One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest Essay

OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNest

Sometimesinlifepeopleareforcedtoconformtoacertainsituationforlackofabetteralternative, andthisisthecaseinOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest.Thesesuchpeoplelackthewilltostandup fortheirscruples,andinternaresimplyguidedthroughtheirmundanelivesbythepowersthatbe. Untilsomeonecomesalongofferingthemleadershipandtheprospecttobecome"bigagain."The manwhodoessoisnootherthanR.P.McMurphy.Scanlon,Harding,Bibbit,andChiefBromden mayhavebecomeadjustedtotheoppressivesysteminwhichtheylived,butcertainlyweremuch betteradjustedtotherealworldandlifeingeneralaftertheirexperiencewithMcMurphy.Some peoplemayargue...showmorecontent...

SoonMcMurphyencouragesHardingtobreaktherulesbyexposinghimtothegambling,whichhe hasknownsowellfromtheoutsideworld."IamwageringthatIcanbughersoshecomesapartat theneatlittleseamsandshowsyouguyssheain'tasunbeatableasyouthink,"McMurphysays aboutRatched.Hardinggladlytakesthebetandevenputsoddsonit"fifteentofive."McMurphy alsogetsHardingriledwhenhestagesapretendbaseballonthetelevision,Hardingexclaims,"Run, youmotherlovingturkey,run!"knowingverywellthathewillangerNurseRatchedJustfroma fewdayswithMcMurphy,Hardinghasbecomemoreindependentandconfidentthanhehasbeen forthelastdozenyears.TowardstheendoftheplayHardinghasgainedsomuchconfidenceand couragethathedeliberatelysays,"Ladywethinkyouarefullofsomuchbull,"toNurseRatchet, thewomanwhomhehadfearedforyears.SlowlyMcMurphyisunintentionallybuildinghimupto thepointwherehecanbecomeadjustedtheeverydaylifeandeventuallyre–entertheoutsideworld AsecondpersonwhichMcMurphyaffectsisBillyBibbit,theyoungestpatientontheward.When McMurphyfirstcomestothehospital,Billyisnothingbutaninnocentboy,afraidtoconfrontother people,andstandupforwhathefeelsandbelievesInthebeginningoftheplayheisdeathlyafraid ofMiss

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestLiteraryAnalysis

FewnovelsencapsulatesuchauniqueviewoftheworldasOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest. WhilethemajorityoftheUnitedStateswasinturmoil(theColdWarandtheVietnamWar),Ken Keseywasworkinginapsychiatrichospital.Basedonhisexperienceasanightaide,Keseywrote hisfirstnovelOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestin1962.OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestpresents aviewofchangingsocietyunseenbymostAmericansLifeisexplainedthroughtheeyesofChief Bromden,aschizophrenichalfIndianwhospentmostofhisadulthoodinapsychiatrichospital.

CalledTheCombinethroughoutthenovel,ChiefBromdenexplainssocietyfromaunique perspectiveanddisplaystheconformityitenforcesThroughoutthenovel,ChiefBromdenshow morecontent...

Howmuchbigger?""BiggerthanPapaandmetogether.""Justonedaytooktogrowin',huh?...And whenatownwomanmarriesanIndianthat'smarryin'somebodybeneathher,ain'tit?Yeah,IthinkI see.""No.Itwasn'tjustherthatmadehimlittle....Oh,theCombine'sbig–big.Hefoughtitalong timetillmymothermadehimtoolittletofightanymoreandhegaveup"(Kesey220)Chief's motherwasapartoftheCombine;sheaidedthegovernmentingettingChiefTeeAhMillatoonato sellhisland.Althoughshewasafairlyaveragesizedwoman,hesawherasahumongousperson becauseoftheinsaneamountofpowerthatshehad.Inthesameconversation,ChiefBromdenand McMurphyaretalkingabouttheywayMcMurphyhadquitajobhehadwhenhewasyounger.He turnedalloftheadultsagainsteachother,thencalledthemoutHethenasksChiefBromdenifthat's hisplan.WhenChiefBrodmansaysno,McMurphyaskswhy."YouarebiggerandtougherthanI am.Youcandoit.""Me?Areyoukidding?Criminy,lookatyou:youstandaheadtaller'nanyman onthewardThereain'tamanhereyoucouldn'tturneverywaybutloose,andthat'safact!""No I'mwaytoolittle.Iusedtobebig,butnotnomore.You'retwicethesizeofme.""Hooboy,youare crazy,aren'tyou?"(Kesey

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InmyopinionthemainthemeofOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisconformity.Thepatientsat thismentalinstitution,oratleasttheoneintheBigNurse'sward,findthemselvesonarough situationwherenotfollowingstandardscoststhemmanyprivilegesbeingtakenawayThestandards thattheCombinesetsarewhatmakesthepatientssoafraidofachangeandsimplyconform hopelesslytowhattheyhavesinceanythingoutoftheordinarywouldgetthemintrouble.Such conformityiswhatMcMurphycannotstandandmakeshimbringlifebacktothewardbyfighting MissRatchedandcreatinganewenvironmentforthepatients.OneFlewOvertheCuckoo's Nestshowmorecontent

