blog #3 McMurphy and Christ

Many critics believe Kesey intends McMurphy to be a heroic, Christ-like figure, I completely agree with this theory. McMurphy's time through out the novel parallels many of Christ's journey, Kesey uses foreshadowing, symbols and quotes to develop his character. McMurphy is baptized with a shower before entering the ward in the beginning of the novel, and he gets to know Ellis, a character who spends the entire novel in a cross position "nailed against the wall in the same condition they lifted him off the table for the last time, in the same shape, arms out, palms cuped, with the same horror on his face. He's nailed like that on the wall, like a stuffed trophy." (20 Kesey).  Foreshadowing McMurphy's shock therapy treatment later on in the novel where he willingly lies down on a cross shaped table, just as how Jesus Christ was willing nailed on to a cross. The development of McMurphy as a Christ figure deepens when he leads twelve of the patients out on a  fishing trip, "The salt smell o' the pounding sea, the crack o' the bow against the waves-braving the elements, where men are men and boats are boats"(209 Kesey).  This draws parallel to Jesus' taking his twelve disciplesout to sea to test and strengthen their faith in him and empower them. Fish have also been an important religious Christian symbol, as the fishing trip is an important symbol of the novel representing the humanity and connection of mankind.  When the trip is over, the Chief describes the sense of change that most of the patients had and even claims that they "weren't the same bunch of weak-knees from a nuthouse anymore"  (215 Kesey). This really shows the way McMurphy is starting to guide and lead the patients, just as Jesus lead his disciples. McMurphy and Christ both end up sacrificing themselves for the betterment of many others, after McMurphy under goes lobotomy, he is basically brain dead, Bromden does him a favor and suffocates him because he knows McMurphy hates to live under conformity. They are both figures of healing and better times; Christ made blind men see and mute men speak and McMurphy is the one who prompted Bromden to shed his protective layer of defense and speak for the first time in years, when he says "Thank-you." (184 Kesey).  At the end of the novel, Bromden brings to remembrance the things McMurphy had taught them, showing what major a part of McMurphy's life was helping others, just as Jesus' life was devoted to bring goodness to others, and McMurphy, as a character is successfully developed as an important and heroic Christ figure.