Sailor Song | Themes & Symbolism

Sailor Song Significant Topics

Social activism

In this tale of the near future, there are many hints scattered throughout the novel of the various social activist organizations and events that have shaped the world. Kesey's own role in the social activism of the 1960s and the accompanying disillusionment that he refers to as the "Nasty Nineties" takes a strong role in the development of the novel. By presenting a world that is beyond the help that social activism believes is possible, Kesey demonstrates the disenchantment of his own generation.

Ike Sallas' social activism takes an interesting and unique form. He has clear reasons for his disillusionment with society based on the death of his daughter and the break up of his marriage. His choice of social protest, accompanied by the comical nickname of Bakatcha Bandit, is difficult to understand in relation to promoting real social change. His decision to dump sewage on children at carnivals seems...
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