Keseymakessurethereadergetsamentalpictureofthesituationsbuthealsomakesuseofmany literaryterms.Themostcommonliterarytermused,thatispresentatleasttwiceineverypageof OneflewovertheCuckoo'sNest,issimile,whereacomparisonismadebetweentwoseemingly unfamiliarthings.AnexampleofasimileispresentwhenBromdendescribesoneoftheprostitutes: "Herfingernailsareredasdropsofbloodagainsttheshinyblackpatent–leatherpurse"(172).The authormakesuseofonomatopoeiawhentheChiefnarrates:"Hepullsthecigarettefromhisthin crackofasmile,andthelaughstartsupagain–eee–eee–eee"(62).Keseyalsomakesuseofa metaphorwhenHardingsays:"MrMcMurphymyfriendI'mnotachicken,I'marabbitThe doctorisarabbit.Cheswickthereisarabbit.BillyBibbitisarabbit.Allofusinherearerabbitsof varyingagesanddegrees,hippity–hoppingthroughourWaltDisneyworld."(62),implyingthatall ofthepatientsare,indeed,rabbits"Oursweet,smiling,tenderangelofmercy"(58)isanironic kenningreferringtoMissRatched.TherealsoareaseriesofflashbacksthroughoutOneFlewOver theCuckoo'sNestthat

OneflewEast,OneflewWest,Onediedwithoutapartofhisbrain.

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNest:WritingAnalysis

FollowingmyreadingofPrideandPrejudice,Iwasreadyforanewtypeofstory,setinadifferent timeandplacewithaverydifferentwritingstyle.OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestcaughtmy interestbecauseoftheuniqueplotandthecomplexityofthecharacters.Attheendofquarterthree, weweregivenanotherwritingassignmenttotestourknowledgeofthebookandthecharacters.For thisassignment,wewereinstructedtochooseacharacterfromourbookandcreateacollege applicationforher.Theassignmentwasmeanttogiveusabreakfromthetraditionalfinalbook reviewassignmentsandgetusthinkingofthecharactersinadifferentway.Wewereexpectedto usealltheinformationthebookprovidedanduseourknowledgeof ...Getmorecontent...

OneFlewOverTheCuckoo’sNest

Thesignificanceofthetitlecanbeinterpretedinthisquote.Thestoryisaboutastruggleina psychiatricward,wheremany“cuckoos';reside,“Ting.Tingle,tingle, trembletoes,she’sagoodfisherman,catcheshens,puts‘emin pens…wireblier,limberlock,threegeeseinnaflock…onefleweast,one flewwest,oneflewoverthecuckoo’snest…O–U–Tspells out…gooseswoopsdownandplucksyouout';Thisiswherethetitlecomesfrom,the cuckoo’snestbeingthepsychiatricwardandMcMurphybeingthegoosewhoplucks “you';out.

TheauthorofthisbookisKenKesey,alsoauthorshowmorecontent

Itwasusthathadbeenmakinghimgoonforweeks,keepinghimstandinglongafterhisfeetand legshadgivenout,weeksofmakinghimwinkandgrinandlaughandgoonwithhisactlongafter hishumorhadbeenparcheddrybetweentwoelectrodes.';So,eventhepatients,whohadsuffered theoppressionsofsociety,becameasocietyoftheirown,forcingMcMurphytostandupforthem becausetheyweretoosmalltodoitthemselves.

Anotherthemeinthenovelismachinerytakingover.Throughoutthenovel,Chieftalksabout implantsandmonitoringdevicesplacedthroughoutthehospitalInhis“visions';he picturestheBigNurseasvarioustypesofmachinery,“Soshereallyletsherselfgoand herpaintedsmiletwists,stretchestoanopensnarl,andsheblowsupbiggerandbigger,bigasa tractor,sobigIcansmellthemachineryinsidethewayyousmellmotorpullingtoobigaload'; Anotherthemeismaintainingyourhumanity.TheoppressiontheBigNursewieldsoverthe patients,shrinksthemdownuntilthey’renolongerhuman.“No.Youwere right.Youremember,itwasyouthatdrewourattentiontotheplacewherethenursewas

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OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest:Power

Peoples'abilitytousepowertocontrolandmanipulatesituationsandpeopleisaskillnotmany peoplehave.UnfortunatelythisskillcanleadtoconflictasitdidinKenKesely'snovelOneFlew OverTheCuckoo'sNestwhen McMurphyandNurseRatchedmeeteachother.

McMurphyhasbeenafterNurseRatched'spowerrightfromthebeginning.

