y, even if those methods had worked with precision in the past. McMurphy and Nurse Ratched both desire the element of control so that they may influence the patients on the ward. They also know that only one of them can truly possess it. McMurphy wants control so that he can overthrow Nurse Ratched, which would give the men back their ability to control their lives. Nurse Ratched wants control because she wants the power to run the ward her way. They both gain control at some point during the novel. McMurphy gains control through rebellion and spite, and Nurse Ratched gains control through power, authority, and fear. In the end, they believe they have control over the other, but they do not realize that they both have lost control until it is too late. They both pay a harsh penalty for their struggle to gain control over the ward. Nurse Ratched forever loses her precious power status and authority over the institution, while McMurphy loses the friends he tired to help, his personality, and eventually his life. Throughout the novel, these two characters relentlessly fight to control each other. They both realize that control can never be absolute. This idea does not occur to either of them until after they have lost everything they sought to control. This is what makes the element of control such an important theme in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. ...
