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Chief Bromden does not play an entirely significant role in the novel, but he plays a pivotal role in the unfolding of the plot nevertheless. His narration is unreliable as he often recounts hallucinations but they are metaphoric and link to the allegory and the themes of the novel.

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As a symbol Kesey uses this in two ways:
1. As a representation of B's fear and inability to make connections/ fit into society due to his PTSD (explained on pg 118-119, and also page 7). This is shown on pg 115 when he says 'it's rolling in thicker than I ever seen it before.'
2. It is also a place for him to hide, but it is also something that cuts him off from the rest of the world- he sees it as safety, but as readers we recognise that this is an escape mechanism for him, related to his PTSD.
Pg113- 'you were safe from the enemy , but you were awfully alone.'

On the first page of Part 2, as he gains confidence the fog is lifting, and he is feeling stronger. Pg 129 'There's no more fog any place.'

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"If my being half Indian ever helped me in any way in this dirty life, it helped me being cagey, helped me all these years" - Page 1

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Bromden is the narrator throughout the book, and thus, the whole story is told through his perspective. This perspective is observant and insightful, using metaphor to demonstrate who the characters really are. As such, he reveals the true nature of the Combine and Nurse Ratched

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"And even as far back as grade school I can remember people  saying that they didn't think I was listening , so they quit listening to the things I was saying" - Page 210
This quote explains the background context behind the reason why Bromden doesn't speak - the reason behind his observant nature, why he gains knowledge by listening instead of talking

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Depicted as the bystander, the one cleaning the hospital by himself, while everyone else is congregating together - he is an outsider, doesn't join in with the crowd.

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He is depicted as being similar to the other men on the ward in terms of their interests eg. the fishing trip, alcohol, women. However, he depicts himself very differently before the fishing trip - not joining in with the men, being an outsider.

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By being a character that mostly observes, a design of Bromden is to show us, as a reader, the importance of observation and the power that it can have.

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"I'm cagey enough to fool them that much" (page 1)
"I was a whole lot bigger in those days" (page 39)

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"No. I'm way too little. I used to be big, but not no more. You're [McMurphy] twice the size of me"
- Chief Bromden p.219
"They don't know some of our people are lawyers in Portland, probably wouldn't believe if I told them." - p.210
"It wasn't me that started acting deaf; it was people that first started acting like I was too dumb to hear or see anything at all." p.210
"I'm not cold anymore. I think I've about made it. I'm off to where the cold can't reach me..." p.138

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How is he depicted by Bromden's narrative?

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How is he depicted by Bromden's narrative?

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Bromden depicts himself in an unconfident manner - seems as if he has low confidence in himself. This is because he is considered deaf by the rest of the men on the ward and therefore, is considered to have less ability than the others. This perceived view is transmitted to him, just because they think he is deaf and unable, he believes the same.

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- Due to his choice to remain silent, he as treated as a patient in the ward (they believe he is deaf and mute) and therefore experiences how they are treated

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"Nobody complains about all the fog. I know why, now: as bad as it is, you can slip back in it and feel safe. That's what McMurphy can't understand, us wanted to be safe."
(pg. 128)
The fog keeps Bromden from thinking about the world outside the Combine and prevents him from trying to improve his position. This quote represents Bromden's need for security, even if it means ignoring the harsh reality outside the Combine.

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By staying silent and appearing "deaf/mute" he has the ability to learn and listen to others. Through this, he gains a lot of knowledge by observing others and because they don't realise that he can hear them, they let out their secrets. In this case, knowledge is LITERALLY power. Knowledge is quintessential, for instance, having more knowledge than someone else, will allow one to build better weapons, machines, facilities. Information is a form of knowledge. However, it is important to recognise that he does not utilise the power that he gains through this knowledge. This displays that although he is strong man, he is doubtful of his own power. His confidence comes back with the arrival of McMurphy and to complete his salvation, he kills McMurphy.