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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Essay

581 Words3 Pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a classic film that was released in 1975 and is based on the novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The film tells the story of Randle Patrick McMurphy, a free-spirited and rebellious man who feigns insanity to serve his prison sentence in a mental institution instead of a work farm. This film is a perfect example of how various elements of plot come together to create a powerful and thought-provoking story. The exposition of the film takes place when Randle Patrick McMurphy is transferred from a prison to a mental institution. This serves as the background for the story and sets the stage for the events that will take place. The audience is introduced to the setting of the mental institution, the patients, and the staff, including the strict and oppressive nurse, Ratched. The exposition sets the tone for the story and provides the audience with the necessary information to …show more content…

He quickly becomes a hero to the patients, who have been oppressed and controlled by Nurse Ratched for a long time. This leads to a series of conflicts between the two characters and sets the stage for the climax of the story. The rising action of the film is characterized by a growing tension between Randle Patrick McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, as well as the patients' growing excitement and hope for change The climax of the film occurs when Randle Patrick McMurphy, in a fit of anger, attacks Nurse Ratched, causing her to lose her authority and control over the patients. This marks the turning point of the story and is the most dramatic moment of the film. The climax is a powerful and emotional moment that highlights the struggle between the individual and the establishment. It is also a moment that showcases the bravery and determination of Randle Patrick McMurphy and the

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Needs In 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'

693 Words | 3 Pages

Many of the men in the ward suffer from low self-esteem and self-respect. The orderlies constantly breakdown the patients and demote their individualty through many different ways. Nurse Ratched taking advantage of their vulnerability “‘you men in this hospital’ she would say like she was repeating it for the hundreth time, ‘because of your proven inability to adjust to society’”(Kesey 167) Nurse Ratched repeatedly destructs the patients on the ward and manipulates them to belive they are incapable of ever being able to function as a part of society. This displays the amount of control the orderlies have on the patients and the amount they take advantage of that, as well. This example ties into the self-doubt and uncertainty the men in the book have in

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Does Mcmurphy Change In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

484 Words | 2 Pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a film that can change your perspectives. Randle McMurphy’s side of this story is truly inspiring by the way he made the others feel about themselves. McMurphy lied and pretended to be crazy but rather that he is trying to manipulate the system in his advantage. He thought that being in the mental hospital would be more comfortable than going back to his normal life, he was serving a sit month sentence in prison, which haunts him later when he discovers the power of Nurse Matched manipulates him over so that she can send him for electroshock treatments and keep him committed as long as she likes. However, from what we see McMurphy is not a bad person as the nurse think he is.

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Cuckoo's Nest Mcmurphy Characteristics

788 Words | 4 Pages

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Ken Kesey, Randle McMurphy, a new patient, plans to take control over the ward and seize power from the strict and manipulative Nurse Ratched. Upon his arrival the patients begin to feel comfortable around McMurphy. He acts as a savior, standing up for himself and for the rest of the patients against Nurse Ratched. Despite the ward being a dismal and limited place, the presence of McMurphy's leadership gives the patients encouragement, individuality, and freedom.

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

828 Words | 4 Pages

The gift of Nurse Ratched’s tremendous authority in the early stages of the novel is introduced as a desirable power, as it establishes a sense of order and stability within the institution. Nurse Ratched’s authority initially serves her well as it acts as a potent deterrent against one of her rebellious patients, McMurphy, who repeatedly tends to challenge her power. Because of this, McMurphy describes her reputation to the patients as the “wolf of the ward” and themselves as submissive rabbits. This metaphorical scene paints a vivid picture of Nurse Ratched’s power dynamics at play, allowing her to instill a palpable sense of caution within the patient to maintain her high position. Additionally, this cautious environment serves Nurse Ratched well, as it ensures that her directives are followed and disruptions are minimized to reinforce her dominant role within the institution.

