Classics Without All the Class discussion

Is McMurphy crazy? Under what circumstances does he enter the hospital ward? If this is a parable...or allegory, what does McMurphy represent symbolically? Can he be seen as a Christ figure, one who sacrifices himself for the good of others? Yes...or no.

I didn't see it as allegorical or see a Christ figure, more a critique of society's manner of dealing with the mentally ill at the time, which certainly bears exploring even in today's world, since we still don't know all that much about the inner workings of the mind.

Are any of the men "crazy"? Or are they just not conforming to society's conventions?

McMurphy is offered up as a christ symbol in many ways. Most significantly receiving shock treatment, on the cross with a crown of thorns. He also knows he has to sacrifice himself for the sake of the other patients. This results in his assault of nurse Ratchet and subsequent lobotomy.

McMurphy was a sacrificial lamb to me. But who he is in the beginning verses who he is at that moment are two different people. There is a lot of character growth evident in him.

Maybe I'm crazy, too :

Several of my favorite books and movies deal with institutions. This book and the movie are both awesome. Shawshank Redemption, Shutter Island, etc. Maybe it's just the thought of breaking free from something or not confining to what society says is normal. Or, I'm just crazy.

I don't know if he is a Christ figure, but he is one of literature's classic rebels, inspiring others to break free of social confines.