Setting in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Essay

In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kasey

starts off with one of the patients Chief Bromden whom is narrating the events that take place in the ward. The whole institution is controlled by Nurse Ratched a bitter, hostile women whom is revolting towards the patients. The novel leads off with a new patient McMurphy entering the ward who has a major impact on the patients. Being said he encourages the men to go against all the rules dictated by Nurse Ratched. He then starts to place a bet with the patients how he can crack Nurse Ratched without getting displaced and being sent for electroshock. Further down in the course of the events his demands in challenging Nurse Ratched, he ends up being the blame for the death of Billy Bibbit.

Furthermore, the novel takes place in Oregon in between the late 1950s and 60s. The person telling the story is a half Indian Man who all the patients and staff assume is deaf and incoherent. The protagonist is McMurphy who influences the patients to be more rebellious and proves that they have self worth. The antagonist is Nurse Ratched who pretty much has power overall which she abuses it by enforcing rules. Having said the reflection of the writers mood and tone reflected much on how the characters thought and felt. Such as insidious paranoia and reluctantness within the patients. Mostly having a mood of gloom and sadness within the ward.

In addition, one major theme was the will power within each of the patients that struggled to find freedom under control of Nurse Ratched. For example, during the course when Nurse Ratched was performing a procedure on McMurphy, I remember I was taking huge strides as I ran, seeming to step and float a long ways before my next foot struck the earth. I felt like I was flying. Free. Nobody bothers coming after an AWOL, I knew, and Scanlon could handle any questions about the dead manno need to be running like this. But I didn't stop. I ran for miles before I stopped and walked up the embankment onto the highway (Kesey 277). This occurred right after the incident as Chief was watching Nurse; he then realized that the ward doesnt provide freedom or protection. Exhilarating the fact that he must escape the confinement of the ward. Thus, during the time when Harding and Mcmurphy are having a conversation it proves how isolated and controlled the men are. When McMurphy says, He just sits there looking at Harding, and Harding's rearing smile fades and he goes to fidgeting around from McMurphy staring at him so funny. He swallows and says, "As a matter of fact, there are only a few men on the ward who are committed. Only Scanlon and-well, I guess some of the Chronics. And you. Not many commitments in the whole hospital (Kesey 133). McMurphy realizes that all men in the ward are deliberately invulnerable and have no hope of freedom. Being said even the most balanced men are being kept under major restraint while the mental ones are their upon desire. Many of the patients find freedom from being in the ward since they have struggled with the outside world.

Nevertheless, the writing throughout the novel was somewhat difficult at first since it doesnt start out that descriptive in where it is taking place. But all in all it was very forceful especially by the patients in their daily struggles. As well as powerfully compelling such as when Chief describes the patients, Chronics are in for good, the staff concedes. Chronics are divided into Walkers like me, can still get around if you keep them fed, and Wheelers and Vegetables. What the Chronics are-or most of us-are machines with flaws inside that can't be repaired, flaws born in, or flaws beat in over so many years of the guy running head-on into solid things that by the time the hospital found him he was bleeding rust in some vacant lot (Kesey 120). Thus, the climax of the novel occurs when McMurphy violates Nurse Ratched, Then, just as she's rolling along at her biggest and meanest, McMurphy steps out of the latrine door right in front of her, holding that towel around his hips-stops her dead! She shrinks to about head-high to where that towel covers him, and he's grinning down on her. Her own grin is giving way, sagging at the edges (Kesey 271). When McMurphy exposes her, this shows how he over does himself by compliance. After Nurse Ratched orders him to be lobotomized now making him powerless. Moreover the novel was quiet the trip and was very intriguing. Yes, I would recommend it to others since it was very interesting and kept me guessing.

In conclusion, the book takes place in the events that occurred in the 60s when many people were tested on and had no will in preventing it. Where they would do different test and experiments by cutting out pieces of the brain. That being said the impression the book left me was very satisfying in which I enjoyed it thoroughly. Even though it had me confused at first it was worth reading. It had many drawn out points in which were prime.