One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Language Analysis

The novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey follows the story of a mental ward turned upside down by non-conforming patient, R.P. Mcmurphy, who challenges the ideology of the ward’s stern, abusive, and dictator-like head nurse, Mrs. Ratched. Throughout the novel, many instances of violent and inappropriate content occur. With content ranging from violence, use of alcohol and drugs, and inappropriate language, the novel has a smorgasbord of writing that is often times seen as inappropriate for younger audiences, particularly impressionable students who can exhibit this negative behavior in reality. This has lead many schools and educational institutions to question whether the book is appropriate to be in class curriculums, and has even sparked outrage from parents claiming that they will not allow their children to read the book’s stirring content. By researching the effects of graphic literature on young minds, it has become clear that although the questioned content within this novel definitely hold merits and contributes to the context of a 1960’s mental ward, One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest should be prohibited from all high school curriculums because its violent and inappropriate depictions contribute to the adoption of damaging and violent behavior by students alike. One Flew

It is not uncommon when reading this novel to come across instances of disturbing and offensive language, particularly derogatory terms/racial slurs. In fact, the main protagonist of the story is often times the one partaking in the offensive rhetoric. On multiple occasions, he is seen calling African Americans aides on his ward by racial slurs (including the n-word), hereby glorifying the use of this language and henceforth creating an environment that encourages and permits adolescents reading the book to use the same derogatory terms. Author Stephen L. Wessler writes in an