Afterthefirstgroupmeetinghepointedoutthatthemeetingwaslikea "peckingparty".TheNursestartsitwithpointingoutsomethingwrongwithsomeone andthenthemenjoininwiththeircriticism.Herbookwasthesameidea.Themenwouldlistento eachotherandwhenonesaidsomethingshowmorecontent

ThepatientsadmiredMcMurphybecausenoonehadeverstooduptoherbefore,andhewoulddo thingsforthemsuchasarrangingbasketballgamesHewasalsotheonewhoenabledthepatientsto usethetubroomforcardgames,andsotheycouldgetawayfromthathorrifyingmusicthatthe nursealwaysplayed.Thetubroomisalsosignificantinthepowerstrugglebecauseitwasthedoctor whohelpedMcMurphyobtainit.TheDr.wastheonewhocameupwithallthesolutionsforthe problemsthatthenursewouldbringuptotryandstopthemenfromusingit.McMurphyandthe Doctorevenwenttothesamehighschoolandthenursecaughtthemreminiscingaboutoldtimes, laughing,yellingandhavingagreattime.

Thedoctor,theonewhoissupposetohelpthenurse,helpedMcMurphyintakingthemenona fishingtripthatthenurseclearlydidn'tapproveofShedidherbesttotryandpersuadethemento stay.Shecutoutarticlesofpeopledying,crashinginshipwrecksandhowterribletheweatherwas andputthemonthebulletinboardtoscarethemensotheywouldn'tgo.Italmostworked. McMurphyneededonemoreperson,afterhesigneduptheChiefhemadeadealwithGeorgethatif hecamehecouldbecaptainoftheship,soGeorgecame.

ButthenMcMurphyhadtwogirlsthatweresupposetocomewithcars,butonly ...Getmorecontent...

OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestEssay

TheTruthEvenIfItDidn'tHappen:OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestBy:AubreeMartinezPeriod 1OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestbyKenKeseyisoneofthegreatestnovelsofthe1960sthat expertlyusesmentalillness,rebellion,andabusedauthoritytocaptivatethereaders.Thisbookis denselypopulatedwithinterestingcharacters,suchasthenewadmissionR.P.McMurphy,that makesyoudivebelowthesurfaceofsanity,rebellion,andauthoritativeissuesthatarespread throughoutthepages.Thedifferentelementsincorporatedwithinthisbookleavesreadersdiggingto findouttheanswerstothequestionsthesurfaceofthetextcouldnotexplain.Inthisbook,the rebelliousandMessiah–like"McMurphy"passeshistendenciesandcourageontohisfellowpatients inafighttofreetheirtrappedmindsandjailedsoulsfromthehandsofauthority.Withinthewallsof theinstitutionthenoveltakesplacein,mentalillnessisaprominenttheme.Thefactthatthenarrator ChiefBromdenisadiagnosedschizophrenicgreatlyaffectsthetextandhowpeoplemayinterpretit. "Likeacartoonworld,wherethefiguresareflatandoutlinedinblack,jerkingthroughsomekindof goofystorythatmightberealfunnyifitweren'tforthecartoonfiguresbeingrealguys"(Kesey 33).Bromdenseestheworldthroughhiseyeslikeacartoonanddoesn'thaveacleargrasponreality duetohisschizophrenia–plaguedmind.Bromdenviewsthepeopleonthewardas

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FamousAmericanAuthorKenKeseyisknownformanybooksbutthemostpopularone"OneFlew OvertheCuckoo'sNest"encountersconflictandsomeofthecharacter'sinnerstrugglesthatare resolvedatmajorpricesintheend.Keseyusestheportrayaloffantasyandhowpeoplegetcaught upandlosesightofhumanityaltogethertotakeyouthroughthemisconductofahospitalwardand howitaffectseveryoneinsideKeseyalsoexploressomeofthecharacterslossofidentityandhow somemayovercomeitbutmanydon't.KenKeseywasborninLaJunta,ColoradoonSeptember17, 1935.LaterheattendedStanfordUniversitybutsoonafterservedtobeanexperimentalsubjectand anaideinthehospitalwhichsoonledtooneofhismostpopularshowmorecontent Healsoisveryinfluencedbyincreasingone'sdependencewithtechnologyandthroughouthisnovel OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestheusesrebellionagainstsocietyandgoingagainstthelaw. "WhenNewYorkwantstoviewsomebody'spersonality,theywantitintermsofasoundbite," Keseysaid."Theydon'twanttohaveitgettoocomplex.It'slikecomingover[toourperformance] tonightWegotcaughtinthetrafficAndIjusthatecomingtoaplacelatebecauseIknowthat's whattheyexpectofmeandmyPranksterupbringing.[Theythink]'Hereheis;he'slate;he's probablymessedup.'ButI'mnot.I'vealwaysbeenareliable,straight–up–the–middle–of–the–road citizenthatjusthappenstobeanacidhead."(Kesey6).Thisshowshowmanypeopledonotbelieve thatKeseyisareliablepersonandthatheis"messedup"inawayfromthethingsthathehasdone butheexplainshowthatisnottrue"ThegreatestthingCowleytaughtmewastorespectother writers'feelings.Ifwritingisgoingtohaveanyeffectonpeoplemorally,itoughttoaffectthewriter morally.Itisimportanttosupporteveryonewhotriestowritebecausetheirvictoriesareyour victoriesSoIhaveneverreallyfeltthatbittercattinesswritersfeeltowardtheirpeers"(5)Kesey explainshowheisnotlikeotherwritersandheisajustlikeeveryoneelseanddoesnotfeelbitterto hispeersliketheyarelesserthan

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Asmedicaladvancesarebeingmade,itmakesthetreatingofdiseaseseasierandeasier.Mental hospitalshavechangedthewaythetreatapatient'sillnessconsiderablycomparedtothehospital describedinOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest.

