The Power of Charismatic Speaking (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, McMurphy is a fabulous public speaker, convincing the other patients of the ward to start small scale rebellion in defience of Big Nurse. McMurphy is able, it seems, to make friends across the board with the farthest gone of the cronics all the way to the head doctor. However, this power of his ennds a a brick wall; Big Nurse. It seems this woman is the only one with the strength to resist McMurphy's words. As Harding said, McMurphy "may be a wolf" (Kesey 63). This statement has true significance when compaired to Big Nurse, who is also a wolf. In the eyes of the patients, the power strugle they see before them is a fight among wolves, one "rabbits" cannot participate in (Kesey 63). Based upon the strengths of McMurphy and the reason for his being commited to the ward, it may be inferred that he is a Hitler-like figure. Known as a charismatic speaker and a popular figure, Hitler rose to power in a democratic nation, freely voted by his people. His message, while insane, was a popular one and captured the hearts and minds of Germany, becoming their hero. McMurphy has taken on a role similar to this but with one minor difference; the men McMurphy is leading are good as children for all they can take care of problems on their own. This makes his method of manipulation almost useless, meaning he must take care of many problems on his own with hopes that his followers wont turn on him. Though now disheartened, I believe that McMurphy will find a way to gain power and keep it, defeating the Big Nurse once and for all.