One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: A Psychological Analysis

Prisons in the United States are much more likely to be for punishment than for rehabilitation; however, rehabilitation in addition to today’s medicine has been shown to be far more effective. As we see in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest written by Ken Kesey in 1959 and later published in 1962, many people are sent to a mental institution to treat any disorders they have. In the story Randel McMurphy is placed into a mental institution even though he is sane. While McMurphy was imprisoned, he underwent many procedures and unfair treatment; procedures which are now considered inhumane. If a sane man can be placed into a psychiatric facility when he should be given behavioral rehabilitation, it raises the question; how many men and women with a mental disorder have been placed into a prison?

Our methods and opinions of rehabilitation have changed dramatically over the past 100 years. Out of date procedures such as Phrenology, or the thought of one’s head shape to determine their intelligence or character were used in early mental institutions. (Burns).At that time, scientists believed that measuring a person’s head could determine one’s criminality. Argentinian physician Dr. F. Perez furthered this study by opening up an executed criminal’s brain to see if there were any differences between a normal person and a criminal, only to find the two brains were relatively the same. There were also

practices such as insulin shock therapy, and procedures performed such as lobotomy. During the 20th century psychiatric medicines such as anti-depressants and anti-psychotic drugs were developed. (Burns).
Out of two million prison inmates across the United States, about 500,000 have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. According to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), 16 percent are believed to be severely mentally ill. Many specialists agree that the amount of imprisoned mentally ill patients are due to two recent policy changes; deinstitutionalization (the process of closing down mental institutions in the 1950s), and the tougher sentencing laws that have contributed to the increase in the prison population over the years. (“Frequently Asked Questions”, pbs.org). As the neglect for the mentally ill men and women in America grows, so do the mentally ill population in prisons.
In One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey we see the unfair punishment that Randel McMurphy receives. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest shows what happens when you have an inmate (in the character of Randall McMurphy) come up against an inflexible prison system (characterized by nurse Ratched). McMurphy assumes that the mental institution will be less restrictive than his previous residence at the prison farm; however, his expectations are gradually and forcefully eroded. Far from being the relaxed hospital environment where he can focus on becoming functional in society, the mental institution suppresses the patients by fear and intimidation.
When McMurphy first arrives at the mental institution, Nurse Ratched perceives Mcmurphy as a threat to her authority; he has no fear of her and seems rather confident in himself, almost as if he perceived himself as a superior figure. But it isn’t too long before the patient becomes a prisoner. Nurse Ratched scares the patients into exposing each other’s wrong doings, as well as using intimidation so there is no question on her authority. Nurse Ratched’s name could be interpreted in such a way that it is compared to a “ratchet;” adjusting the behavior of the patients. She also makes a point to try to emasculate McMurphy, as when “{…} the Big Nurse tests a needle against her fingertip. {‘}I'm afraid {‘}—she stabs the needle down in the rubber-capped vial and lifts the plunger—{‘} that is exactly what the new patient is planning: to take over. He is what we call a 'manipulator,' {…} a man who will use everyone and everything to his own ends.” (Kesey, 27). She plans on using the medicine on McMurphy to control his behavior and make sure no questions are raised. When McMurphy becomes aware that he could be kept in the hospital indefinitely, he leads the prisoner patients in rebellion to disastrous results; for example, McMurphy take the boys out on a fishing trip which is enjoyed by all, but when they return, McMurphy undergoes electroshock therapy. In desperation McMurphy plans an escape that ultimately fails and results in McMurphy's lobotomy. (Kesey, 191). The only escape for prisoners in such a restrictive system is impairment or death.
In McMurphy’s case, rehabilitation would have been far more effective than punishment. The reason as to why he was sent to the rehabilitation facility was because of his anger and frequently getting into fights. Rehabilitation in a mental institution was not necessary, but rather counselling for behavioral issues could have been implemented. The reason he was sent to a mental institution is simply because in his day, people were either treated as solely criminals or solely mentally ill. As previously stated, there are many prisoners who suffer from mental disorders. (pbs.org, The New Asylums).
There are certain specialized types of rehabilitation for different circumstances. Educational Rehabilitation and Vocational Rehabilitation programs have proven to be very successful in reducing recidivism.
Take forty-two-year-old Johnny Ames, who has been in prison multiple times and has now put forth many efforts to ensure history does not repeat itself. He started taking classes a couple of years after he arrived at Folsom State prison. Currently, he’s going after his Associate’s Degree in humanities, and is an apprentice in the vocational welding program. “People do change. Prison saved me. I know since I started learning, I expanded my mind in the way I look at things, people, issues, everything,” Ames says. Although he received a GED before prison, Ames states that he never enjoyed attending school. “But I’ve been steady at it. Now I’m finally able to wrap my head around being able to sit, learn, and absorb. It takes work, but no one in my family has ever gotten a college degree so it’d be nice. So my mom and my family can say, even though my brother was in prison, he went to college and he got a degree,” says Ames. (Lee).
Offenders are three times as likely as the rest of the population to have literacy problems. Statistics show that 79 of 100 people entering correctional facilities do not have their high school diploma and 65 of 100 people entering correctional facilities have less than a Grade 8 education or level of literacy skills. Inmates who have low literacy are less likely to use the services available to them, like meeting with a Community Services Officer. They are also less able to benefit from the life skills and rehabilitative programs offered, or programs that a judge ordered them to take at sentencing. (Lee).
Prison literacy and educational programs give inmates a second chance at an honest, healthy, and productive life. These programs give inmates the skills they need to get steady jobs when they are released, which reduces their chances of reoffending or returning to prison. With literacy and other training, inmates return to their communities with a more positive self-image. They feel proud of what they have achieved, and their new skills and self-esteem help them avoid one of the main causes of criminal activity -- unemployment. In fact, the economic and social returns far outweigh the cost of providing literacy training to prisoners. (Adult Literacy Programs).
Vocational rehabilitation has brought many men and women who have been in prison a second chance at living a successful life. Vocational rehabilitation teaches inmates skills to use in the workforce. Two types of skills are offered: commercial and interior business trades. (Litherland).
Commercial trades consist of work such as welding or construction work.