"Pleaseunderstand:Wedonotimposecertainrulesandrestrictionsonyouwithoutagreatdealof thoughtabouttheirtherapeuticvalueAgoodmanyofyouareinherebecauseyoucouldnotadjust totherulesofsocietyintheOutsideWorld,becauseyourefusedtofaceuptothem,becauseyou triedtocircumventthemandavoidthem.Atsometime–perhapsinyourchildhood–youmayhave beenallowedtogetawaywithfloutingtherulesofsocietyWhenyoubrokearuleyouknewitYou wantedtobe...showmorecontent...

Inaddition,whenapersonfeelscompelledtowithdrawthemselvesfromsocialmeetings,family situations,andtheworkplace.(CarmanResearch).

Despitetheseverenessofthedisease,therearewaysoftreatingittoday.Apsychiatricprofessional stated,"SchizophreniaisnotthedreadeddiseaseitwasaboutthirtyyearsagoNow,withearly diagnosis,speedyinitiationoftreatment,carefulmonitoringofmedication,regularfollow–up, properresidential,vocationalandrehabilitativesupportsystemsinplace,thelong–termoutcomeis quitefavorable."

Treatmentforthediseaseinvolvesthreemainareasthatarefocusedontosuiteachindividual patient'sneedsThepatientmustbehospitalized,medication,andawareness Hospitalizationandregularcheckupsarenecessarywhenapersonfirstbecomesillwith schizophrenia.Usually,theyareadmittedintoahospital.Thisallowsdoctorstoobserve,and diagnoseapatientsothatthepropermedicationcanbegivenunderthesupervisionofatrainedstaff Medicationisthemajortreatment;thedrugsareusedtokeepthepatient'sillnessundercontrol, althoughthiscanhaveitsdownsides.Thereisnowayadoctorcanbesureamedicationwillbethe correctoneforacertainpatient.Thismeansthemedicationsmustbeexperimentedorplayedwith untiltherightdruganddosageisfound.Ifthewrongmedicationwastobeadministeredside,effects suchasdrymouth,drowsiness,

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Whenmedicationfailstorelaxthesymptomsofmentalillness,thereareotheroptionsthataretried. Brainstimulationtechniquessuchaselectroconvulsivetherapy,forexample,canbeusedtotreat illnessesthathavenotrespondedtostandardtreatmentsElectroconvulsivetherapy(ECT)hasbeen usedtotreatpsychiatricpatientssincethelate1938.ThemainreasonforECTtreatmentsinNorth AmericaandEuropeweretotreatmooddisorders(bipolardepression,andunipolardepression)and schizophrenia(Pitidhammabhornetal5)MilosForman'sunrealisticportrayalofelectroconvulsive therapy(ECT)inOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestnegativelyshapedthegeneralpublic's perceptionsofthismedicalprocedure.Asaresult,manyunenlightened...showmorecontent... ECTwasdoneinoperatingroomsbythepsychiatricstaff.BeforetheECTwasevenadministered, thestaffwouldmakesurethatthepatientdidnotfeelathingduringtheprocedure."Anesthetic drugsusedroutinelyarethiopental,orpropofolandthetypicalmusclerelaxantissuccinylcholine" (Pitidhammabhorn,etal.6).So,today'spatientsthatreceiveECTaregivenmusclerelaxantsand anestheticsotheydonotfeelanypain.Also,patientsaregivenelectricshockswhiletheyare unconsciousWithallofthissaid,the"modified"versionofelectroconvulsivetherapyiscompletely sameandisnotabrutalprocedurebecause,thepatientsdonotendureanypainthroughoutthe wholethingECThasbecomemuchsaferthanthedangerouspastshowninOneFlewOverthe Cuckoo'sNest.Electroconvulsivetherapyhaslittleresemblancetothatdepiction.ECTbringsabout fastresultscomparedtosomeothermedicationsandtreatments.Aftertheshock,thereisimmediate relieftothesymptomsofmanymentalillnessesTheelectriccurrentonlylastsforafewseconds andtheseizurelastsforaboutaminute.ManymedicationstakeweekstobecomeeffectiveandECT isanidealoptionforthosepeoplethatneedthereliefrightaway.ECThasoftenworkedwhenmany othertreatmentshave

