Consider the role of McMurphy in "One flew over theCuckoo's Nest".
Consider the role of McMurphy in "One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" Kesey was significantly inspired by the Beatnik culture around Stanford, and in the novel he deals with themes relevant to the counter-culture movement. These themes includes notions of freedom from repressive authority and a more liberated view of sexuality, while Kesey himself became a highly influential counter culture figure as part of the Merry Pranksters. For Kesey in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" R.P McMurphy represents his ideas of sexuality, freedom and self-determination against oppression. McMurphy enters the novel in chapter two. He enters the institution after being convicted of statuary rape. He brags about being a psychopath but his self-diagnosis's is unlikely. He is described as "Red headed with long red sideburns and a tangle of curls coming from under his cap. Mac's, vibrant scruffy red hair is significant because it emphasises the difference between himself and the other patients and also that he is bringing color into an otherwise dull and boring ward Randle McMurphy is big, loud, sexual, dirty, and confident everything about his personality suggests a lack of control and will be a constant source of conflict for Nurse Ratched- he represents anarchy, disobedience, and lack of control while she represents rules, order and authority. Through Chief Bromden's narration it is
One flew over the cuckoo's nest. Mrs Ratched's report.
Nurse Ratched’s Report Luis Peña Pan Klinzmann’s Mental Institution Monday 21st May 1955 Ward C1 6.00 am. Arrival to the hospital before than usual since affairs related to Mc Murphy’s behavior were discussed. It was agreed to wait for Mc Murphy to acclimatize and if his behavior still continues to cause problems, a new convocation will decide what steps to take. 6.30 am Lights turned on. Patients have been given time to prepare for breakfast. No incidents in the bathrooms. 7.00 am Breakfast has been served. Patients have eaten without any disturbances. 7.30 am As every Monday morning, some patients have been brought into the Shaving room where they have been shaved. Chief Bromden was found in Mc Murphy’s wardrobe. This patient went into panic and was supplied with a Valerien c1 tranquilizer. After the shaving, the patient was sent to the Seclusion Room where he stayed for the next two hours. 8.00 Medications distributed. Each patient has received the Ku 118 capsule pill, making a total of 36 pills. Patient Mr Taber has rejected the pill again. 8.10 am. Row with the Black Boys after being seen without performing their respective jobs. These were given orders to help the wheelchair patients tidying up
Laughter occurs frequently throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey.
Thompson Lacey Thompson Mrs. Lyke AP English Literature and Composition 29 October 2012 The Power of Laughter Laughter occurs frequently throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. Not only is laughter used to create a lighter feel throughout parts of the book, but it is an important part of many characters’ development. Through the use of diction, figurative language, and syntax, Kesey illustrates the theme that laughter is the ultimate cure. Through diction, Kesey is able to demonstrate the healing power laughter has. As the boys go out on the boat, they’re all running frantically around the ship, yet McMurphy is “just laughing” (Kesey 248). The use of the absolute “just” helps add significance to the laughter in the scene. By “just” laughing, McMurphy is demonstrating himself the healing power that laughter has. He isn’t focusing on any problems, of his own or of the other patients, and he’s displaying his personality and identity by laughing. McMurphy’s laughter is just the start of the healing process for all of the boys. McMurphy’s laughter quickly becomes contagious to the boys, and “Harding is collapsed beside McMurphy and is laughing….and Sefelt and the doctor, and all” (250). The repetition of the word “and” is extremely significant. As Chief uses the word “and” to continue adding on to the list of people
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,
Over time, society has neglected as well as welcomed ideas to the understanding of normal. Society merely fosters ideas to help maintain a balance in the understanding of what is right and wrong. Through strictly basing laws that revolve around their ideas, society can balance the ideas that they wish to neglect in an attempt to live in the "ideal" world. Many ideas are belittled and labeled as taboos and the sole factor that affects their label is time. Time is a major factor on the ideas and the evolution of their understanding. The main problem with society is the labeling of the people that follow the ideas that they neglect. Sanity and Insanity easily fall into the category of welcomed and neglected ideas. Society needs to control the rebels that believe in the neglected ideas through labeling them as insane. Insanity is a mystery in itself, it is not completely understood and yet many interpret it in many ways. Two infamous authors that best interpret insanity in their own astounding ways are Ken Kesey and Sylvia Plath. These two authors point out the negative interpretations made by society on the insane. They use their characters to portray the negative understanding of mental illnesses. In Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Kesey uses his main character to emphasize the negative aspect of the treatment towards the mentally insane. In Plath's The Bell Jar, Plath