One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on Tragedy
More than any other character, McMurphy is the embodiment of the American hero archetype; he is a rugged individualist, a swaggering cowboy with a rebellious attitude, a fighter that will stand up for the little guy and isn't afraid to question the tyrannical constraints of society. And even though this description sounds like it came from the poster for an over-hyped action-adventure film starring Harrison Ford, this is how McMurphy comes across, even in the unusual setting of a mental ward. And despite his world-weary attitude, there is a touch of idealism mixed in. You can't fit much more "American-ness" into a hero than that.
Additionally, McMurphy is textbook tragic hero. His willingness to lay his life on the line to, "achieve his sense of personal dignity" is obvious from the start when he makes the bet with Harding; he is willing to risk his life, electroshock therapy, and placement in the Disturbed ward simply to secure his reputation on the ward. However, it does eventually morph into something beyond that; his idea of "personal dignity" eventually encompasses the patients' well-being and dignity, as well, as he comes to feel more and more empathy for them. He did lay down his life for that; he went so far to secure their freedom that he was lobotomized by the Big Nurse.
Another tragic element that is prevalent in McMurphy's character is that he is truly questioning everything the Big Nurse does, especially the things that don't matter, such as what time he gets up in the morning, whether or not the Acutes can watch the World Series, and the creation of a game room. However, it is also true that he is up against an, "immovable, impenetrable force," represented by the Big Nurse and her ward, but the true significance of which being society and its conformity as a whole. Truly, McMurphy is a classic, tragic hero, with a class and tragic task ahead of him.
And herein lies the connection between the American and tragic heroes: the questioning of societal norms is a trait that both are guaranteed to have, as both are said to "question everything." The idea of rebellion is so common to both; and more than that, as demonstrated in McMurphy, both types of character have the same attitude. If they have the same general attitude and ideals towards society, is it any wonder that they usually appear in the same characters? Not only that, but the American hero can be said to be up against an "impenetrable force" in reference to the impossibility and grandeur of the ideals the chase and the American Experience they undergo. In McMurphy, the manifestation of the American and tragic heroes are the same, proving how closely related the two concepts really are.
Additionally, McMurphy is textbook tragic hero. His willingness to lay his life on the line to, "achieve his sense of personal dignity" is obvious from the start when he makes the bet with Harding; he is willing to risk his life, electroshock therapy, and placement in the Disturbed ward simply to secure his reputation on the ward. However, it does eventually morph into something beyond that; his idea of "personal dignity" eventually encompasses the patients' well-being and dignity, as well, as he comes to feel more and more empathy for them. He did lay down his life for that; he went so far to secure their freedom that he was lobotomized by the Big Nurse.
Another tragic element that is prevalent in McMurphy's character is that he is truly questioning everything the Big Nurse does, especially the things that don't matter, such as what time he gets up in the morning, whether or not the Acutes can watch the World Series, and the creation of a game room. However, it is also true that he is up against an, "immovable, impenetrable force," represented by the Big Nurse and her ward, but the true significance of which being society and its conformity as a whole. Truly, McMurphy is a classic, tragic hero, with a class and tragic task ahead of him.
And herein lies the connection between the American and tragic heroes: the questioning of societal norms is a trait that both are guaranteed to have, as both are said to "question everything." The idea of rebellion is so common to both; and more than that, as demonstrated in McMurphy, both types of character have the same attitude. If they have the same general attitude and ideals towards society, is it any wonder that they usually appear in the same characters? Not only that, but the American hero can be said to be up against an "impenetrable force" in reference to the impossibility and grandeur of the ideals the chase and the American Experience they undergo. In McMurphy, the manifestation of the American and tragic heroes are the same, proving how closely related the two concepts really are.