Within countless historical texts and literary publications, many philosophers voice their beliefs on human motivation. Some of the most notable and widely discussed theories are made by Abraham Maslow, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Maslow argues that people desire to become the best that they can possibly be, while Nietzsche believes that people are driven by the will to gain power. In One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey explores these different motivational forces by illustrating them through the personalities of characters such as Chief and Nurse Ratched. The philosophical concepts that both characters exemplify, relate back to the idea of pursuing and achieving a goal. Therefore, the primary motivational force in humans is to accomplish a personal objective.
As a chronic patient in a mental hospital, Chief is not a motivated individual. However, when McMurphy arrives, Chief’s perspective changes. He is intrigued by McMurphy's ability to outwardly express himself and his beliefs. “I’d think, maybe [McMurphy] truly is something extraordinary,” Chief explains, “He’s what he is, that’s it” (135). McMurphy’s actions truly encompass all that he is, which reminds Chief of the person that he used to be. It then becomes his goal to, once again, gain confidence in himself and to physically communicate this confidence to others. Chief's personal …show more content…
In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey represents this devotion through Chief and Nurse Ratched. Throughout the book, both characters seek to gain something, whether it be confidence or power. Chief's personal pursuit relates to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the idea of self- actualization. The Nurse’s journey can be compared to Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy of the will to power. All of these concepts tie back to the notion that the primary motivational force in humans is the accomplishment of an explicit
As a chronic patient in a mental hospital, Chief is not a motivated individual. However, when McMurphy arrives, Chief’s perspective changes. He is intrigued by McMurphy's ability to outwardly express himself and his beliefs. “I’d think, maybe [McMurphy] truly is something extraordinary,” Chief explains, “He’s what he is, that’s it” (135). McMurphy’s actions truly encompass all that he is, which reminds Chief of the person that he used to be. It then becomes his goal to, once again, gain confidence in himself and to physically communicate this confidence to others. Chief's personal …show more content…
In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey represents this devotion through Chief and Nurse Ratched. Throughout the book, both characters seek to gain something, whether it be confidence or power. Chief's personal pursuit relates to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the idea of self- actualization. The Nurse’s journey can be compared to Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy of the will to power. All of these concepts tie back to the notion that the primary motivational force in humans is the accomplishment of an explicit