One Flew over the Cukoo's Nest

In Ken Kesey’s thought provoking novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, there is much confusion about the presence and meaning behind the fog that clouds Chief Bromden’s mind and his perspective at the mental institution. Throughout the novel the fog is often described as a cloud that comes and goes within the ward. This fog seems to engulf the patients and prevents them from behaving as they would normally choose. After the arrival of R.P. McMurphy, the fog begins to dissipate and Chief, as well as the other patients, becomes more aware of his own confidence and self worth. The fog is a manifestation of Chief’s delusion, brought on by his fears, lifetime of self-chosen seclusion and lack of human contact as well as his inability to embrace his inner strength.

Chief believes the fog is a tool used by the Combine to restrain the patients on the ward. He hallucinates that the fog comes from a fog machine similar to the ones he was familiar with in the army (pg 130). This fog machine produces a haze that shoots out of the air vents and engulfs everyone causing the patients to become passive and submissive to the hideous behavior of the orderlies and Nurse Ratched.

In the beginning of the novel, the fog is very thick and Chief is often lost within the confusion of it. There are several instances where he lets himself become completely enveloped in the fog in order to block out the reality of the situation. When Chief is taken by the orderlies to be shaved in the morning, he becomes violently afraid and screams. He then has a visual hallucination of Miss Ratched coming to shove her basket down his throat with a broom. This provokes the fog to enter the room and block out the events that are taking place. Once the fog is cleared he has very little recollection of what had occurred (pg.7-9).

The fog provides Chief with a level of comfort. Although he is frightened of the fog, he allows it to engulf him and suppress reality. This behavior is very similar...