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestEssay

ReneSteele Mr.RyanStrunz CollegePrepEnglish

9January,2015

CollegeBoundNovel:OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestbyKen Keseyisabrilliantnovelcopyrightedin1963itisaboutamantestinghislimitswithhisauthority, thenurse.KenKeseywasinfluencedtowritethisnovelafterbeingpartofaexperimentinvolving theeffectLSDhadonpeople'sminds("OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestBackground")Thisnovel showswhatIbelievearetrueaspectsofthewayourworldconceivespeoplewithinamental institution.ThenovelstartswithBromden,thenarratoralsoapatientoftheinstitution,sweepingthe hallswhilethenursetargetsthe"blackmen."SoonafterMcMurphyisbroughtinasanew admission,patient.Immediatelyeverybodynoticeshispresencebecauseofhowhecarrieshimself whenhegetstheirWhenhefirstcomesinhegoesintothedayroomandintroduceshimselfto everyone.Hethenbringsalevelofintimidationtoallofthepatientsandletsthemknowthatheis goingtobe"takingover."Hefirstbringsgamblingintothehospitalbettingwithcigarettes,andhe soonbecomestopdogatthehospitalnotlettinganyoneevencomeshowmorecontent InvisibilityisaverydisplayedthemewhenitcomestoBromdenwithinthenovel.Bromdenisseen tobea"deafdumbIndian"howeverheisnotdeafWhichallowshimtobeobservantwithout anyonethinkingtwiceaboutit.McMurphyistheonlycharacterthatbreaksthroughhisbarrierof invisibilityandmakesacloserelationshipwithhim.ThesecondthemeIfoundisthepowerof intimidation,InoticethisasathemebecauseMcMurphyhasgainedalotofpoweroverallofthe residentsbecauseofintimidation.Hehastheabilitytogetintotheirmindsandchangedecisions theymayormaynotwanttomake,whichhelpshimgetawaywithallofthebadthingshebring intothehospital.(Kesey,

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OneFlewOvertheCuckoo’sNestEssay

OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest

WrittenbyKenKesey,OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestwaspublishedin1967byPenguinBooks. Thisstorywaswrittenbasedontheauthor'sexperiencewhileworkinginamentalinstitution.He heldlongconversationswiththeinmatesinordertogainabetterunderstandingofthemItwas duringthisperiodthathewrotethefirstdraftofOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest.Mostofthe charactersinthenovelarebaseduponactualpatientshemetwhileworkingatthehospital.

OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestissetinamentalhospitalinOregon.Thenovelisdividedinto fourparts.PartsOne,TwoandFouraresetinthehospitalitself.InPartThree,thepatientsfromthe hospitalgoonashowmorecontent

Shebelieveshimtobeanordinarymanandthathewilleventuallysettledown.Nonetheless, McMurphycontinuestodoallhecantoannoyherThroughtoutthestory,thetwobattleagainst eachother,seeingwhowillgiveintowhofirst.Everythingisratherharmlessuntilandinmates partyrollsaround.McMurphysmugglesinprostitutestohelpouttheinmate,Billy.Whenthenurse foundoutwhathadbeengoingonshewasfurious.Billyendedupslittinghisthroatandbleedingto death.McMurphywasinrealtroublewiththenursethistime.ToretaliatehetoreopenNurse RatcheduniformAsaresult,McMurphyistakenawayandgivealobotomyWhenhereturns,he hasbeenchangedintoavegetable.HisIndianfriendknownasChiefBromdencannotbeartoseehis friendinsuchastate,andendsupsmotheringhimtodeathtosavehimfromsuchamiserable existenceHowever,heescapestofreedomafterthatIronically,deadMcmurphyhadgiventhis mananewlife.

McMurphyisagamblingIrishmanandconvict,whogrowstiredoflaboringatthePendletonprison farm.Toescapeprisonlife,hefeignsinsanityandgetshimselfinvoluntarilycommittedtoamental hospitalinOregonHetriestobringaboutachangeatthehospital,forhedoesnotlikethefactthat grownmenactlike"rabbits"andarescaredoftheBigNurse.Hetriesashardashecanto"gether goat",bynotdoingthedutiesheisgiven.Healsoironicallyendsupservingasa

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestEssay

OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestbyKenKeseytakesplaceinapsychiatrichospitalinOregon duringtheearly1960's.Ourmaincharacter,RandleMcMurphy,actsinsanetoserveouthis sentenceonaprisonfarmwithouthavingtocompleteanywork.McMurphyintroduceshimselfto theothermeninthewardandthenursesasaconfidentcharacter.Herepresentsfreedomandself determinationcommonduringthe1960's,whentherewasalotofpoliticalunrest/aswellaslimited trusttowardsthegovernment.Heseemscontentwiththehospital,andbelievesthatnothingis wrongwithitexceptforwhorunsit.InchargeofthewholewardisNurseRatched,whoexercises herabusivepoweroverallthemenandseekstocontroleveryaspectofthehospitalOneFlewOver theCuckoo'sNesthasplentyofsymbolismregardingtheUnitedStatesgovernment,protests,and culturalchangesduringthisconflictedperiodthroughouttheshowmorecontent ThenovelissharedthroughtheviewpointofChiefBromden,whoactsilliterateanddeaftowards theothermenandnursesinordertogounnoticed/ashiddenaspossible.Thebookisbrokenupinto foursections,whichcanbeinterpretedasrepresentingdifferentstagesofMcMurphy'smental instability.McMurphyisseenastheprotagonistthroughoutthenovel,heiscertainlychallenging thepowerofNurseRatchedandquicklymoveshimselfuptobeingaleaderamongthemen.The bookcanbeacomparisonbetweentheUnitedStates,inferringthatNurseRatchedisthebooks symbolfortheUnitedStatesgovernmentduetoheractionsbeingveryauthoritarianjustsimilarto theUnitedStatesduringthe1960sChiefBromdengivesinsightintoNurseRatchedandheractions thatmakethereaderdrawonthiscomparison,"Shestopsandnodsatsomeofthepatientscometo standaroundandstareoutofeyesallredandpuffywithsleep.Shenodsoncetoeach.Precise, automaticgestureHerfaceis

