The American 1950s. A time of change and revolt. Psychiatric methods were far different and more archaic than today’s treatment measures. Solutions were often violent or manipulative, sometimes led by medication and drugs. Ken Kesey, an American author in the’50s, was, around this same time, paid to test the drug LSD in a government-sponsored experiment. Concurrently, Kesey worked the night shift on a mental ward in Oregon. While working on the ward, Kesey began to speculate that the patients weren’t really “crazy” at all. In fact, they were merely too different or individualistic for society to accept. The stark rhythm of our society, unfortunately, often fogs/manipulates human uniqueness. Such became the topics he explored in his famed novel,
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Within McMurphy’s first few minutes on the ward “all is stunned dumb by him and his laughing” (Kesey 16). Much like a foreign animal joining a pack the effect of McMurphy’s laugh creates a new atmosphere for patient and staff alike, unsure of what this new variable will do. The acutes on the ward see themselves as rabbits, but they also believe they “are not in here because [they] are rabbits…[they’d] be rabbits wherever [they] were..[they’re] all in here because [they] can adjust to out rabbithood. We need a good strong wold like the nurse to teach us our place” (Kesey 60-61). Nurse Ratched, seen as a wolf, opposes the will of the rabbits and, although she literally has all of the power, her air of confidence gives her immense power over the broken men. Connecting back to McMurphy’s first entrance Harding explains later that McMurphy “may be a wolf” (Kesey 63) thus constructing the idea that if a wolf leads an army of rabbits the rabbits may begin to feel like wolves themselves. Following this trend, McMurphy later changes in front of Bromden and Bromden sees his “coal black satin [shorts] covered with big white whales with red eyes” (Kesey 76). Although this seems rather insignificant Kesey follows this with McMurphy explaining that “a co-ed at Oregon State, Chief, a Literary major” (Kesey 76) gave them to him. In this instance Kesey points towards Moby Dick in which Captain Ahab struggles to catch Moby Dick, much like the struggle of Nurse Ratched to retain control over the ward. Also, this may be referring to the sexual tendencies of McMurphy and how he refuses to conform to the standards of sexuality that Nurse Ratched has enforced among the patients, furthering this disobedience by willingly talking about such topics at every chance
Within McMurphy’s first few minutes on the ward “all is stunned dumb by him and his laughing” (Kesey 16). Much like a foreign animal joining a pack the effect of McMurphy’s laugh creates a new atmosphere for patient and staff alike, unsure of what this new variable will do. The acutes on the ward see themselves as rabbits, but they also believe they “are not in here because [they] are rabbits…[they’d] be rabbits wherever [they] were..[they’re] all in here because [they] can adjust to out rabbithood. We need a good strong wold like the nurse to teach us our place” (Kesey 60-61). Nurse Ratched, seen as a wolf, opposes the will of the rabbits and, although she literally has all of the power, her air of confidence gives her immense power over the broken men. Connecting back to McMurphy’s first entrance Harding explains later that McMurphy “may be a wolf” (Kesey 63) thus constructing the idea that if a wolf leads an army of rabbits the rabbits may begin to feel like wolves themselves. Following this trend, McMurphy later changes in front of Bromden and Bromden sees his “coal black satin [shorts] covered with big white whales with red eyes” (Kesey 76). Although this seems rather insignificant Kesey follows this with McMurphy explaining that “a co-ed at Oregon State, Chief, a Literary major” (Kesey 76) gave them to him. In this instance Kesey points towards Moby Dick in which Captain Ahab struggles to catch Moby Dick, much like the struggle of Nurse Ratched to retain control over the ward. Also, this may be referring to the sexual tendencies of McMurphy and how he refuses to conform to the standards of sexuality that Nurse Ratched has enforced among the patients, furthering this disobedience by willingly talking about such topics at every chance