Libertarianism In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

A good society, from some points of view, is one in which all individuals are free. The government does not control the people in any way and every person lives as they please as long as they do not encroach on each other’s liberties. In a free society, individuals have the right to liberty and its protection from the agendas of others, including authoritative figures. As shown through John Hospers, Ken Kesey’s character McMurphy, and India’s Nehru, a free society does not allow for the presence of an all-powerful authority. John Hospers, a philosopher, describes libertarianism as a fundamental part of a free society that does not allow for extremely authoritative leaders similar to Nurse Ratched in Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s

As the Cold War continued, capitalist countries allied with the US and many communist countries allied with the Soviet Union; however, other countries did not align with either power, making them more free in some aspects. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest McMurphy declares his freedom and independence by being defiant and going against the Big Nurse’s will. When McMurphy kept breaking the glass of the Nurse’s window, he showed his resistance and independence. Chief states, “The glass came apart like water splashing...He took one of the cartons of cigarettes with his name on it and took out a pack, then put it back and turned to where the Big Nurse was sitting like a chalk statue…” (Kesey 201). Not only does he succeed in scaring her, but he also takes a pack of cigarettes with him, showing that even if she tries to deny him what he wants, he will gladly take it because he truly believes that he has the right to decide what he wants for himself, something that can also be true of non aligned countries or “third world” countries. In “Changing India,” Jawaharlal Nehru declared, “Essentially, “non-alignment” is freedom of action which is a part of independence...it has been of service to the cause of world peace at some critical moments in recent history” (Vol. 41, No. 3). In many ways, non-alignment was a way for

Kesey shows that through McMurphy. He denies that Nurse Ratched has control over him and acts against her will, the Combine’s will, and does what he needs to attain his freedom. Hospers argues that a strong government never coincides with a free and individual society. In addition, although the Cold War was comprised of two clashing superpowers, non-aligned countries exercised their individual rights by choosing not to participate in the war under a controlling power, something that was accepted and as Nehru described, brought positive change to what is known as the developing world or the “Third World.” Basically, where there is prevalent use of individual rights, one can also see that there is an absence of a dominating power trying to control people, even if it is for their own good. The Combine or other oppressive authoritative structures like it, are made for people who are dependent, that need someone else’s constant care. The reason they so often fail is because each person is made to be an individual, to be original. Based upon the work of Kesey, Hospers, and Nehru, one can see that individual rights cannot exist under a omnipotent