Chief Bromden

          Past experiences shape a person's personality and mold his behavior as he progresses through life. As we've come to know, Chief Bromden struggled with his invisibility as a young child forcing him to be shun as an outcast from society and ultimately be locked up in an asylum. We come to meet him as a guy who acts deaf and dumb to hide from others because of his fears and insecurities. I, like him, have found myself in situations were this is my only defense mechanism.

"I was a lot bigger in those days." (36)


      One summer I went to camp for the first time. It'd be only a couple of weeks and I'd be back home but I didn't really know anyone and wasn't really up to making any new friends. Like Chief, I hid away from others secluding myself and avoiding contact with my fellow campers to avoid that fear of rejection and simply to feel comfortable with myself. As a few days went by I was finally approached by another spanish speaking camper who started chatting me up. I went from no words to a few monosyllables and then finally I broke out. That feeling of comfort, understanding, and confidence burst into me and I'd never talked so much in my entire life.

       The chief experiences a similar effect that molds him back and makes him grow out of his shell when McMurphy approaches him. He feels comfortable and lets down his fears. Without even realizing  it he's growing back to his original size and at the end he's not only talking but standing up for himself.