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestEssay

"Butit'sthetruthevenifitdidn'thappen"(Kesey8).Nosinglequotecanencapsulateboththenovel OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestandthe1960saswellasthisonedoes.Itshowstheunreliable narratorofOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest.Duetohisschizophrenia,ChiefBromden's hallucinationsmakehimunreliable,becausehehimselfcan'ttellthedifferencebetweenrealityand fantasyformostofthenovelThisquote,however,alsoappliestothe1960sEachandeveryperson inthe1960swereprotestingforsomething,whetheritwasanunjustwaracrosstheocean, attemptingtofightthethreatofgrowingCommunism,orevenfightingfortheirbasichumanrights. Becauseofthis,everypersonhadtheirownopinionofwhatthe1960swereJustbecauseeach accountisincrediblyunique,andtheviewpointsarediverse,eachperson'sstoryistrue,evenifitis riddledwithbiasesandopinions.showmorecontent

OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisbasedonhisexperiencesandhisinteractionswiththepatients atthehospital.Thisfurtherlendsitselftothequoteabove,ashisexperiencewas"true",evenifthe storiesareexaggeratedThe1960swereauniquetimeofrelativeprosperityontheHomefront,but withprosperitycameintenseconflict.Protestsforbasichumanrights,forthelivesofthemselves andothers,happenednearlyeveryday.Eachpersonhadanopinion,andtheseopinionswerenot hiddenorcensoredintheslightest.OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisanovelthatencapsulatesa uniqueviewofanalreadyuniquedecade.Bypresentingthedecadethroughtheperspectiveofa mentallyunstablegroupofpeople,itisseentheharmdonetoeveryoneinthedecade,regardlessof race,class,socialstanding,politicalvalues,ormental

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OneFlewOverTheCuckoo'sNestLiteraryAnalysis

Intheirpieces,OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest,andDeadPoet'sSociety,authorKenKesey,and TomSchulman,respectively,adoptsetting,plot,andcontrastingcharacterisationtoexplorethe centralthemeofastruggleforindependence.BothKeseyandSchulmansettheirstoriesin exaggeratedinstitutions,whereintheinternalcommunityisrepressedbyoverbearingauthority figuresHowever,duetotheirvaryingmediaformats,theportrayal,imagery,andsymbolismofthe settingdiffers.Theplotinboththenovelandthefilmisparallelasbothcentreawildcardentering themicrocosmthatistheinstitutions.Thefigurepreachesfreedom,however,disasterstrikes,andat theconclusionofthenovelthecommunityregressesbacktonormalFinally,contrasting characterisationisusedinthesamemanner–theprotagonistandthecommunityarecontrasted. Theshowmorecontent

Throughtheuseofthesetechniques,bothKeseyandSchulmaneffectivelyportraythestrugglefor independence.OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest,andDeadPoet'sSocietyarebothsetinrigid institutionswithstrictregimesInessence,theunbendingtraditionscoupledwiththepressureto conformtotheinstitution'sperceptionofnormal,createsamicrocosmofsocietyinbothtexts.In addition,theoutsideworldrepresentsfreedom,andtheideasofescapeintheoutsideworld,and escapeindeathishighlightedinboth.InOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNesteachdaywasroutine, andstrictlyadheredto.Anydeviancefromthe'normal'wasmetwithharshpunishmentfromthe totalitarianNurseRatched,throughthethreatoftheelectroshocktableandotherde–masculating formsofpunishment.TheChief'scommentaryonthedailyroutine,reflectionsonNurseRatched

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3May2011

OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestInthenovel,"OneFlewovertheCuckoo'sNest,"byKenKesey, thebookhasalotofmeaning,symbolism,andimagery.Thisbookhasbeencriticizedbymany aroundthecountryandhasevenbeenconsideredtobebannedinhighschoolsnationwide.One FlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisseenasobscene,racist,immoral,andsexisttosomeeyesItdoes havesomebizarrelanguage,andsomeobscenescenes,buteverygreatliteratureattemptstogivean accuratepictureofsomepartofthehumancondition,whichislessthanperfect.(Sutherland42) Beinginamentalhospital,therearegoingtobesomelanguagethatmaybeoffensiveandtherealso willbesituationstherethatarealittle...showmorecontent...

