Consider McMurphy and Mr. Keating, the two characters are very similar in many ways. Neither of them is in charge as they are both under the direction of their respective antagonist, either Nurse Ratched or Principle Nolan. However, throughout the progression of each plot, they teach and inspire either patients or students to become individuals. McMurphy empowered patients to take back the power of Nurse Ratched by showing them the way forward and teaching them that they are their own people and have their own rights. Mr. Keating teaches students how to think outside the box, as demonstrated when in class he strays from standard teaching methods and shows students a truly original life concept, "Carpe Diem." Towards the final moments of the plot, both characters become fully committed to their cause, resulting in self-sacrifice. McMurphy is lobotomized and Mr. Keating is expelled from Welton Academy. However, similarly in both plots, after both characters sacrifice themselves, they pass on what they have learned and enable others to overcome their struggle for independence. The leader leaves the establishment and the students oppose the Nolan principle with what they believe in. Weir and Kesey use these characters to inspire and support those fighting for independence and use their characterization as a technique to do so..