Through the incorporation of figurative language in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey suggests that in the presence of an oppressive force, humanity requires a catalyst to stir up revolt. According to Dale Harding, there are two distinct types of people: “rabbits” and “wolves” (60). Kesey creates this metaphor to accurately depict the significant difference between these two types of individuals. The rabbits metaphorically represent not only the patients of the ward but individuals who do not stand up for themselves in the face of overbearing authority. These people have to accept the “wolf as the strong” (60). They do express their opinions in matters; they just merely accept the wolf’s decision as law. The patients do not question Mrs.
…show more content…
McMurphy “pull[s] people out of the [safety of the] fog” created by cowardice (123). Kesey’s metaphor of the fog represents the protection of inaction. When one is confronted with difficulty, he or she is able to “[sink] back out of sight in little pockets of fog” (105). In the “thick” fog there is no “pain” or conflict (119, 122). Many patients of the ward previously participated in violent wars or underwent severe mental disturbances. Now that these individuals have been shunned by society and placed into the ward, they feel that they lack the significance to stand up for themselves in opposition to the inadequately placed authority of Nurse Ratched. They are able to escape the oppression and suffering of the ward, and enter a “vegetable”-like state, “ dead” to the world (122). But McMurphy “reach[es] into the fog” and “drag[s]” the patients “blinking into the open” (124). Kesey’s metaphor illustrates that McMurphy dissipates the illusion of the fog and brings the patients to reality. He convinces them to stand up for themselves despite the oppressive force of Nurse
McMurphy “pull[s] people out of the [safety of the] fog” created by cowardice (123). Kesey’s metaphor of the fog represents the protection of inaction. When one is confronted with difficulty, he or she is able to “[sink] back out of sight in little pockets of fog” (105). In the “thick” fog there is no “pain” or conflict (119, 122). Many patients of the ward previously participated in violent wars or underwent severe mental disturbances. Now that these individuals have been shunned by society and placed into the ward, they feel that they lack the significance to stand up for themselves in opposition to the inadequately placed authority of Nurse Ratched. They are able to escape the oppression and suffering of the ward, and enter a “vegetable”-like state, “ dead” to the world (122). But McMurphy “reach[es] into the fog” and “drag[s]” the patients “blinking into the open” (124). Kesey’s metaphor illustrates that McMurphy dissipates the illusion of the fog and brings the patients to reality. He convinces them to stand up for themselves despite the oppressive force of Nurse