ThecrewthatisinMcMurphy'swardconsistsofBillyBibbit;anervousyoungmanwhoisalways stutteringandstammeringeverytimehetalks;CharlieCheswick,amanwhoisknownforhis temperandimmaturefitsinthegroupmeetings;Martini,whoisdelusional;DaleHarding,ahigh educatedparanoidwhoismarried;Tabor,whoisanaggressivemanwhousesprofanewords;and ChiefBromden,asixfootsevenIndianwhoisbelievedtobedeafanddumb.McMurphycomesinto thewardchallengingNurseRatchedbytryingtodisobeyortogoagainsteverythingshedoes. NurseRatchedrunsherwardwithstrictperfection,doingeverythingeverydayinatimelyroutine. Thenursehasevenselectedherstaffandaidespersonallyinhelpingherrunherward.McMurphy goesaroundthewardinahumorousmoodallofthetimeHetriestofindthefunnysideof everythingthatgoesaroundintheward,andisalsotryingtogeteveryoneelsetoloosenup.His goodmoodslowlystartstogeteveryoneelseinthewardtolightenup,andtheystarttolaugh themselvesIttakesthemawhiletogetusedtowhatisgoingonbecausetheyhavebeenscaredand infearofthewayNurseRatchedrunsherward.McMurphytalktoHardingaboutwhatisgoingon hereintheward.HardingadmitsthatallofthepatientsandevenDr.SpiveyareafraidoftheBig Nurse.Headdsthatthepatients

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OneFlewovertheCuckoosNestEssay

OneFlewOverTheCuckoo’sNestThesignificanceofthetitlecanbeinterpretedinthis quote.Thestoryisaboutastruggleinapsychiatricward,wheremany“cuckoos” reside,“Ting.Tingle,tingle,trembletoes,she’sagoodfisherman,catcheshens,puts ‘eminpens…wireblier,limberlock,threegeeseinnaflock…onefleweast, oneflewwest,oneflewoverthecuckoo’snest…O–U–Tspellsout…goose swoopsdownandplucksyouout.”Thisiswherethetitlecomesfrom,thecuckoo’s nestbeingthepsychiatricwardandMcMurphybeingthegoosewhoplucks“you” outTheauthorofthisbookisKenKesey,alsoauthorofDemonBoxandSometimesashowmore content...

Hee.Weare–therabbits,onemightsay,oftherabbitworld.”BeforeMcMurphyenteredthe ward,mostofthemenwerehusks;theyweresochagrinedtheywouldn’tevenlaughout loud.MajorCharactersMcMurphy–Robust,strapping,humorous,andlarge,McMurphyisthemain characterofthenovelHemanipulatedthecourtsystemtogethimselfcommittedintothemental ward(togetoutofaworksentence).Hisentranceintothewardsetsoffawholechainofevents,as heandtheBigNursebattleeachotherforthecontroloftheward.Heseesthecorruptionand immoralactsbindingthepatientsintheward,andsoonsetsouttochangethem.Hischaracteris oftenparalleledwithJesus.Indeed,heisamartyrfortryingtosavehispeople,butthereareother hintstooTheShockShop(Electro–shocktherapy)issetupso,“Youarestrappedtoatable, shaped,ironically,likeacross,withacrownofelectricsparksinplaceofthorns.”Inthe end,McMurphyreceivesalobotomy,andislaterkilledbyChiefBromden.Heisalmostatragic hero,butafterhisoperation,manyofthepatientsleavetheward,sincetheyarenolongerrabbits NurseRatcheda.k.a.BigNurse–Controlling,apathetic,andcold,NurseRatchedisthevillaininthe novel.Sheisincontroloftheward,andhasthefateofeverypatientinher

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LITERARYANALYSISOneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisanovelwrittenbyKenKeseyduring atimeinoursocietywhenpressuresofourmodernworldseemedattheirgreatest.Manypeople were,atthistime,deemedbysociety'sstandardstobeinsaneandinstitutionalizedOneFlewOver theCuckoo'sNestissetinawardofamentalinstitution.Themajorconflictinthenovelisthatof power.Powerisarecurringandoverwhelmingthemethroughoutthenovel.Keseyshowsthepower ofwomenwhoareassociatedwiththepatients,thepowerNurseRatchedhas,andalsothepower McMurphyfightstowin.Bydefault,healsoshowshowlittlepowerthepatientshave.When discussingthethemeofpowerinOneFlewOvertheCuckoo's...showmorecontent...

Laughtermakesthepatientsfeelgood,and,specifically,Bromdenfeelsgoodandbeginsto rememberotherthingsthatmadehimfeelgood(Tanner4).McMurphy'spowerinlaughteris intensifiedbyNurseRatched'slackoflaughterMcMurphy'slaughterandhumoraregenuinewhile NurseRatched'shumorisforcedandsmilesarechiseledlikeinplastic(Wallace3,5).Power enablesMcMurphytomakechangesonthewardandtosurviveintheinstitution.Hissanity comparedtotheotherpatients,hismanipulations,andhisabilitytolaughgivehimthepowerHe,in turn,givespatientsasenseofpowerbyteachingthemtolaughatthemselves,NurseRatched,and theworld(Magill1533)Secondinadiscussionofpowerarethewomenassociatedwiththe patients.Thesupervisoratthehospitalisassociatedwiththepatientsbycontrollingwhois employedtotakecareofthepatients.NurseRatchedandthesupervisorservedintheArmytogether asnursesTheyarestillverycloseandhaveagoodrelationshipBecauseofthisrelationship,Nurse Ratched'semploymentissecuredandotherswon'tstanduptoherforfearoflosingtheirownjobs. Hardingstates"Inthishospital,thedoctordoesn'tholdthepowerofhiringandfiring.Thatpower goestothesupervisorandthesupervisorisawoman,adearoldfriendofMissRatched's"(61).The receptionistonthewardisNurseRatched'sneighbor

