Examples Of Rebellion In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

We often change our attitudes and behaviors to match people around us. One reason for this conformity is a concern about what other individuals might think of us. Another reason we conform to the norm is because other people often might have information we do not, and relying on norms can be an easy strategy when we are uncertain about how we are supposed to act. Unfortunately, we frequently misperceive how the typical person acts when obeying orders from an authority figure which can sometimes lead to disturbing behavior. This danger was illustrated in a mental institute, in which participants were instructed to administer painful electric shocks in which the nurses believed to be a learning experiment. Ken Kesey's novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", is an example of how conformity could affect others and how rebellion can be an often result of that. This novel took place in the mid 1900’s, around the same time as the McCarthyism era. …show more content…
There was conflict as some strived for anti-communism which gave rise to the Anti-communist party. Freedom of speech was also suppressed in all areas including the mental institution. Nurse Ratched, a former Army nurse whose principal tactic of control is emasculating to male patients, successfully controls the ward by carefully selecting staff who would be submissive to her. Nurse Ratched in a way acted like the McCarthy "representatives", where the patients are seen as citizens of the public, having their every word and movement under extreme supervision. This made the institution seem like a dictation as she tried her best to assert her dominance in the