Aim: How does McMurphy begin to emerge as a Christ-figure in Part III of

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?Do Now: What does the following mean?

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”

Henry David ThoreauHW: Read to p. 249 How does McMurphy prove

himself to the patients?

Fishing Trip• What would the fishing trip mean to

McMurphy? The Patients? Nurse Ratched?

• How does the fishing trip begin to become symbolic?

• How does Nurse Ratched try to scare the patients about the trip?

“As McMurphy led the twelve of us toward the ocean.” Jesus Calms the Storm23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

How does McMurphy emerge as a

Christ-figure?

Why doesn’t McMuprhy

help the men on the boat? What does he show them?

“… McMurphy looked so beat and worn out…”

• Why did McMurphy look tired by the end of the fishing trip and not the patients?

• What is the toll of re-energizing everyone around him? Can he sustain this?

• By comparing him to Christ and with McMurphy being so tired, What statement is Kesey making here about the struggle and responsibility of leaders?

“ – and it’s the God’s truth: that little nine-year old kid out of my youth’s the one to who’s to blame.”

• Like Chief Bromden’s memory in the previous passage, how does McMurphy’s memory help to define who McMurphy is?