McMurphy’s positive impact on the patients continues to increase, prompting them to think more of themselves, as well as to question Nurse Ratched’s arbitrary and abusive authority. For example, Chief’s first utterances indicate a willingness to overcome his oppressive paranoia and engage himself communicatively with McMurphy. In addition, Chief, to his amazement, is able to recall details of his childhood for the first time in years. These memories recount when he first felt ignored, indicating to the reader that Chief has pinpointed the source or cause of his illness and, by extension, knows that he can be cured.
The control panel that McMurphy wants Chief to lift is significant. The panel represents one thing that McMurphy is incapable of achieving, as outlined in Part 1 when he loses a bet trying to lift it. That fact that Chief can lift it reveals that he is regaining his physical confidence, but because he’ll lift it as part of McMurphy’s attempt to win a bet against the other patients by tricking them foreshadows McMurphy’s downfall.
Chief’s observation of McMurphy’s tattoo also is revelatory in that it depicts the “dead man’s hand” of aces and eights, the poker hand that Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot to death.
