Individual vs. Society in Ken Kessey's Novel and Film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest"

Essay , 2005 , 5 Seiten , Note: 1,8

Amerikanistik - Literatur

In the history of the world with the classical political system from the Greek and Roman civilisations till today the list of pioneers who lost their lives because of their vain attempts to change society is too long. Some of them were considered dangerous megalomaniacs like Mc Murphy and were suppressed, sometimes without being known by the public at large.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Individual vs. Society
• The Antagonistic Character of Big Nurse
• Change vs. Status Quo
• The Combine and its Power
• The Struggle Against the System

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the conflict between individual and society, using Ken Kesey's novel and film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" as an example. The essay analyzes how the novel portrays the struggle of an individual, Randle Patrick McMurphy, to challenge the oppressive forces of conformity and control represented by the institution of the mental hospital. The essay explores the themes of societal control, individual defiance, and the power dynamics within a repressive system.

• The struggle for individual freedom against societal constraints
• The symbolism of Big Nurse as a representative of authoritarianism and conformity
• The role of power dynamics within a repressive system and the impact on individual agency
• The power of the Combine as a metaphor for the broader forces of societal control
• The tragic consequences of challenging established norms and the inherent difficulty of achieving meaningful change

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

This section provides summaries of the main themes and arguments presented in the chapters.

• The first section of the essay introduces the concept of "Individual vs. Society" and establishes McMurphy as the protagonist who challenges the societal norms and Big Nurse as the antagonist representing societal control.
• The second section delves into the antagonistic character of Big Nurse, analyzing her portrayal as a controlling and oppressive force. The essay utilizes a passage from the novel to illustrate Big Nurse's methods of controlling the patients and the ward.
• The third section explores the theme of "Change vs. Status Quo" and highlights the risks involved in challenging established norms. It illustrates McMurphy's attempts to bring about change in the hospital's schedule and the consequences of his defiance.
• The fourth section examines the "Combine" as a symbol of the broader forces of societal control. The essay explores how the Combine manipulates and oppresses individuals who seek to challenge the established system.
• The final section examines the struggle against the system and the tragic consequences of challenging established norms. The essay uses the example of Billy's death as a consequence of his rebellion against Big Nurse and the Combine.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The essay focuses on the themes of individual freedom, societal control, conformity, rebellion, power dynamics, authoritarianism, oppression, the Combine, and the struggle for change. The essay examines these themes through the lens of the novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and its cinematic adaptation, exploring the symbolic significance of McMurphy, Big Nurse, and the Combine as representations of individual defiance, societal control, and repressive systems.

• Hochschule: Universität Siegen (Anglistik/ Amerikanistik Institut)
• Veranstaltung: English Literature
• Note: 1,8
• Autor: Theophile Masy Divangamene (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2005
• Seiten: 5
• Katalognummer: V126572
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640324583
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656873761
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Individual, Society, Essay, Kessey´, Novel, Film, Flew, Over, Cuckoo’s, Nest”