Laughter is used by Ken Kesey very notably. In the novel, the patients do not seem to have the ability to laugh at anything nor do they find anything funny. The patients live a very colorless life in which it is the same schedule day after day. They no longer have known what it is like outside of the combine because of the Big Nurse and her oppressing ways. McMurphy is a savior who brings life to the combine. He does this by introducing them to laughter. Laughter is used by Ken Kesey as a healing device. It gives life to the otherwise dull atmosphere of the combine and it is also used as a weapon against the Big Nurse.

As soon as McMurphy sees the patients he starts laughing. He automatically brings life to the combine through his laughter. He laughs out very loudly and starts making...