One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest Laughter as Therapy

Laughter is a therapeutic form. In the novel One flew over the cuckoos nest by Ken Kesey laughter represents freedom and an escape from nurse Ratcheds restrictions. Laughter also proves a vital role in helping the patients deal with their problems. Not only does it help them deal with problems but it also gave them the push toward progress on getting out of the institution. Mcmurphy was the one who started making people laughing in the ward. When he first came into the ward he was cracking jokes and shaking everybodys hand. (p.16) No one in the ward responded with any real response but confusion. No body knew what laughter was in the ward, it was taken from them. The only thing they had was board games and Mrs. Ratcheds music†¦show more content†¦.It affects our psychoneuro-immunology. (Murphy) In other words, medical research has established a link between emotions, the nervous system and endocrine systems and ultimately the immune system. (The Boston Herald April 1, 2002 p033) The laughter in the ward keeps everyone pressed in. It is a way of restricting emotions. I havent heard a real laugh since I came through that door, do you know that? Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing. (46) This statement by Mcmurphy is true. Once he started joking around and loosening things up the patients didnt seem so crazy any more. Chief Broom actually started talking again, Billy didnt really care what the nurse cared any more, the whole ward was doing what every thing they wanted. They had the courag e to go against Nurse Ratched in the meetings, mean while they never had the guts to speak against her. Cheswick had the nervs to ask for more cigarettes. The laughter Mcmurphy brought about led to four of the acutes leaving the ward and six other acutes to transfer to a different institution. Laughing in itself is therapeutic. People laugh for many different reasons. 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