Analysis Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo 's Nest By Ken Kesey

   The choice that a novelist makes in deciding the point of view for a novel is hardly a minor one. Few authors make the decision to use first person narration by secondary character as Ken Kesey does in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  By choosing Bromden as narrator instead of the central character of Randle Patrick McMurphy, Kesey gives us narration that is objective, that is to say from the outside of the central character, and also narration that is subjective and understandably unreliable. The paranoia and dementia that fill Bromden's narration set a tone for the struggle for liberation that is the theme of the story. It is also this choice of narrator that leads

Freud’s theory of psychosexual development is one of the best known, but also one of the most controversial. Freud believed that personality develops through a series of childhood stages during which the pleasure-seeking energies of

Though every period of time, people often find themselves looking for a savior. While most people turn for Jesus Christ or other religious figures, in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, the patients of a strictly-run psychiatric ward turn to Randal Patrick McMurphy. Kesey uses McMurphy to create a Christ Figure, or a character that shows allusions to Christ, in his work. Despite being a patient, McMurphy finds a way to stand out as a Christ Figure through having his individual thoughts and actions, rather than shrinking himself to what the ward wants him to be.

Searching for an archetype, or an example, when trying something for either the first time or something that is daunting is a common train of thought for a person. This same idea can apply to Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in which the protagonist essentially becomes an embodiment of a hero. This piece of literature takes place in the 1960’s, and is presented through the vision of Chief Bromden, a patient that is stuck within an figment of imagination where those who fall to the mechanical system become the machines themselves. The novel’s lead character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, assumes the role of a hero, in both a classical and contemporary sense, where he is pitched against Big Nurse Ratched, a tyrannical force within the

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (Orwell). Although animals might only look like animals, they are symbols of deeper meanings. Throughout the fiction novel One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, many symbols/motifs are presented in the form of animals that represent characters. These animals give meaning to the story and illuminate the plot by giving insight on character development, parallels, themes and thought processes of characters. McMurphy represents the Geese, Nurse Ratched is rendered as a wolf and the Patients are portrayed as hens and rabbits.

Only a few are able to utilize the power to control and manipulate situations which can lead to drastic outcomes. Those with an assertive and manipulative personality tends to use that to their own benefit and completely disregard the impact their personality has on the surrounding people and themselves. In Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he expresses the theme of power and manipulation through two characters, Nurse Ratched and McMurphy. Both characters use their manipulative powers for their own advantage in a deceptive way that causes the patients admitted to the asylum to suffer rather than improve.

As one is experiencing a life of alienation and loneliness, they may being to act uncontrollable while rebelling against their surroundings, one loses themselves as they feel different than everyone present. Alienation can force an individual to spiral into an abyss of nothingness, nonetheless if one allows others to reach out and inspire than it is possible to break away from the alienation and loneliness. Chief Bromden from the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, written by Ken Kesey, is an Indian who was institutionalized for insanity and is considered a chronic in the ward as he is “too far gone” to be healed. Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger is a lying, rebellious teenager sent away by his parents to a private school as they are unable to handle Holden’s behaviour. It is evident both experience alienation as their stories progress and actions taken, however the individuals present in their lives motivate changes in the outcomes of these dynamic characters.

“A success, they say, but I say he’s just another robot for the Combine and might be better off as a failure…”(17).

The Author and His/Her Times: Ken Kesey was born on September 17, 1935 and died on November 10, 2011 at age 66. Kesey was once arrested for possession of marijuana and a “faked suicide” and was put into prison for five years. He also had a lot of experimentation with psychoactive drugs, which could spark his interest in the human mind, which has a lot of influence on the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The novel was put on The Times list of To honor Kesey after his death, there is a film called, Gerry, which is dedicated to him and his life.

In everyday life, there is always an unequal distribution of power. More often than not, someone has more power than another. For example, nurses and patients in a mental institution; the nurses have authority over the patients. In the classic novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, Nurse Ratched makes sure that all of the patients are weaker than she is. Since she is clearly the head of the ward, Nurse Ratched is able to control the patients and their actions. However, when an independent, mischievous patient named Randle Patrick McMurphy enters the ward, Nurse Ratched feels threatened. Throughout the novel, McMurphy and Nurse Ratched constantly challenge each other for authority. Nurse Ratched and McMurphy both attempt to

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a controversial novel that has left parents and school authorities debating about its influence on students since its publication in 1962. The novel describes the inner workings of a mental institution, how the patients are emasculated and mistreated by the terrifying Nurse Ratched, who will go to any length to control them. But in comes McMurphy, a criminal who chose to go to an asylum rather than serve physical labor; he disrupts the order of the hospital with his big personality and loud opinions, undermining the authority of Nurse Ratched and encouraging the patients to live their own lives, until he too, is silenced forever by authority. With his novel, Ken Kesey paints society as an oppressive

Comparison of Book and Film of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey There are differences and similarities in the book "One flew over the

Society’s conventional definitions of sanity and insanity are affected by many different aspects and according to common knowledge, insanity has a direct correlation to mental illness. Likewise, sanity seems to have a direct link to what is considered normal. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey describes the connection that both insanity and sanity have to mental illness and the people that suffer from it. Furthermore, it describes how the people who work in the mental ward are connected to how sanity and insanity are perceived. Kesey makes the reader question the accepted definitions of sane and insane by using the actions of the characters, the personalities of the employees, and the mental ward as a whole.

Different Interpretations Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers? Someone reading One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest from when it was written in the 1950’s with the idea of perfect America and the perfect American would read and interpret this book much differently than someone from today's modern society. Throughout this book there is many things that would be interpreted much differently from these two readers such as the power certain characters are given and the reasons some characters are labeled insane. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a novel written by Beats writer Ken Kesey in the 1950’s.

The life story of Ken Kesey is very original, and interesting. Throughout his life he puts himself through obstacles, but his future is shaped from these difficulties. Ken Kesey was an author, husband, father, and an activist for anti-drug affiliated psychiatric hospitals. He was known for his work throughout the 60s, and the movements he started.