Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a novel which tells the story about how one man turns a power structured psychiatric hospital upside down with his anti-conformist ways. Kesey explores the dangers of conformity through his use of characterization. Aspects of characterisation are used to reflect the author’s views on social norms and how conformity can leave damaging effects on individuals. Kesey explores the effects repression and reflects his ideas on the natural world by utilizing the characterisation of Nurse Ratched, McMurphy, and Harding.
Kesey portrays the power of conformity in the characterisation of the antagonist, Nurse Ratched. Her stern and controlling personality links to her serene confidence and lack of empathy. …show more content…
The novel features modern day examples of society’s treatment of individuals who deify social norms. Kesey demonstrates the impacts of oppression on one’s individualism through Harding. Despite him being an intelligent and educated man, he leads a life as an individual repressing his homosexual urges. His sexuality is used against him as Nurse Ratched reminds others that ‘his wife’s ample bosom at times gives him a feeling of inferiority’ (44). The natural world restricts him from his sexuality and considers him as a non-conformist, as he states that he is ‘voluntary’(194) and ‘not committed’ (194), meaning that he voluntarily placed himself into the mental institution because of society’s pressure for him to fit in. He suffers from humiliation and prejudice because he is homosexual and unable to please his licentious wife. The dominance of Harding’s wife contributes to the conformity structured in society by intimidating him with her sexuality. The modern society cripples him with social pressures, constraining him from any forms of self-expression and forcing him to be a closeted homosexual.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest highlights the negative consequences that are caused when an individual is conformed and oppressed. Kesey places emphasis on the effects conformity, linking it back to the natural world and its societal norms. He illustrates conformity and repression through Nurse Ratched and demonstrates its destructive outcomes on victims using the characterization of McMurphy and Harding. Kesey portrays his ideas to readers using aspects of characterization to allow them to gain a deeper understanding through each of the
Kesey portrays the power of conformity in the characterisation of the antagonist, Nurse Ratched. Her stern and controlling personality links to her serene confidence and lack of empathy. …show more content…
The novel features modern day examples of society’s treatment of individuals who deify social norms. Kesey demonstrates the impacts of oppression on one’s individualism through Harding. Despite him being an intelligent and educated man, he leads a life as an individual repressing his homosexual urges. His sexuality is used against him as Nurse Ratched reminds others that ‘his wife’s ample bosom at times gives him a feeling of inferiority’ (44). The natural world restricts him from his sexuality and considers him as a non-conformist, as he states that he is ‘voluntary’(194) and ‘not committed’ (194), meaning that he voluntarily placed himself into the mental institution because of society’s pressure for him to fit in. He suffers from humiliation and prejudice because he is homosexual and unable to please his licentious wife. The dominance of Harding’s wife contributes to the conformity structured in society by intimidating him with her sexuality. The modern society cripples him with social pressures, constraining him from any forms of self-expression and forcing him to be a closeted homosexual.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest highlights the negative consequences that are caused when an individual is conformed and oppressed. Kesey places emphasis on the effects conformity, linking it back to the natural world and its societal norms. He illustrates conformity and repression through Nurse Ratched and demonstrates its destructive outcomes on victims using the characterization of McMurphy and Harding. Kesey portrays his ideas to readers using aspects of characterization to allow them to gain a deeper understanding through each of the