One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey - 711 Words

Many times throughout one of Ken Kesey’s most famous novels, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the book uses animals as symbols to represent the story’s plot. The animals usually relate to individual characters and their current struggles within the story. Animal imagery provides us with great insight to the themes that Kesey is trying to have us explore, and is a very good tool that the reader can use to help better understand and relate to the characters. Ken Kesey uses many different animals throughout his book, such as Cuckoos (a family of birds), chickens, whales, geese, and even a dog. They all mean different things but still symbolize the interpersonal and personal problems related with the characters and novel. The use of animals, as opposed to objects or colors for instance, this is a strong idea because of the vast variety of similarities between the patients and animals. This allowed Kesey to depict a wider range of problems and themes for the characte rs, while still being able to get the point across to the reader. Probably one of the most important uses of animal imagery in the book comes early on, when McMurphy describes the group sessions as a â€Å"pecking party†. McMurphy explains a pecking party to Acutes as: The flock gets sight of a spot of blood on some chicken and they all go to peckin’ at it, see, till they rip the chicken to shreds, blood and bones and feathers. But usually a couple of the flock gets spotted in the fracas, then it’s their turn. And aShow MoreRelatedOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey1916 Words   |  8 PagesOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Ken Kesey Final One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, written by Ken Kesey, was a very successful novel which was impactful on the world in the past, and still is today. Ken Kesey, a big believer in individuality and the freedom to be oneself, brought new meaning to the world of psychiatry that changed treatments forever. This book didn’t just affect American society, it had a global impact. All around the world there are people that are admitted into mental institutionsRead MoreOne Flew over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey1137 Words   |  4 Pages In 2010 one in five Americans experienced some sort of mental illness, and only about 60 percent of people with mental illness get treatment each year1. In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, by Ken Kesey, the wrong people seem to be getting the treatment. The novel is the story of a gambling addictive man, Randle Patrick McMurphy, who is a committed mental patient, serving out his time as an â€Å"Acute† instead of a Prison er . Ultimately, the story tells of how insanity can be broughtRead MoreOne Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey580 Words   |  2 PagesOne Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is an enthralling book which depicts the lives of the insane and their struggles regarding the authority of a healthcare facility ward. The healthcare facility ward develops into a restaurant of disobedience while the wise-guy hero, attempts to reform the establishment while dignifying individuals within. The story is written in the first person perspective by Chief Bromden a big client that is sharing his psychological facility experience. He is a man who has actuallyRead MoreOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. Essay668 Words   |  3 PagesOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a controversial novel that has left parents and school authorities debating about its influence on students since its publication in 1962. 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All of this, however, clashes with the head nurse, Nurse RatchedRead More Laughter as Therapy in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey1083 Words   |  5 PagesLaughter as Therapy in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey Laughter is a therapeutic form. In the novel One flew over the cuckoo’s nest by Ken Kesey laughter represents freedom and an escape from nurse Ratched’s restrictions. Laughter also proves a vital role in helping the patients deal with their problems. Not only does it help them deal with problems but it also gave them the push toward progress on getting out of the institution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mcmurphy was the one who started making peopleRead MoreEssay on The Chief in One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey 861 Words   |  4 PagesOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Critical Essay One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, written by Ken Kesey in 1962 is a gripping multidimensional novel, set in an Oregon Mental Institution set deep in the countryside. The novel is narrated by an American half-Indian known as the â€Å"Chief†, who is a seemingly deaf and dumb patient with Paranoid Schizophrenia. By choosing Bromden as the narrator instead of the main character McMurphy, Kesey gives us a somewhat objective view, as its coming from only oneRead More Patient Control in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey1036 Words   |  5 Pages The novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey is about the power structure of a mental ward from the perspective of a patient, Bromden. The story takes place during the 1950s in Oregon. Many of the patients on the ward are not necessarily insane however do not fit in with pre established societal norms and have chosen a life away from these norms. The men who are voluntary have given in to the staff and follow them like sheep, however, the men who are committed need controllingRead MoreComparison of Book and Film of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey917 Words   |  4 PagesFilm of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey There are differences and similarities in the book One flew over the cuckoos nest by Ken Kesey and the movie, which is based on the novel. The characters are the same, so is Nurse Ratchard in both the book and the movie represented as an angry and two faced woman. She wants to have the absolute control over the wardRead MoreFeminism lens essay about One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey: Stereotypical female roles against matriarchal female (Big Nurse)1502 Words   |  4 Pagescharacteristics. This is not the case in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, in which Ken Kesey shows a woman can hold a dominating, powerful role in society and be contrary to the stereotypical woman figure to depict the validity of the society s views about women and their roles using the failure of the matriarchal female character to succeed at her role assumed by her occupation. The matriarchal female, Mildred Big Nurse Ratched, gains control over her realm in the mental hospital, but fails