Analysis Of Kesey 's One Flew Over The Cuckoo 's Nest Essay

Kesey 's One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest is based largely on his experiences with mental patients. Through the conflict between Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the novel explores the themes of individuality and rebellion against conformity, ideas that were widely discussed at a time when the United States was committed to opposing communism and totalitarian regimes around the world. The patients represent problems with coping with life and the many pressures they feel in the exercise of their social functions. “One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest” this quote opened up the book and according to Prezi, nurse Ratched flew east; her method of rule was a dictatorship, oppressing the patients into conformity. McMurphy flew west; his ideals were liberal, fair, and just. He strongly valued individual rights like the author, Ken Kesey. The cuckoo’s nest was the mental hospital, and since Chief Bromden escaped, at the end, he flew over the cuckoo’s nest (Prezi1). First, McMurphy brought some hope and some purpose with him into the ward. McMurphy is a red-haired, smooth-talking convict who faked his way out of prison and into the ward. He represents the spirit of the counterculture of the 1960’s. Furthermore, he is portrayed as very intelligent and a figure of hope towards the patients by “opening their eyes” and influencing them to stand up against the wards. He treated his fellow inmates as equals and was not judgmental towards them.…