Amanda Campbell January 31, 2017
Ms.Greene AP Lit
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Biblical Allusions in “ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” reflects Kesey’s insightful observation of society’s need for illumination that will allow us to break free of our possessed, factory produced, “ Combine “ controlled lives. Throughout the novel, Kesey includes allusions to Hell and its inhabitants, as well various christ figures.
Kesey’s most obvious biblical reference lies in his exposure of societal flaws. By comparing the psychiatric ward setting to Hell, itself, Kesey’s …show more content…
Following this allusion the machine workers easily correlate with the role of the black boys at the ward, Their presence serves as a reflection of Nurse Ratched and her being interpreted as an “ angel of mercy” ( page 60). Harding referring Nurse Ratched as an “ angel” would symbolize her to Lucifer, Although showing the representation of the ward as society but also Hell, This is Kesey exposing society’s weakness but as Kesey points out we have allowed ourselves to be run by the machines of authority, our individualism ultimately defeated at the hands of a single power source.
However, Kesey does not merely present’s society defects without a solution, Through several references to Jesus Christ, He stresses the significance of sacrifice and redemption hence the reference Ellis made ( Page 20) “ He is actually nailed to the wall “ This is foreshadowing that McMurphy who is associated with christ images and the symbolism of the ElectroShock Therapy Table as a cross, with straps across the wrist and over the head. It’s a form of crucifixion, similar to the public crucifixion of Roman
Ms.Greene AP Lit
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Biblical Allusions in “ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” reflects Kesey’s insightful observation of society’s need for illumination that will allow us to break free of our possessed, factory produced, “ Combine “ controlled lives. Throughout the novel, Kesey includes allusions to Hell and its inhabitants, as well various christ figures.
Kesey’s most obvious biblical reference lies in his exposure of societal flaws. By comparing the psychiatric ward setting to Hell, itself, Kesey’s …show more content…
Following this allusion the machine workers easily correlate with the role of the black boys at the ward, Their presence serves as a reflection of Nurse Ratched and her being interpreted as an “ angel of mercy” ( page 60). Harding referring Nurse Ratched as an “ angel” would symbolize her to Lucifer, Although showing the representation of the ward as society but also Hell, This is Kesey exposing society’s weakness but as Kesey points out we have allowed ourselves to be run by the machines of authority, our individualism ultimately defeated at the hands of a single power source.
However, Kesey does not merely present’s society defects without a solution, Through several references to Jesus Christ, He stresses the significance of sacrifice and redemption hence the reference Ellis made ( Page 20) “ He is actually nailed to the wall “ This is foreshadowing that McMurphy who is associated with christ images and the symbolism of the ElectroShock Therapy Table as a cross, with straps across the wrist and over the head. It’s a form of crucifixion, similar to the public crucifixion of Roman