Character Analysis
Of all the nervous dudes who live on the mental ward, Cheswick is the most nervous of them all. It takes very little to make him fall to pieces with anxiety. That's why McMurphy tries to help him by teaching him to stick up for himself, whether that's by inspiring him to stand up for his rights or letting him steer a boat, saying "Now just go straight. Straight as an arrow, Charlie."
Cheswick Gets His Chin Up
Cheswick finally shows some gumption when he stands up in group therapy and rants at Nurse Ratched, screaming "I ain't no kid! I ain't no kid!" Cheswick's anxiety makes it very hard for him to function as an adult, and it hasn't made things any better for him to be treated like a child all the time. If anything, this treatment has made his condition worse. The sad thing is that when Cheswick finally stands up for himself, he gets electroshock therapy for his trouble.
Charlie C. never changes much throughout the movie. He's just as nervous as ever at the end, but he's sad to have lost his hero in McMurphy. Like Billy Bibbit, Cheswick admires the fact that McMurphy is never afraid. In fact, this seems to be the main thing that distinguishes McMurphy from the men on the mental ward. The other patients are always afraid, and McMurphy never is. Cheswick illustrates this difference better than any character.