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In the novel
A cold, sadistic tyrant, Nurse Ratched has become the stereotype of the nurse as a "battleaxe." She has also become a popular metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and authority in bureaucracies such as the mental institution in which the novel is set.
Nurse Mildred Ratched is the head administrative nurse at the Salem, Oregon State (Mental) Hospital, where she exercises near-absolute power over the patients' access to medications, privileges, and basic necessities such as food and toiletries. She capriciously revokes these privileges whenever a patient displeases her. Her superiors turn blind eyes because she maintains order, keeping the patients from acting out, either through antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs or her own brand of "therapy", which consists mostly of humiliating patients into doing her bidding. Her greatest success is the stuttering, suicidal Billy Bibbit, who is so terrified of her that he does whatever she says.
When Randle McMurphy arrives at the hospital, however, her dictatorial rule is nearly toppled: he flouts her precious rules with impunity, and inspires other patients to follow. Her attempts to cow him into submission — at first with threats and mild punishments, then with shock therapy — are unsuccessful, serving only to fuel his defiance.
Eventually McMurphy sneaks his prostitute girlfriend into the asylum, and encourages her to relieve Billy of his virginity. Ratched threatens to tell Billy's mother about the transgression. Since Billy fears his mother as much as or more than he fears Ratched, the threat frightens him into committing suicide. Enraged, McMurphy attacks Ratched, and nearly chokes her to death.
In retribution, Ratched has McMurphy lobotomized. Another patient, Chief Bromden, the narrator of the book, later smothers McMurphy as a kind of mercy killing. While Ratched's main antagonist has been removed, however, her control over the other patients is gone. She can no longer speak, at least not very well, and often must write notes to communicate. McMurphy permanently damaged her vocal cords when he choked her, in effect destroying the primary tool she used to enforce her will. With Ratched crippled thus, the other patients can now think for themselves; she can no longer intimidate them.
She is spoofed in the Futurama episode Insane in the Mainframe, in which Fry and Bender are sent to an asylum.
In other media
Nurse Ratched was portrayed by Louise Fletcher in the 1975 film version of the novel in an Academy Award-winning role.
The role has been repeated on the stage by actresses including Janet Ward and Amy Morton.
Awards
- Louise Fletcher won an Oscar at the Academy Awards for Best Actress for her portrayal of Nurse Ratched in the film.
- Nurse Ratched was named the fifth greatest villain in film history by the American Film Institute in their series 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains.
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