These are the most important characters in the first 100 pages.
Chief Bromden
The narrator of the story, Chief Bromden is described as a six foot seven half-Indian man nicknamed "Chief Broom" by the black boys because he sweeps the floors. Classified as a Chronic, everyone in the hospital believes him to be deaf and dumb, but he can hear and comprehend everything said. Bromden has been in the hospital for a very long time, and has become intimately familiar with the subtle workings of the hospital. He is a very introverted character, ironically described as "small". His medicine, or perhaps just his illness, makes him slightly delusional and he will sometimes hallucinate a "fog" come over the hospital or become extremely paranoid. This may be a side effect of being in the hospital for so long.
Nurse Ratched
Nurse Ratched, or the "Big Nurse" as she is sometimes called, is the matriarch of the hospital. She has "[lips] like the tip of smoldering iron" (2) and has large breasts that she hides under her perfectly starched uniform. For years, she has searched for the perfect minions to do her will, and has now secured a staff Bromden refers to as The Combine. This consists of her, "the black boys", and the other staff. With her cold, robotic ways she maintains control in the hospital. This need for control leads her to rather unethical methods. Nurse Ratched is strung onto every conscience of every patient, having even mental control of them.
Randle Patrick McMurphy
The story of McMurphy is the focus of the book. A boisterous gambler, Bromden tells of his admittance to the hospital and the chaos that ensues. Self proclaiming himself as the "Bull Goose Loony", McMurphy, an Acute, brings a whole new feel to the place; he is loud, LAUGHS openly (a very rare thing in the hospital), and he is very sexual. At first, McMurphy is very careless with his actions, and "he's safe as long as he can laugh, he thinks, and it works pretty well" (117). This contrast is striking to all the other more careful patients. In many ways, McMurphy is a foil to Bromden, as he is very extroverted.
The Acutes
Harding shows the collective mind of the "Acutes", the group of patients that are still considered curable as opposed to the "Chronics". Through their conversations with McMurphy, the reader sees the mind games of the hospital and how it has altered their way of thinking. Harding is cautious, but seems to be more human than many of the other patients. Billy Bibbit is young Acute that stutters frequently. Cheswick is a falsely confident Acute that sides with McMurphy in most cases unless extremely intimidated.
Other Characters
-Public Relations- this man shows how fake and grotesque the outside world can be. A nasty, unlikable man, he comes in at times to show how wonderful things are in the hospital. He looks at how "they've made life look very pleasant" (127). In reality, it is all fake. His fake, unnatural laughter and shivering mimics this.
-Doctor Spivey- The doctor is submissive to Nurse Ratched as well. He doesn't express concern for the patients, but isn't as strict as Nurse Ratched. He is more easily swayed by McMurphy. Harding describes him as "completely conscious of his inadequacy." (63)
-Doctor Spivey- The doctor is submissive to Nurse Ratched as well. He doesn't express concern for the patients, but isn't as strict as Nurse Ratched. He is more easily swayed by McMurphy. Harding describes him as "completely conscious of his inadequacy." (63)