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Themovie,"OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNest",isafilmthatrelatestoFoucault'sanalysisof disciplineandpunishment.Foucault'sargumentisthatpowerworksinadisciplinarywayincurrent societyThemoviecanrelatetothisbecausetheinstitutionthatthemovietookplaceinwasran usingFoucault'sdisciplinarytechnique.Therearemanyscenesfromthefilmthatgiveananalysisof Foucault'sargument.Foucaultbelievesthatpeoplehavethepowertopunishthedocilebodiesthat theyproduceFoucaultarguesin"TheCarceral"that,"Theleastactofdisobedienceispunishedand thebestwayofavoidingseriousoffencesistopunishthemostminoroffencesveryseverely..." (Foucault1977:294).Inthemovie,theyusedthis...showmorecontent...

WhenMcMurphycametotheinstitution,hewasseenasbeingaproblem.Thisisbecausehewas goingagainstFoucault'sargumentofbeingdocile.Hedidnotwanttoconformtothat.McMurphy soonrealizedthatmanyofthepatientswereintheinstitutionvoluntarily,whichcausedforhimto becomemoredisobedient.Healwaystriedtogoagainstthenursesbytellingthepatientsthatthey aren'tlunatics.Hewouldconsistentlybreaktherulesbytryingtochangetheroutine,bytakingthe patientsfishing,teachingthemtoplaybasketball,andbysneakinginalcoholandgirlsduringthe hoursofdark.FoucaultwouldsaythatMcMurphywasananarchistratherthanaconformist. HardingfromthemovieisanexampleofwhatFoucaultwoulddescribeasadocilebodyHeis subjected,used,transformed,andimprovedbyNurseRatched.Hedoesn'tfallundertheinfluenceof McMurphylikesomeoftheotherpatientsdo,atleastrightaway.Hewasalwaysscaredtochange theroutinethatNurseRatchedsetinstoneforthemHewasunsurewhetherornottovoteforthe changeofwatchingtheWorldSeriesratherthanhavingthementoringsession.Also,therewasa scenewherehestoodupandraisedhisvoiceduringasessionbutquicklyrealizedwhathehaddone andcontinuouslypleadedthathewassorrytoNurseRatchedbecauseheknewhewasn'tsupposed todothat.NurseRatcheddoesn'tlikeforthepatientsto

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AnalyticalEssay–OneflewovertheCuckoo'snest.

KenKesey'sOneFlewovertheCuckoo'sNestisacreationofthesocio–culturalcontextofhistime. Socialandculturalvalues,attitudesandbeliefsinformedhisinvitedreadingofhistext. KenKeseywasapartofTheBeatgenerationandmanyoftheirideologiesandthesociocultural contextofU.SpostWWIIwereevidentthroughcharactersandvariousdiscoursesthroughoutOne FlewovertheCuckoo'sNest,givingushisinvitedreading.

KenKeseyisagainstconformityandsocietiesoppressiverulesunderEisenhowerandheillustrates thisbycreatingacharacterthatisinconstantconflictwithNurseRatchedandtheRulesoftheward.

InOneFlewovertheCuckoo'snest,KenKeseyshowmorecontent

CharacterslikeBillyBibbit,whoistootimid,withaspeechimpedimentandHardingwhoisa closethomosexualandwaslessavertinsexualitywereseenashavingmentalproblems,andwere committedtotheasylumMcMurphydemonstratedthetreatingofthesepatientslikenormalpeople, helpedthemtobecomemoreinlinewithsocietythenNurseRatched'srulesandgrouptherapy meetings,orpeckingpartyasChiefBromdenwouldcallit.ChiefBromdenwasaNativeAmerican andwasn'tinsaneuntilhewasinstitutionalizedandwithdrewhimselffromeveryoneelsepretending hewasdeafanddumbtoprotecthimself.KenKesey'smessageherewithChiefBromdenssilence, wastoportraythenativesofthetimehavingnovoiceinthecountryandtoshowthecontrollingand manipulativemannerofNurseRatchedthatemasculatedandde–socialisedthesegrownmen. MechanicaldiscourseswereevidentinNurseRatchedandthroughouttheentirebookfromthevery startasweseeChiefBromdenexplainingNurseRatched'simageinmechanicaltermshequotes"I seeherfingerstrailacrossthepolishedsteel–tipofeachfingerthesamecolourasherlips"."Funny orange"."Likethetipofasolderingiron.Coloursohotorsocoldifshetouchesyouwithityou can'ttellwhich".(pg9).Themechanicaldiscourserelatestothegovernments

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