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One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

Essay by   •  September 12, 2010  •  Essay  •  1,010 Words (5 Pages)  •  1,909 Views

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One flew over the cuckoo's nest

One flew over the cuckoo's nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest For as long as time could tell, whenever and wherever there is a corrupt ruling system in place, there will always be an opposing force trying to over throw it. This ruling system can be a variety of things. In some cases it is the government, a boss, or basically anything or anyone that has some type of control or authority over something else or someone else. In some cases the opposition can successfully take over control of these corrupt systems, while in other incidents the opposition is pitifully pounded back to silence. In other cases, the opposing force will be beaten, but in their shadowy remains lye a path for future generations to follow. In the case of Mc Murphy and the Big nurses a power struggle, the opposition (Mc Murphy) gets beaten silent, yet his words will continue to ring throughout the halls of the ward. Mc Murphy has been made a martyr, and has ultimately stripped Big Nurse of her abused powers and paved the way for fellowmen to escape her entrapment. Based on the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, it seems that the authors' perspective on this issue is that the system in place during this time period is in need of change. Ken seems to like the revolutionist characteristics found in his main character, and emphasizes the idea of questioning the authority power. His belief seems to be that even if you are not successful in changing the system in entire, the effects of a person trying can still be very effective. In fact, if all you manage to accomplish is changing a small aspect of the system, it was still all well worth the fight. For as seen, the effects of a minor victory, ripple into much larger victories in the battles to come. As a revolutionist, you set an example for others to follow and in essence pave the way for others to follow. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the main character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, fights to change the system in a mental hospital. McMurphy is very outgoing, loud, rugged, manly, a leader and a rebel. From the first couple scenes of the book, there is a constant power struggle between the patient's new found savior McMurphy, and the evil Nurse Ratchet who rules their wing of the hospital with an iron fist. McMurphy fights to change the system to try to win back the patients' rights and in the process gain more privileges for the patients and himself. McMurphy also seems to get pleasure out of fighting the system. His motives seem simple, he wants to help out his fellow patients, his friends, and make their lives better. This is very similar to the real life rebellion against the "Tyranny of the Majority" which was occurring during this time period. McMurphy was successful in changing many of the rules and regulations that were imposed upon them by Nurse Ratchet. McMurphy was a very inspirational speaker and during the regularly occurring meetings between the patients and the doctors he would rally the patients to fight against Nurse Ratchet. Thus he was able to win back some of their rights. This type of action was also witnessed during Ken Kessleys time, and quite similarly, revolutionists also won many rights from the state that had once been taken from them during their life time. In the novel, McMurphy also

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