The big nurse is a villain. At best, she neglects the well-being of the patients in pursuit of efficiency; at worst, she enjoys the pain she causes them. Chief tells us that, "she dreams of....a world of precision efficiency and tidiness" (29) and rejects individuals who "don't hate enough" (30). Thus, her evil is apparent-- for a society that values taking care of the sick and weak, her actions run contrary to moral norms. The patients recognize this, exclaiming, "'Ball cutter? Oh, you underestimate her'" (64)!
McMurphy is, although imperfect, a hero. He enters the ward boisterously, looking to cause trouble and immediate butting heads with the sadistic nurse. And yet, his good is apparent: he was honored with a "Distinguished Service Cross in Korea," and seems committed to the asylum merely due to a lack of self control. Furthermore, the audience appreciates the compassion demonstrated as he comforts Harding with the analogy of a pecking party (57-61).
Chief, at present, is an antihero. The audience sympathizes with him, but cannot fully trust or rely upon him. He is calm, and pacifistic, as demonstrated as the staffer marvels that he "'mine me like a baby'" (3) but the audience feels something missing, epitomized when Cheif says, "it's the truth even if it didn't happen" (8).
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