This movie demonstrates much of what I despise about my fellow feeble-minded Americans. In this movie, I saw stereotypes galore, and almost every cliche in the book. For example, one voluntary patient is seeking therapy for his marital problems. It seems that he and his wife were having "sexual" problems. This ultimately leads everyone, patients and viewers alike, to believe that this man must be gay. As if this weren't enough, we have to have the "blind-deaf-and-dumb-guy", and of course, he's foreign!
             The central character in this drama is Randal McMurphy. Mac is a new patient at the mental institution. He was transferred from a nearby prison. He seems to have been committed not for mental illness but because he is resistant to authority. In the past he has been arrested for such things as assault and statutory rape. He may be a criminal, and he may deserve to be in jail, but he is not insane. He was just too much work for the prison guards "cause I don't sit there like a goddamn vegetable" he says. I believe the only dangerous thing about Mac is his desire to fight authority, and I believe the danger is only for the authority figures. He may not go about his struggle in a lawful manner, but I do believe he has some good, sane ideas and beliefs which he tries to maintain in all of his situations. For example, in jail, he didn't feel it was right for the authorities to demand he act as a "vegetable" and I agree with him. In the institution, he felt that decisions should be made democratically and fairly, and he fought for this belief, which inevitably lead to punishment by ECT .
             Another influential character in this movie is Billy. Billy has some obvious self-esteem issues. I feel the portion of the film that we viewed in class only touches on his true character. Billy has a very obvious speech impediment, which seems to make him reluctant in many ways. He is the character that follows orders without quest...