One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest In what ways does Ken Kesey position the reader to condemn a social society? Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a psychological drama set in an Oregon psychiatric hospital known as ‘the combine’(p. 11) which explores the idea of condemning a social society. Using language features and narrative techniques such as characterisation, Ken Kesey is able to allow the reader to judge a social society. The main character, Randle McMurphy is a criminal who had been transferred to the hospital. Kesey uses characterisation to portray the themes of power in women, rebellion and the reality of insanity. These themes are used to enable the audience to reflect on social society. In the novel, One …show more content…
Randle McMurphy is a key character who QUOTE starts to challenge the system, he uses different traits of his in order to do this, such as his stubbornness, wild temper and free spirit. He does this in small ways at first, such as asking that 'ward policy' be changed so that they can watch the World Series, and is shocked to find the men so unwilling to vote. QUOTE. Another more symbolic example is his attempt to lift the control panel, a feat which he will clearly be unable to achieve; but he makes the point that he tried, which is more than any of the other men would think to do. QUOTE. On several occasions, McMurphy’s wild temper benefits him in his battles with the Big Nurse for control of the mental ward. QUOTE. McMurphy wishes to live his life on his own terms, not that of the social standard, and he spreads this mentality to the others in the ward. This is one reason why the others look up to him so much. He helps them regain some control over their lives during his stay on the ward. McMurphy does this by teaching them how to laugh again, saying that "you have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy" (p. ). Chief Bromden narrates “I realised all of a sudden that’s the first laugh I’ve heard in years” (p. 17). In the novel, laughter is portrayed as therapeutic, it represents freedom and an escape from Nurse Ratched’s restrictions. Laughter also plays a vital role in helping the patients deal with their problems and gives them a push toward progress on getting out of the institution. McMurphy also releases his rebellious nature to the others by standing up against all the ward policies that he disagrees with. He does not wish for his life to be dictated to him by rules and