Theme Of Racism In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

In the 1960s, our country upheld many different values than those of today. Blatant racism and sexism, while not encouraged, was accepted back then. Women were seen primarily as caretakers and other races were perceived as revolting, but both of them were supposedly subservient to white men. Since then, we have become more conscious of the prejudice that was and is being inflicted upon others; however, we still have not fixed all the problems we see. Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, was set in the 1960’s but the issues it raised regarding the roles of women and racism are still applicable to our society today.

Within Kesey’s asylum are the main attendants referred to by the narrator as the “black boys.” As their name suggests they are the only African Americans in this story and thus are stigmatized because of their race and their job in the asylum. All three men are victimized by Nurse Ratched and the Combine; they are berated by her and given a low pay grade for a job full of stressful and demeaning work. Since their conditions are poor, these men also treat the patients poorly. In the novel it is noted that the men will often rape the patients and many use other means of humiliating and harming them. Their actions though are not unnoticed by Ratched nor are they punished but encouraged. Nurse Ratched chose the men for their characteristics that followed their racial stereotype. The nurse noted the blacker the men the more likely that they would keep the ward clean and that they would have no mercy for cruel acts against the patients, even get joy out of hurting the patients. This is why the three aides she chooses are all very dark skinned, because she wants them to enforce her dominance over the men and keep...

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...n may now have somewhat more equal standing and have legal protection from blatant discrimination in occupational situations, but women are still societally seen a less than men and thus should be subservient to men. The same thought can be continued on to race. Our society may frown on blatant racism yet, just like women of all colors, people of color are still paid less than white men and are seen as inferior to white men. Though our country may have greatly improved upon itself since Kesey’s time period the fact of the matter is that we still have a long journey ahead of us till we can truly say America is just and free to all. To have equal opportunity and treatment no matter skin color, gender, religious beliefs, economic status, sexual orientation, etc. is something we must continue to actively strive for since that is what will make America a better society.