At this point in story, I believe that McMurphy is a more powerful character than Big Nurse. He came into this mental institution to find a bunch of grown men taking orders from an ugly old nurse who is feeding off of their inability to fend for themselves. McMurphy, however, points this out to them and shows them that he will not let her castrate him because he is too much of a man to let that ever happen. Mac is also very therapeutic for the men because he doesn't act like there is anything wrong with them and this begins to psychologically have an effect on them because they begin to believe themselves that there is nothing wrong with them.
They begin to rebel against the Big Nurse and take back their manhood. One of the people who is most affected by Mac is definitely chief. He is so used to just losing himself in his mind created fog that engulfs him whenever he subconsciously wants it to. Mac however, pulls him out of this fog frequently and gives him a sense of hope. "McMurphy's got hidden wires hooked to it, lifting it slow just to get me out of the fog and into the open where I'm fair game. He's doing it, wires...No. That's not the truth. I lifted it myself." At this point, chief realizes that he is in control and its not some imaginary machine or in this case, wires, but himself rebelling and he is in control which helps him get out of the fog and it definitely helps with his illness.
Big Nurse is undeniably a powerful character, but this is mostly because she is in a position of power and authority to begin with. McMurphy draws his power from helping those men rebel for one, and also loosening the grip Big Nurse has on the facility. Big Nurse begins to faulter when she lets Mac get to her through his determination to not let her have control over each person at this institution. "'You're committed, you realize. you are... under the jurisdiction of me... the staff.' She's holding up a fist, all those red-orange fingernails burning into her palm. 'Under jurisdiction and control--'" Because she is yelling at Mac and the rest of the men while they are staring at a blank screen, she has lost her composure. Because she lost her composure, she has lost this battle and Mac has pulled out a stunning victory.
They begin to rebel against the Big Nurse and take back their manhood. One of the people who is most affected by Mac is definitely chief. He is so used to just losing himself in his mind created fog that engulfs him whenever he subconsciously wants it to. Mac however, pulls him out of this fog frequently and gives him a sense of hope. "McMurphy's got hidden wires hooked to it, lifting it slow just to get me out of the fog and into the open where I'm fair game. He's doing it, wires...No. That's not the truth. I lifted it myself." At this point, chief realizes that he is in control and its not some imaginary machine or in this case, wires, but himself rebelling and he is in control which helps him get out of the fog and it definitely helps with his illness.
Big Nurse is undeniably a powerful character, but this is mostly because she is in a position of power and authority to begin with. McMurphy draws his power from helping those men rebel for one, and also loosening the grip Big Nurse has on the facility. Big Nurse begins to faulter when she lets Mac get to her through his determination to not let her have control over each person at this institution. "'You're committed, you realize. you are... under the jurisdiction of me... the staff.' She's holding up a fist, all those red-orange fingernails burning into her palm. 'Under jurisdiction and control--'" Because she is yelling at Mac and the rest of the men while they are staring at a blank screen, she has lost her composure. Because she lost her composure, she has lost this battle and Mac has pulled out a stunning victory.
