Analysis Of Ken Kesey One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

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Recommended: Discuss how ken kesey uses theme and symbolism in his novel, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest

Although some parents believe Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is sending the wrong message to their children, the message is positive and can help their children better understand mental institutions and also teaches them that everyone deserves freedom.
Many Americans don’t approve of their children reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Schools across America receive several complaints a year about the book being available for students to read in classrooms. “They can choose the best books, but they keep choosing this garbage over and over again” (LA times) says one frustrated parent. Parents feel like this book is sending their children the wrong message. “…while I was laying there in the water trying to watch McMurphy bust some more of Washington’s ribs, the one behind me with the wrestling hold went to biting my neck and I had to break the hold.”(Kesey 275) This scene takes place when Chief and McMurphy are fighting with three black boys that work at the ward. Parents may feel aroused scenes like this one in the book are sending their children the message that violence is okay and parents are not okay with it. In 1974, five parents in Strongsville, Ohio, sued the board of education to abolish the book in schools. “The parents labeled the book ‘pornographic’, they charged the novel ‘glorifies criminal activity, has a tendency to corrupt juveniles, and contains description of bestiality, bizarre violence, and torture, dismemberment, death, and human elimination. “(world.edu)
Many parents don’t approve of the message One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is sending to their children. However, their children seem to like the message and say it has no negative effect on them. Some parents believe this book is sending th...

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...rphy knows the other patients are not crazy but the big nurse convinces them that they are. One student says “the book gave her insight into the mental institutions and that she liked the characters’ care free quality, even though they were ill.”(LA times) Kesey expected the same response from all of his audience, although, he received a negative response from parents. As author Upton Sinclair said about his book The Jungle, ‘I aimed my book at America’s heart, but I hit it in the stomach.” (Books Reconsidered), so did Kesey.
Kesey knew firsthand how mental hospitals work and wanted to express to his audience that no matter what type or how many physical limitations you have they should never keep you from your freedom. While most parents got a different message from Kesey’s book, their children seem to appreciate his message and understand where he is coming from.

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