Sexuality in one Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Importance of Sexual Freedom

The world portrayed in the hospital ward is one of sexual repression and inhibition. This is exemplified in the Big Nurse as well as in Nurse Pilbow, who is frightened of the patients’ sexuality. It is frequently emphasized that the Big Nurse has large breasts, the mark of her femininity, but she tries to conceal them. Everything about her and the ward is sterile, cold, and lifeless, from the Big Nurse’s manner down to the white starched uniforms of the staff.

The first thing that McMurphy notices about the ward is that the Big Nurse emasculates and weakens the men. He calls her a “ball-cutter” (p. 58), and Harding agrees. In other words, the ward is like a matriarchal society which castrates men. This is graphically symbolized by the death of Rawler, who commits suicide by castrating himself and bleeding to death. In a less literal manner, this is what is happening to all the patients.

In contrast, McMurphy is totally open about sex and enjoys his masculine sexual power. He frequently makes sexual remarks to the Big Nurse. He tells the doctor about the statutory rape charge against him without any shame, claiming that the girl lied about her age and was as much the instigator of the act as he was. When he and the men return from the fishing trip he tells a fond story of how he