Hired vocational rehabilitative teachers turn uneducated men and women who have done nothing productive, into financially stable, able-bodied adults who can now contribute to the economy and society in which they live.

Indoor business trades usually refer to positions, for example, secretaries or technical specialists. These men and women are now accustomed to a controlled, professional environment, and constantly network with CEO’s of multiple companies and have new insight to the workforce.

(Litherland).
Some consider teaching these men and women to function in society to be a waste of time and money. Some people might also say that vocational rehabilitation is only teaching them how to commit crime more intelligently and go back to prison and waste government funds and the teacher’s time. In fact, many companies who employ offenders who have been to rehabilitation receive tax deductions known as the “Work Opportunity Tax Credit.” This tax credit is applied to men and women who hire ex- cos, “which in this case is a felon or “an individual who was convicted of a felony and who is hired not more than one year after the conviction or release from prison.” (HR Guide to Hiring Felons.) The maximum eligible tax credit is $2,400 per adult hired, which is the same as the tax credit that is available for hiring veterans of the armed forces. Additionally, there is a Federal Bonding program which may provide the employer with a short term liability bond ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 at no cost to the employer.” These bonds are designed to protect employers from the possibility of theft or dishonesty on the part of an ex-felon.” But along with that, the companies must have an open mind and understanding for the rehabilitated offenders. Of course, this does not mean just anyone can be allowed in a work environment simply because they want to, safety precautions are made, and police officers are often around, shadowing the new employees. (HR Guide to Hiring Felons.)
Prison rehabilitation has surpassed prison punishment in terms of effectiveness; this has been proven by statistics, as well as by testimonials from rehabilitated inmates. Educational, vocational, and substance rehabilitation programs have been used successfully to send many men and women back into the world academically, socially, and mentally. Educational rehabilitation has given many inmates the opportunity to achieve a high school diploma, GED, or a college degree. Vocational rehabilitation has shown that men and women who have been previously incarcerated, still have potential in the work world, and can still contribute to society. Substance rehabilitation has improved the health of many inmates, opened their eyes to reality, and shown them that they are worth something. Although some men and women have returned to prison after rehabilitation, the rate of success is much higher compared to the rate of recidivism