One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Character Analysis Essay

Words: 741
Pages: 3
Open Document
In a world where freedom is covertly withheld, men walk around blindly with tenacious eyes. When forced to a certain habitation, the individual either adapts or perishes. When stripped of his power and his will all a man has is his inner thoughts. In the setting created in Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" the characteristics of a real dictatorship is displayed. Although attention falls on our rambunctious protagonist, McMurphy, Chief Bromden fights an interesting inner battle on the decision whether to conform or rebel.
In the introduction to the Chief, the reader learns that his existence in the ward has created a disregard for him that has become a practical strategic move. He plays mute, giving himself advantages to discreet information that has helped him to learn to navigate properly in the hospital. He …show more content…
At this point in the novel he has a problem with contrasting states of mind. He is a schizophrenic patient, which explains why he describes the fog to be like a different area, but it also becomes a safe zone from things that are unfamiliar like the new daring ideas from McMurphy. Leaving the fog means disturbing their comfortability, yet Chief has secret wishes for change. "Nobody complains about all the fog. I know why, now: as bad as it is, you can slip back in it and feel safe. That’s what McMurphy can’t understand, us wanting to be safe. He keeps trying to drag us out of the fog, out in the open where we’d be easy to get at." Even with all the bellyaching he does about the fog, bring it up seventy for times, he begins to unravel a feeling of hope. " I’d think he was strong enough being his own self that he would never back down the way she was hoping he would. I’d think, maybe he truly is something extraordinary. He’s what he is, that’s it. Maybe that makes him strong enough, being what he is. The Combine hasn’t got to him in all these
Show More

Related Documents: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Character Analysis Essay

Gray In 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'

book we see that each character, regardless of race, is treated poorly, but we also see that the minority patients also face another wave of this suffering simply because of their heritage. Lord's assessment highlights that the novel doesn't have one standout character or situation representing its time, nor a clear hero or villain. Yet, it effectively contrasts the East and West Coasts and individualism and community. The literary value of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" justifies its retention…

Words 1342 - Pages 6

Novel and Summer Reading Essay

many notes in the margins as you read – in other words, annotate the text with copious commentary. It is preferable to have your own copy, but if you must use a library book, use Post-It notes for your commentary, as opposed to writing in the margins. One of your first grades will be based on the amount of commentary in your books. In this course you will always be encouraged to annotate your texts. Attached you will find the journal writing assignment associated with these novels, as well as the rubric…

Words 2075 - Pages 9