Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is set in a mental institution, where the characters' mental illnesses reveal much to the reader. Kesey enlightens the reader by characterizing the reticent Chief Bromden, who narrates the main events of the story, as a mentally ill man. In particular, the novel succeeds in revealing the symbolism of Bromden's delusions and writing the harrowing story from Chief's stark point of view. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Chief's original characterization portrays him as very mentally ill, and his delusions help move the plot forward. Kesey begins the book by revealing multiple layers of information to the reader, saying that Nurse Ratched has “let her arms wander long enough to envelop” several misbehaving aides (Kesey 5). By doing this, she not only describes what her character is like and how she is viewed in the department, but also tells readers that the boss's narration may be unreliable. Additionally, Chief is obsessed with what he calls “the Combine,” which he defines as “an enormous organization that aims to adapt 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 sees “a whole wall [sliding] up” (Kesey 67). This happens after a dramatic event in the ward because he is worried that the nurse will win, giving insight into how the nurse and Mcmurphy's actions are affecting others in the ward. The harvest chief's illusion reacts and adapts to the real world, telling the reader the meaning of each action in the context of the plot and its symbolic importance. Therefore, his delusions give the reader a broader understanding of the text and the world. outside of it. Chief Bromden's delusions and hallucinations color the perspective from which the otherwise perspicuous story is told: "They don't mind not to speak their hateful secrets out loud when I'm near because they think I'm deaf and dumb" (Kesey 4 ). This gives him an unusual and privileged view of everything that happens in the department behind the scenes, especially when the crass McMurphy begins to subvert Nurse Ratched's authority. The chief describes Nurse Ratched as a “true veteran at fixing things” (Kesey 22). This information seems reliable; as far as can be seen, there is no disparity between the boss's report and the attitudes of the other patients. Nurse is shown to manipulate and arrange circumstances to get what she wants. By contrast, some of Chief's disappointments are less literal. After believing that a group of men had killed a patient on the ward, the chief says he thinks "someone will drag me out of the fog" and erase all evidence of what happened (Kesey 69). All this makes Chief's life quiet and a little angry and gloomy, but at the same time 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 the Chief's madness. since he legitimately thinks that there is a harvest. The “Combine” is a symbol of power and control, an extended metaphor used throughout the book. The boss defines the company as a “large organization that aims to change the outside as well as the inside” (Kesey 22). The chief consistently writes about the control beyond the combine, saying that all patients “breathe [sic] in… and out… in perfect order; the hearts all beat to the rhythm ordered by the OD cards” (Kesey 25). The monotony in the ward.