The Lost Chief

             The Combine: a representation of society.

        For many of the patients in the hospital society remains behind four walls. And in this miniature civilization, Nurse Ratched edicts. She is power. Something Bromden feels strongly. She is to be obeyed, and respected. Which Bromden recognizes. She is a threat. The reason for Bromden's mental instability. The Old Nurse is the reason for Bromden's insecurities, for she represents all women. In the other hand, Bromden represents the confused public, that follows, foraging comfort.

          Since the Chief was a small boy and lived with his tribe out in the Columbia river, his mother was always manipulative in her marital relationship. Although Bromden's father was described as "The Pine that Stands Tallest on the Mountain," his self esteem was diminutive. This shaped Bromden as a weak and "unmanly" giant. Hindering himself from the world around him, the Chief grew to be deaf, uncommunicative, and brute. Can all this be because of women? Have women become monsters for self protection? Chauvinism has always diminished women and this led to agressive women. An overpowering energy which portrayed Bromden as a foolish slave, at first.

             "I'm cagey enough to fool them that much. If my half Indian ever helped me in any way in this dirty life, it helped me being cagey, helped me all these years. 4" What kind of human wants to feel inferior and caged? The person that needs to hide in small holes, wants to become like a rat. The rat is a perfect example of Bromden's behavior. For this filthy animal likes to creep around, silently listening and observing everyone without being seen. The rat, despised by the majority of the population, multiplies and gains strength. So he can still be small individually, but when accompanied, no one will defeat the rat. Chief Bromden can be the most cowardly man on Earth. However, McMurphy builds his confidence and aspires him to increment and reach his potentials. Throughout the book, Bromden's attitude is altered, and he is no longer a helpless spectator. But like an animal his power's are underestimated. This innocent man, has a hidden agenda. Bromden is caged, but his has the key to open the door and get out.

           McMurphy and the Old Nurse's surging power, are reasons for Bromden's awakening. Always hiding in his fog, this man was able to go in a fishing trip. Being out in the real world, having seen normality, simply made Bromden realize he wasn't crazy. "He won't let the pain blot out the humor no more he'll let the humor blot of the pain." Having landed on ground, Bromden centered himself and discovered he had the power to free himself. Throughout revolts and other rebellious events, the Chief became a hero. He took his own life with his hands. He was in command.

           This indian was the man who he physically represented. However, through torturous consequences, he was able to grow into a state of mind. He would free his men. He would look out for them. He was no longer threatened by the Combine. He had outgrown his roots, his childish traumas. 

         "I figure I'm all right. Just I don't know where I want to go yet. And somebody should stay here a few weeks after your gone to see that things don't start sliding back. 265" Chief Bromden is now the leader of his own Combine. He has discovered the cage's key has been lying on his hand all along...he is a Chief.

"As I walked after them it came to me as a sudden surprise that I was drunk, actually drunk, glowing and grinning and staggering drunk for the first time since the Army...maybe the combine wasn't all-powerful. What was to stop us from doing it again, now that we saw we could?...it felt that good. 263" Now that Chief Bromden does not seclude his mind body and soul from the world, he has come to a realization, He has willpower. He is capable of taking decisions and living. How exactly did he discover this?

When a person is shown the force of power and the human capacities to surpass it, a sudden feeling merges: adrenaline. This chemical reaction in the body is what makes the mind become alert, rushed and alive. It is a feeling human's strive for, however there are very few ways to obtain it. Nonetheless, the Chief has experimented with this sentiment and craves for more. However, his expectations might seem outrageous, for he has forgotten he still remains behind bars. Unfortunately, this leads to failure in a certain manner. MacMurphy, the immortal thriving protector has been destroyed.

It will never be known if Chief Bromden gave up after this, or if he felt he had to continue fighting. All that is left is a confused Indian and an exhausted reader.