Examples Of Power And Control In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

‘The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse’ (Edmund Burke). Good morning/afternoon to the Writers’ Festival, I’m Campbell Behan an expert in 20th Century literature. The influence of literature is often a reflection of society. A common theme within society of the 20th century is the idea of power and control. Power and control is heavily embedded within society. From a mother that has power and control over her children to a boss that has total control over his or her employees. The first piece of textual evidence comes from the novel ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ written by Ken Kesey. Its literary context was developed from a time when society was experimenting with LSD and other hallucinatory drugs. Speaking to patients under

the influence of LSD, Kesey began to perceive that society had turned functional people insane instead of allowing them to find their way back to functioning in society. This novel displays the relevance of the theme power and control. The second piece of evidence that will be explored is the poem written by Amber Duncan ‘Puppet Strings.’ Thorough studies of both these demonstrates that power and control are negative forces which play on fear. Both texts provide insight into how institutionalised control always leads to abuse by those in power, control is achieved through fear and insecurity and the price of rebellion is high.

Institutionalised control always leads to abuse by those in power.

Having been institutionalised since a young child, Chief Bromden came to know on an intimate level that control used in institutions always lead to the abuse by those in power. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ exploites how those in power abuse their control of their patients within the institution. Throughout the novel Chief Bromden refers to the idea of ‘The Combine.’ The Combine is what Chief Bromden calls society at large, a giant force that exists to oppress the people within

it.

“So she really lets herself go and her painted smile twists, stretches to an open snarl, and she blows up bigger and bigger, big as a tractor, so big I can smell the machinery inside the way you smell a motor pulling too big a load” (pg 5).

The Chief believes that the ward is a mechanized extension of The Combine and Nurse Ratched is an agent.

Bromden's ideas about The Combine arise from his own history as a Native American. His ancestral land, on which his people lived, was taken from him and his family for the purposes of the construction of industrial purposes. The Combine seen through the Chief's eyes is a taming force against human nature. This links in with how The Combine of the institution has abused its power to tame his human nature, like what happened to him when he was a child, to become a deaf and dumb ghost who wonders the halls. In the poem ‘Puppet Strings’ the same theme of power and control is spread throughout. In stanza 3 it states, ‘I am a puppet for you to use, like hollow wood for you to use.’ Breaking this passage down it is clear there is a higher power or institution controlling this person. This person refers to his/herself as ‘hollow.’ This makes a strong connection to how Nurse Ratched controls the Chief and the patients, like puppets, treating them as a hollow object she can abuse. Through the analysation of ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ and the poem ‘Puppet Strings’ it is clear that within institutions, control always leads to abuse by those in

power.

Control is often achieved through exploiting fear and insecurity. Everyday Nurse Ratched holds a therapy session for the patients. It stands as a time where all the patients can share their thoughts. Everything that is said is recorded into a log book that Ratched keeps. Although the sessions may seem harmless, Ratched manipulates the patients to spill ‘dirt’ on the other patients to make them confess to humiliating personal stories and also insecurities. She also uses this time to play on their fears of never fitting into a real society. She believes that, ‘a guy has to learn to get along in a group before he’ll be able to function in a normal society’ (pg 72). McMurphy sees the therapy as ‘a hen pecking party’ (pg. 65) because of how Ratched makes the men turn on each other but also to discretely dominate them. In one of the group therapy sessions, Ratched exerts her authority on Billy by threatening to tell his mother what he had just admitted. ‘You know Billy, what worries me is how your mother is going to take this’ (pg 60). She manipulates and plays on his fears to grasp what she wants. This ties in with stanza 4 of the poem ‘Puppet Strings’. The stanza reads, ‘I am attached I’m only yours, a puppets act to earn your applause.’ This passage of the poem clearly affiliates the idea of the patients, as being puppets, trying to earn the applause of Ratched. She has manipulated them to believe that pleasing her or a higher entity is how the ‘real’ society or the outside world works. Moreover, this gives her unlimited power and control over the patient's and every time she feels her control slipping she attacks and exploits the fears and insecurities of the individual. After clear explanation and evidence from the texts it is clear that control really is achieved through exploiting fear and insecurity.

The price of rebelling against someone with power and control is very high. Having come from the Pendleton Work Farm, McMurphy is known to be a ‘rebel’ or one who challenges authorities. Throughout the book McMurphy is described as big, loud, sexual, dirty and confident. Obviously these qualities would eventually clash with the strict and dull ward Nurse Ratched has developed. Towards the end of the novel, Mcmurphy tries to exert his power over Ratched by attacking and strangling her. His overall goal in doing this was to scare and change her life forever. Although instead of running and hiding she comes back swinging and orders a lobotomy on Mcmurphy. ‘First Charles Cheswick and now William Bibbit! I hope you're finally satisfied. Playing with human lives, gambling with human lives, as if you thought you were a God’ (pg35). This passage of the novel is what set off Mcmurphy to attack Ratched. This would ultimately lead to the commencement of the lobotomy on Mcmurphy. After the lobotomy Mcmurphy was left in a ‘vegetable’ like state. Essentially the fifth stanza in the poem ‘Puppet Strings’ which state, ‘I am the peasant and you are the king
and my only escape is to cut the strings.’ The king is suggested as being Ratched and the strings are the constant control the king or Ratched has over her patients. This passage of the poem and the passage from the novel is connected to the idea that no matter how hard one tries to rebel, the price of the rebellion is always high.

It is evident that literary texts have the power and influence to stay relevant throughout the ages. Through the examination of the literary texts and after deep analysis it is proven that institutionalised control always leads to abuse by those in power, Control is often achieved through exploiting fear and insecurity and the price of rebelling against someone with power and control is very high. Ladies and gentleman, it is clear whether it be the novel ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ or the poem ‘Puppet Strings’, the theme of power and control is still heavily embedded within society.