Indiviualism Vs Conformity in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
Summary:
There have always been two types of people, those who conform to all rules enforced by society, and those who oppose conforming and would rather be an individual. This in fact is the theme of Ken Kessey's "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest."
For as long as any one can remember there have always been two types of people, those who conform to all rules enforced by society, and those who oppose conforming and would rather be an individual. This in fact is the theme of Ken Kessey's "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest." In another way, the theme reveals the ways in which an individual in search of supremacy will lessen any others that get in the way of their search for power, which is demonstrated in the relationship between Randle Patrick McMurphy and Nurse Ratched.
When the book starts it is clear to us that Nurse Ratched is in complete control over the whole ward. Before McMurphy ever arrived Nurse Ratched was completely dominant over all of the patients, she gave orders to everyone without any form of defiance, and no person would complain. When McMurphy arrives at the ward Harding informs him that "We are victims of a matriarchy." These patients are being controlled by this regime that in a way works like a machine, a machine where they are the pieces that make it up.
And from the moment McMurphy arrives we can clearly see that there will be conflict between him and the nurse. The reason for this is because he is not like the other patients because he is not crazy, he is just lazy and does not want to do work as his punishment. After about a week at the ward we see McMurphy beginning to take control of the patients. He begins to take the role of leader, a leader that was unexpected. And as the novel goes on he at the same time as us finds out that he has the power to overturn this powerful regime. He begins to create his own machine, and Nurse Ratched knows that she will have to do anything she can to destroy it. But just as she knows the rules in destroying power, McMurphy is also aware of what is needed to be done to destroy her powerful machine. The nurse before had always sent disobeyers to the Disturbed section of the ward, but on this occasion she chose to maintain McMurphy. Everyone asked her why, but she knew that he had already done enough damage to affect the minds of the patients therefore if she were to send him to the Disturbed they would treat him as their savior who sacrificed himself for them. As McMurphy sees that she is not folding he knew it was his turn to show his power, when he chose to get up early and clean around and actually follow orders he knew exactly what he was doing. When the nurse saw that he was cooperating she did not praise him nor did she seem surprised at what he was doing. But McMurphy had put her in a situation where she could not win. Because she could either commend him and basically bow down to him for his help or she could pretend like if it was nothing and lose respect from the rest of the patients for not appreciating him, either way she would have lost.
As McMurphy's stay grows longer and longer Nurse Ratched becomes more and more motivated to completely destroy him. She believed that by lobotomizing him and in the end making McMruphy crazy and by taking away a man who was like a god to the Acutes she would regain all of her control and put fear back into the men. What she did not realize was all of McMurphy's strength, courage and spirit would stay with the men. McMurphy, even after he was gone, still gave the men the strength to stand up for themselves and not let the Big Nurse regain her control of the ward.
In the end Ken Kesey's "One Flew over The Cuckoos Nest" provided us with many truths of life, the first being that a single person can make a difference in other peoples lives. We are also able to learn that things aren't always what they seem, and finally that a person's spirit can live on and stay with people causing them to change in seemingly impossible situations. It is a situation that is common in many novels where there is a rebel against society. Except, in this novel the rebel becomes a true hero who gives up himself for the good of others. He was not a saintly good man who was liked by everyone; in fact he was very much a nuisance at times. But he had good in his heart and was determined to save the patients of the ward. A sort of Jesus figure, he gave his life for the life of others.
This is the complete article, containing 786 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
