"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" is an emotionally moving film which portrays the story of patients at a mental institution, and explores some strange incidents which occur on the premises, the maintenance of power achieved by the authorities, and the acts of rebellion that inevitably follow. The most prominent authority is Nurse Ratched and her henchmen staff. The nurse is a middle-aged woman who superficially appears to be caring and understanding but is in …showed first 75 words of 878 total…

…showed last 75 words of 878 total…others what they were missing. Symbolism in the film also takes the form of resonance or echo. It is symbolic that Chief should finally escape from the institute by attempting what McMurphy had tried but failed. Symbolically, Chief decides to kill McMurphy rather than leave him in a 'vegetable' state. This is his ultimate act of rebellion, as it is denying the institute staff the chance to suppress McMurphy and make an example of him.