Leader vs. Con-Artist

After reading pages 243-266 in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey there were some things that made me wonder about McMurphy's character and his actions. In part III he takes initiative to put together a fishing trip with all of the other inmates, making each inmate pay him $10 for the boat cost. At first this seemed like a nice gesture to not only himself but to the other inmates, becuase he was getting them out of the ward. When the group gets to the dock the captain of the boat does not allow them to take the boat out because there was no waiver signed to protect him if there was an accident. Then McMurphy tells the captain to call a number and while the captain was calling the "brothel" the inmates took his boat out, and fished, and got drunk. This is where McMurphy's true self showed through. He conned the captain into calling a brothel number so he could gain personally. But in this case he did not gain personally the whole group gained. Throughout this book there has been a constant battle in my head because I can not figure out if McMurphy has good intentions or is just there to con people like Bromden. In the end of part III McMurphy shows some sort of affection toward Bromden and tells him that he will help him grow strong if he can move the control panel. In part IV McMurphy bets another inmate that Bromden cant move the control panel, but knowing that he already can he basically hustled the other inmate to win $5 and once again he comes out ahead. Even though McMurphy comes off as a con-artist I feel that he actually wants to help Bromden in some way. But i am sure McMurphy's actions later in the book will keep me from choosing a side of a Leader or a Con-Artist.