One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is unique in that the narrator and arguably the main character of the story, Chief Bromden, is not the protagonist. Instead, McMurphy fills this role and Bromden acts as both the main character, providing our view of the story, and as the confidant of the real protagonist, McMurphy. Throughout the novel, Bromden acts as both an intentional and unintentional confidant, and through his proximity to McMurphy, he becomes close enough to realize McMurphy's true fears, motivations, and fears, ultimately carrying out the escape plan McMurphy's finale. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay From the first scene of the book, we see that people say things in front of Bromden that they otherwise would not have done. Because of his deafness and muteness, staff and patients are comfortable saying things in front of Bromden that they otherwise would not. For example, according to Bromden, black boys "don't bother to talk out loud about their hateful secrets when I'm nearby because they think I'm deaf and dumb." Everyone thinks so. (Kesey 3) The idea that everyone is comfortable discussing private details with Bromden is crucial to his development as a confidant in the novel, because even when he reveals his ability to speak later in the novel, the people in the room are conditioned to his role as confidant. For example, even after revealing that he could hear by voting to be able to watch the World Series, Bromden is allowed to clean the staff room during a meeting. This role is also important to the narrative of the novel, as it allows readers to know the intimate details of the people in the room while allowing the narration to remain from one character's point of view. While Bromden's perceived deafness and muteness serve him well in the role of general ward confidant, he grows closer to McMurphy through sheer proximity. Early on, McMurphy realizes that Bromden may not actually be deaf and mute, because when talking to Bromden at night, he realizes that Bromden responded when he mentioned that the black boys were coming, in saying, “Why did you really jump when I said it?” you, this raccoon, were coming, boss. I thought someone told me you were deaf. (Kesey 84) Later, the bond between McMurphy and Bromden grows as they continue to talk in their room. McMurphy makes Bromden laugh by asking him about the gum under his bed, and makes him feel "grown up" again by slowly restoring his confidence. Their bond is at its strongest when they are sent to the troubled ward together, and McMurphy experiences the electroshock therapy that the Bromdens have undergone so many times. Bromden plays the role of McMurphy's confidant on several occasions as their bond strengthens as previously described. When they are sent to the disrupted ward after their fight in the showers, McMurphy asks Bromden's opinion on what they are about to face, asking "What do they have on the agenda?" for us now, boss?” (Kesey 279) After McMurphy undergoes a lobotomy, Bromden demonstrates that he understands McMurphy beyond his appearance and the appearance he has shown to the world by acting as his confidant when he says, "Of course , they can do things like scars and broken noses, but they can't do this look. There is nothing in front. Just like one of those store mannequins…” (Kesey 321) Showing that he sees.