when he states that shell go on
winning, just like the Combine, because she has all the power of the Combine behind her (Kesey 109).
His paranoia causes the Nurse to seem like an all-powerful force. He does not see that she has human
weaknesses just like the patients, so his narration does not allow the reader to anticipate her defeat.
Bromdens narration also increases the feeling of chaos in the ward because the fog he experiences
makes the events more confusing. During one group meeting, he describes a chair floating past him and
then illustrates the faces of patients such as Colonel Matterson, Pete, and Billy Bibbit that keep filing
past (Kesey, 131). His memories of the war and his father, which he adds in between parts of the group
discussion, also help further the sense of confusion in the scene (Kesey 130). What an objective observer
would have described as a normal meeting of the patients becomes a chaotic blur of random
conversation through the eyes of Bromden.
5. Have there been times during your reading that you have felt a little confused? Who did you think was to
blame for this confusion- yourself and your reading, Keseys writing or Bromdens narrative?

6. What is the effect of the confusion and ambiguity in Bromdens narrative? Do you believe that it is works?
Does it effectively contribute to Keseys themes and purpose?

Another reason Bromdens narration causes confusion is that the reader cannot be certain when he
describes events accurately. The reader knows that the fog and the machines do not actually exist, but
he or she experiences greater difficulty in evaluating the accuracy of descriptions that seem like they
might have occurred. Near the beginning of the novel, Bromden addresses this uncertainty, asserting
that what he describes is the truth even if it didnt happen (Kesey 8). This statement essentially calls
the accuracy of the entire story into question. However, by making this statement, Bromden attempts to
explain to the reader that even though the story might not be factually correct, it represents a valid
explanation of the facts in the way he experiences them. He attempts to tell the reader that the

message of the story does not lie in what really occurs but in the way that the patients, including
Bromden, view what occurs. Keseys purpose in writing the novel is to provide a picture of the ward
through the patients eyes, and he can best accomplish this by presenting a narration in which the
reader, like the patients, can never fully be sure of the truth.
7. During your reading do you suspend judgement and doubt of Bromdens perspective in order to trust and
believe him? Explain your personal reading and relationship with Bromdens narrative.

Keseys utilization of Bromden as the narrator significantly alters the readers perception of the ward,
allows the reader to experience paranoid schizophrenia, and causes uncertainty as to the facts of the
novel. Because Kesey never directly acknowledges Bromdens schizophrenia, it is possible that he has
post-traumatic stress disorder, in which visions result from past experiences, instead of schizophrenia.
However, the specific type of disease does not matter as much as the effect created by telling the story
from a mental patients perspective. By creating a sense of uncertainty, chaos, and paranoia, Kesey
allows the reader to experience insanity.
8. Do you agree that Kesey consistently uses Bromden as the narrator to allow the audience to experience
schizophrenia and mental health issues or is Bromden used by Kesey on most occasions in the novel as a
reasonably reliable narrator?

Fromhttp://www.nrc-iol.org/Braindance/onrc_braindance_butler.asp