Vera Harding uses her husband's insecurities about his homosexuality as well as her own assets in order to manipulate and belittle him. Vera, a voluptuous and beautiful woman, makes Dale feel inadequate with both her figure and her sneering remarks on his effeminacy, which is symbolized by his graceful, unmanageable hands. According to Bromden,

     He's got hands so long and white and dainty I think they carved each other out of      soap, and sometimes they get loose and glide around in front of him free as two      white birds until he notices them and traps them between his knees; it bothers him      that he's got pretty hands. (Kesey 23)

     Combined with the terror of his wife and her accusations of homosexuality and weakness, Dale is motivated to remain in the mental hospital voluntarily, and any confidence he may have in his ability to face the world openly with his homosexuality is eliminated.