One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
"Papa, they're foggin' it up again..." Thus begins the play "One Flew Overthe Cuckoo's Nest," by Dale Wassermann. (Wasserman & Kesey, 1974) Theperson uttering these words is Chief Bromden, a Native American inmate ofan institution for the mentally unstable. The best-selling novel by KenKesey inspired this play. (Kesey, 2002) The contents of the novel can beviewed at several levels. Some of them Orwellian ("Animal Farm" (Orwell,1974) and "1984" (Orwell, 1984)), some a metaphor for the free-spiritednessof the 1960-70s; other interpretations are biblical. (Perry et al., 1990)Most interpretations of "One Flew..." however, do not take into account theliteral interpretation. Perhaps Ken Kesey, based on his personalexperiences during the time of the novel, did indeed want to indicate thesign of the times and the antiestablishmentarianism of the prevalent andburgeoning Flower Culture. (Whitmer, 1987) In that Kesey was successful.In this work however, the literal sense of the novel will be explored. Thementally unstable populace needs to be cared for by letting them exist in acontrolled environment where the right medication and therapy is delivered.
But this machinedoes not allow the inmates to see what lies beyond-perhaps, freedom andhappiness. She feels theneed to control the ward, so as to not allow "the inmates to run theasylum. He leads them in directionsthey are not prepared for. He is forever hiding from her. Ratched the rule-enforcer; McMurphy the rule breaker. In keeping with themetaphorical theme, Kesey also overreaches in his description of theelectro-shock therapy. She is over-powering and dominatesall she sees. Theelectroshock treatment apparatus also aptly symbolizes the cross. Hegambles and takes advantage of the others. Nurse Ratched on the other hand is a strong, iron-willed woman whohas to maintain sanity in the "madhouse. The mentally incapacitated often are criminallynegligent when left to roam free in society.
Common topics in this essay:
Nurse Ratched,
Candy Starr,
Chief Bromden,
Culture Whitmer,
Billy Bibbitt,
Cuckoo's Nest,
Jesus Christ,
Patrick McMurphy,
Mental Ward,
Ken Kesey,
nurse ratched,
chief bromden,
flew cuckoo's nest,
electro-shock therapy,
ken kesey,
prostitute candy,
inmates seek,
mental institution,
allow inmates,
controlled environment,
mcmurphy enters,
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Acceptance Essays
