Masculinity In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Ken Kesey novel, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, tells a fictionalized tale regarding a mental asylum in the 1960s. By analyzing the novel, we can see that Kesey argues that games are the ideal and natural manner in which homosocial communities and friendships are created, both of which benefit men in curing their issues with masculinity; Kesey argues that games are the antithesis to the authority observed in society and institutions which aim to control men within stated rules and standards. Homosocial communities are depicted by Kesey to be absent and actively discouraged in the institutions people belong to. Men in institutions such as a mental asylum are depicted to lack friendships with other patients, as they are limited in the interactions …show more content…
Games follow a set of guidelines, but they still less ordered and regulated than society or institutions. Games allow for mistakes and missteps, such the incident mentioned by McMurphy: “Martini, those ain’t the dice you’re shaking… those are a couple of houses” (102). These mistakes are possible given that games are structured to allow for more freedom to the men, without devolving into to chaos. Games essentially allow men to act freely and unrestrained. Playing games allow the men to avoid critique and or being medically analyzed for their actions and behaviors, which is the cause of anxiety and suffering for the men in the ward. The act of playing games with others, as a result leads to shared connections in the form of shared experiences. Men who share common interests and experiences are argued to also form homosocial communities that allow its members to support and help each other. This social network goes against the authority of institutions, such as the ward leading that will lead to retaliation from the institution. These homosocial communities however effectively form friendships between the men, which are resilient and long …show more content…
Distrust is most notable in the beginning of the friendships represented in the book by the initial reluctance of the men towards initiating a vote. Although the men eventually supported McMurphy’s vote, the same men initially reserved reluctance to support McMurphy in his vote towards the watching the World Series. The reluctance demonstrates the high level of distrust experienced by the men, distrust brought upon the evident surveillance on their actions. The men associated that McMurphy’s actions will lead to punishment, that being involved in a friendship with him will do more harm to good. Maintaining and supporting the friendship, lowers the distrust experienced, as the men realize they will not be dealt punishments for their actions within the community despite the constant surveillance. For all the possible harm men could face in the friendships, Kesey argues that a greater benefit is experienced in the men that outweigh any possible