Chief Bromden is a half Indian narrator in Ken Kessey's 1959 novel,One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, which is set in a mental institute in Oregon (first published in 1962). Bromden has been in the asylum since the end of WWII and pretends to be a deaf-mute.
In the book Bromden recounts the story of the book's anti-hero, Randall Patrick McMurphy, who has been transfered from prison, after being convicted of battery, to the asylum. McMurphy rebels against the system and against one person in particular, Nurse Ratched. After a series of incidents and escapades which results in McMurphy assaulting Ratched after her bullying causes a patient to commit suicide, McMurphy is dragged off by orderlies. He then reappears as a vegetable, having been forced to undergo a lobotomy.
Bromden realises that if the other patients see McMurphy in this state that Ratched will have defeated him and succeeded in demoralizing the other patients who were only beginning to assert themselves as men because of McMurphy's influence.
Bromden takes the heavy decision to suffocate McMurphy with a pillow as he sleeps and thereby spare him the indignity of serving for the rest of his life as an example of what happens to those who buck the system.
Bromden then escapes the asylum by smashing a window and returns to his tribe's lands along the Columbia River
Chief Bromden has been in the ward for over ten years.
McMurphy discovers that Chief Bromden can hear during a conversation in the mental institution's day room. Chief Bromden reveals his ability to hear when he discreetly acknowledges something McMurphy says when no one else is listening.
The Combine threatens Chief Bromden to keep him in line and prevent him from rebelling against their oppressive system. They use intimidation and the fear of being sent to the Disturbed ward to control him. Additionally, they want to maintain their power and ensure that Chief Bromden does not disrupt their authority.
McMurphy helps Chief Bromden by inspiring him to rediscover his voice and stand up against the oppressive hospital staff. McMurphy's rebellious actions empower Chief Bromden to reclaim his sense of self and find the courage to assert his own identity. Through their friendship, Bromden gains confidence and begins to challenge the dehumanizing conditions of the mental institution.
Chief Bromden is afraid of the pool because he associates it with traumatic memories of seeing his Native American father drowned by the government in a pool. This experience left him with a deep fear and sense of powerlessness.
The story in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is told from the perspective of Chief Bromden, a patient at the mental hospital where the novel is set. Chief Bromden provides a unique and insightful point of view on the events and characters in the story.
Bromden serves as the narrator of the story and provides insight into the workings of the mental hospital and its patients. He also represents the voice of the marginalized and oppressed, giving depth to the novel's themes of power and freedom. Additionally, Bromden's character undergoes significant growth and transformation, making him an integral part of the novel's narrative.
"Though Ratched tries to give McMurphy a fate worse than death by having him lobotomized, Bromden dignifies McMurphy by killing him, assuring that McMurphy will always be a symbol of resistance instead of a lingering cautionary tale for future patients on Ratched's ward." -Sparknotes
Given that the novel takes place in the late 1950s and the Chief fought during WW2 and after attending college, he is probably in his late 30s or early 40s.
Nothing ever happened to the Chief Elder. She just wasn't really mentioned or seen after the ceromony.
Chief Financial Officers Act happened in 1990.
Commander in Chief - video game - happened in 2008.