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

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Dinkins 1 Heather Dinkins Ms. Hunniford English 111-93 19 February 2014 Randle McMurphy: The Inspiration One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is an inspiring story of patients in a mental ward overcoming its oppressive nature with the help of a new arrival named Randle McMurphy. As Randle exposes the corrupt nature of the ward through manipulation and rebellion, medicated and conformed patients as well as myself begin to question the legitimacy of mental illness and the necessity of ward practices. This novel, told from the point of view of the perceived "deaf and dumb" Chief Bromden, places an ample emphasis on observation. Bromden, who in reality is not deaf or dumb, watches the goings-on of the ward from a safe distance. Being admitted to the ward ten years earlier, Bromden has watched patients arrive and leave roboticized and mechanized under the "teachings" of the head nurse, Ms. Ratched. It is only with the arrival of the falsely insane McMurphy that Ms. Ratched's meticulously run ward is turned upside down. Making an initial impression as a happy-go-lucky "gambling fool," McMurphy serves as an inspirational figure throughout the course of the novel. McMurphy, too, realizes the importance of observation; however, unlike Chief Bromden, Randle has no problem making his presence known as he quickly learns the interworkings of the ward. It is not long before McMurphy's sarcastic, devil-may-care attitude stirs up trouble for the head nurse and her minions as he inspires acts of rebellion from the rest of the patients. Collective protest earns them a look at the World Series, bribery, a party on the ward and the loss of virginity for Billy, a fellow patient. Even Bromden is inspired to rebel as he joins Randle in a brawl... ... middle of paper ... ...ng this novel, I am certain that I am correct in that. For someone else to disregard your own free will due to perceived madness is madness in and of itself. Viewing clips of the popular movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, there were multiple scenes that made me cringe. On scene in particular, showing the horrendous effects of electro-shock therapy, or ECT, on Randle McMurphy's iconic personality, I realized that this is a practice still conducted today and one that I find extremely undesirable. It is said that ECT is "a relatively safe and effective procedure, providing relief from serious psychiatric symptoms;" however, how far is too far (Seiner, Morales, and Bolton)? While the story presents the optimistic view that people may not be as crazy as you think, it also raises startling questions regarding the unethical treatment of institutionalized individuals.

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