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Character Analysis

987 Words | 4 Pages

Kesey provides the characterization of our narrator, Chief Bromden, and the other ward patients to intimately display the pain Ratched’s institution causes behind the scenes. When it comes to Bromden, there is no doubt that he is an “unreliable narrator” (Zubizarreta). Regardless of the accuracy of his retellings, Bromden’s account still holds emotional weight, as the events and characteristics of McMurphy and Ratched would still shine through, despite possible inaccuracy in smaller details. One main contributor to his unreliability is “the fog”, which clouded his perceptions during times of stress. As the story progressed, the frequency of “the fog” decreased, due to the actions of McMurphy, as did many other insecure characteristics possessed

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest By Ken Kesey

798 Words | 4 Pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a novel written by Ken Kesey in the early 1960’s. This book displays a variety of different ideas that were coming of age during this time period. Kesey develops characters that are unique and are on different quests to find their self-knowledge and a cure for their illnesses. Kesey’s character, Nurse Ratched, is on a quest to maintain her power and dominance over the ward, the staff, and all the patients. She does this in a variety of different ways, although some think she ultimately fails at her quest at the end of the novel, she is still trying to hold true to what she is trying to do.

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1425 Words | 6 Pages

The film’s decision to exclude Pete’s monologue softened the contrast between the moods when McMurphy narrated the world series. Moreover, in the scene of McMurphy’s narration of the World Series, Nurse Ratched has a calm tone to her voice compared to the novel version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In the scene, the diegetic sound of Nurse Ratched is calm as she tries to scold the patients. An attempt to portray Nurse Ratched’s rage is shown in the movie as Nurse Ratched scolds the patients. In the novel, Nurse Ratched’s screams established the emotional aspect of Nurse Ratched, which creates the mood in the novel.

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Theme Essay

1462 Words | 6 Pages

She (6)garners everyone’s attention by educating them of his history, a usual tactic to get the patients in line. However, McMurphy deviates from her (7)conspicuous attempt of revenge by asserting his insanity, leaving everyone, especially Doctor Spivey, in tears of laughter. Nurse Ratched derails from this seemingly happy event and gives Doctor Spivey a chance to redeem himself by explaining the “theory of the Therapeutic Community” in which Chief Bromden perceptibly describes, “He tells how the goal of the Therapeutic Community is a democratic ward, run completely by the patients and their votes, working toward making worthwhile citizens to turn back Outside onto the street”(Kesey 49). Dr. Spivey explains his idea of what society is like in his

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One Flew Times The Cuckoo's Nest Essay

1578 Words | 7 Pages

McMurphy is eventually murdered by Chief in the middle of the night by suffocation to eliminate any chance of Nurse Ratched trying to turn McMurphy into an example of what happens when she is crossed. The nurse at this point has no more ammunition to use against the patients, and in turn, takes her place as a rabbit of the ward like the

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Conformity In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Essay

1380 Words | 6 Pages

In the struggle between freedom and power, McMurphy’s sacrifice allows freedom to prevail. His leadership in a rising rebellion parallels many of the countercultures that arose during the 1960s. His rebellion fights against Nurse Ratched in the way that the countercultures fought against the government and society in the past to the present. The men in the asylum are unknowingly unhappy before the arrival of McMurphy. Through his antics, the men are saved from society in the form of Nurse Ratched’s regime.

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Authority In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

1459 Words | 6 Pages

By weakening McMurphy’s power in the ward, she creates an environment where can continue to thrive in her power through the systems she has set in place. However, Nurse Ratched’s plan does not succeed and McMurphy is allowed to proceed with his fishing trip. He continues to undermine the nurse’s authority to the point where he physically assults her after she blames Billy’s death on him. His actions give Nurse Ratched an opportunity to give him the ultimate punishment, a

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Insanity Essay

755 Words | 4 Pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, considers the qualities in which society determines sanity. The label of insanity is given when someone is different from the perceived norm. Conversely, a person is perceived as sane when their behavior is consistent with the beliefs of the majority. Although the characters of this novel are patients of a mental institution, they all show qualities of sanity. The book is narrated by Chief Brodmen, an observant chronic psychiatric patient, who many believe to be deaf and dumb.

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Character Analysis

993 Words | 4 Pages

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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Analysis Essay

1288 Words | 6 Pages

“One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest” is a film directed by Miloš Forman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey. The Film was released in 1975. It is the story of a convicted man, trying to outsmart the American legal system by playing mentally ill. The film starts at the beginning when the main character, Randle McMurphy, enters the mental institution. It won 6 Golden Globes as well as 5 Oscars and many other nominations.

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1010 Words | 5 Pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest The film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, prompts very important aspect of the human condition. In the movie, the protagonist, Mac McMurphy, is deemed dangerous, so the mental institute tries to suppress him (Kesey). The film highlights various aspects of human conditions like psychology, sociology and philosophy. The mental institute tries to suppress the mentally challenged people rather than to try to communicate with them.

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