One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Comparative Essay

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In the novels, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kessey, and “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, the theme of power pervades the narratives, driving characters to confront oppressive societal forces. No matter the differing settings and characters, both “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Awakening” examine power dynamics, showing the struggle for self-determination against oppressive societal forces. To compare and contrast the two novels, there are a few things that will be focused on. Focusing on the dynamics of institutional power, character’s responses to power structures, consequences of challenging power, symbolism, and imagery of power. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is set in a mental institution in Oregon, narrated by …show more content…
It goes through the themes of freedom, identity, sexuality, and the limitations imposed by gender roles. The awakening to her own desires and the realization of her inability to reconcile them with the expectations of society, that leads to a tragic and controversial conclusion. In “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the oppressive system of the mental institution is a central focus. Nurse Ratched incorporates authoritarian power, controlling every aspect of the patient’s life. Her dominance often shows the manipulation of rules and her use of psychological tactics to maintain control. For example, when she shows how, no matter if the other patients vote against her, she’ll still have power. “But Nurse Ratched can't be beaten by just beating her in voting; she’s mastered the system to the point she can do almost anything with it whether we vote against her or not” (Chapter 12, Page 98). In “The Awakening,” societal expectations and norms dictate the characters’ behaviors. The struggles Edna goes against are the stifling expectations of marriage and motherhood that reflects the societal power structures of the late 19th
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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Comparative Essay

compare for my New Hollywood analysis are 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and 2015’s Suffragette. Though they were filmed forty years apart and are about contrasting subjects, they both share the theme of rebellion. As far as structure goes, a notable difference between the two films is that in one, a new person is brought into a group and begins the rebellion, whereas in the other, a new person joins a group of rebels. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Jack Nicholson’s character, McMurphy (“Mac”)…

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