One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Essay

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The 1960’s were a turning point in history, specifically for America, which started an age of rebellion after a decade of military fear and governmental control. Kenneth Kesey was one man who produced one of the most well-known and timeless books of his era and beyond; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The writer of this timeless piece was not a trouble-free man with a trouble-free life. Kesey was a man who saw the world as corrupt, and full of women receiving too much individuality and power. Kesey was a man who rebelled against his time, and experienced the effects of being in one of the half a million mental institutions in America during the 1950s, witnessing the array of ‘treatments’ designed to ‘improve’ mental health. During his time at Menlo Park Veterans' Hospital where he worked on…show more content…
She knows everybody’s fears and relies on the men to bring up other peoples issues so they themselves will not be questioned. The Big Nurse feeds off these men’s issues and their arguments with each other for her own enjoyment, not to help the men who are her toys, open for manipulation. Randal McMurphy describes the therapy sessions as a “pecking party” (pg. 51) and that the Big Nurse is taking away their manhood. When McMurphy starts to really rehabilitate the men, everybody not only wants, but needs to be a part of his games, arguments and votes with the Big Nurse. When McMurphy tries to get the tub room to play cards he is turned down at first but is supported by the Acutes of the ward which allows him to teach them card games. Billy Bibbit was also controlled by fear; fear of what his mother would think if she ever found out about any misdeed he may have done. When he sleeps with Candy, all the men stand together to support Bibbit and for a brief moment, they help Bibbit regain confidence (pg. 271) in life that a 33 year old should
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