Stephanie Michalski

Honors English 3

Per. 2

March 17, 2012

Old Historical Criticism Essay Final Draft

“You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his

freedom”. This quote, stated by Civil Rights activist Malcolm X, portrays the overall mindset of

the United States in the period of the Sixties. Throughout the course of the 1960s, personal

individualistic visions adjusted the moral outlook of society. This course of action therefore

drove the revolutions of the Sixties through programs such as the New Frontier and Great

Society. From Civil Rights to the Feminist Movement, new standards were set for America,

demonstrated through rebellious individuals who refused to conform to past beliefs about their

roles in society. The Sixties were a decade of transformation of personal interest which led to the

publication of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a novel which reflected the rebellious state of

the nation at this period of time.

In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the phrase “It’s the truth, even if it

didn’t happen” (Kesey 8) accurately portrays the corrupted psychiatric ward facility. Throughout

the novel, the happenings of an insane asylum are discovered through the eyes of a half Indian

man who is considered to be deaf and dumb. At the admission of Randle McMurphy, a criminal

psychopath, Nurse Ratched’s authority as head of the ward is challenged by McMurphy’s will to

overthrow corrupt regime like policy. Throughout the novel, Kesey challenges the concepts of

power, defiance, and rebellion. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest depicts how personal power

used over another individual will result in one of two reactions; cowardly behavior or defiance

and rebellion.

In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest the use of personal power against

another individual is represented though the Big Nurse, Miss Ratched. As head nurse of the

psychiatric ward, Miss Ratched runs a regime like structure through humiliation and the

dehumanization of her patients. As stated by McMurphy, “No, that nurse ain’t some kinda

monster chicken, buddy, what she is is a ball-cutter…people who try to make you weak so they

can get you to toe the line, to follow their rules, to live like they want you to. And the best way to

do this, to get you to knuckle under, is to weaken you by gettin’ you where it hurts the worst”

(Kesey 60). Nurse Ratched’s ward was organized to demand the patients remain under orders,

with the hope of avoiding the embarrassing schemes of Nurse Ratched’s discipline. In the

beginning of the novel, Harding refers to the patients and himself as rabbits: “All of us in here

are rabbits of varying ages and degrees, hippity-hopping through our Walt Disney world…we’re

all in here because we can’t adjust to our rabbitworld. We need a good strong wolf like the nurse

to teach us our place” (Kesey 64). Harding depicts the patients as rabbits because they are weak

spineless creatures. Just as rabbits are wise and cowardly with little voice, so are the men.

Unlike rabbits, the patients are separated from their sexual tendencies and sculpted to fear this

ability in hope to refrain from confrontation with the wolf, Miss Ratched.

Throughout the novel, Chief Bromden states how Miss Ratched and her “black boy”

assistants are the Combine, a world in which is dictated by powerful rulers whom enforce their

policies by means of violence and brutality. “The ward is a factory for the Combine. It’s for

fixing up mistakes made in the neighborhoods and in the schools and in the churches, the

hospital is…Across the room from the Acutes are the culls of the Combine’s product, the

Chronics…He’s nailed like that on the wall, like a stuffed trophy” (Kesey 16). This depicts how

Chief Bromden views not only Nurse Ratched, but the staff as well. While the patients are pulled

into the ward, they are “adjusted to the surroundings” or are “treated” to make fit by violent

tactics. Just as the Combine controlled humans through torturous ways, so did Mrs. Ratched.

This is shown through Nurse Ratched’s requests of sending McMurphy and other patients into

EST (electroconvulsive therapy) as well as lobotomy, treatments in which altered an individual’s

performance.

Throughout the novel, Chief’s education and past life before the ward is discovered. As a

child, Chief grew up on his father’s Indian reservation. At a young age, the reservation was taken

by the government in hopes of using the land more productively. When the government workers

came to the reservation, they ignored Chief, making him feel deaf and dumb to the world. When

Chief entered the psychiatric ward, the officials figured he was also deaf and dumb, for he was

an Indian. This is depicted when Chief states:

I lay in bed the night before the fishing trip and thought it over, about my being deaf,

about the years of not letting on what I heard was said, and I wondered if I could ever act

any other way again. But I remembered one thing: it wasn’t me that started acting deaf; it

was people that first started acting like I was too dumb to hear or see or say anything at

all. It hadn’t been just since I came in the hospital, either; people first took to acting like I

couldn’t hear or talk a long time before that” (Kesey 209).

These events sparked Chief Bromden’s years of silence, not only making the world

believe he was impaired, but himself as well.

At college, Chief educated himself in the study of electronics, in which he later on used

in the Army. During the time span of World War II, Chief became as electrician’s assistant,

discovering the electrical world of machinery. After viewing the horrific events of the war first

hand, Chief saw the destruction in which machines caused, triggering his fears of them, sending

him into his mental state. After his admittance into the hospital, Chief Bromden begins to

describe everything related to the psychiatric ward as part of a machine, because the concepts of

machinery are comfortable and well known to him.

In “Metaphor and Mind Style in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Elena

Semino and Kate Swindlehurst discuss how Chief Bromden copes with the insane asylum by

depicting its authoritarian like system as a machine.

Practice has steadied and strengthened her until now she wields a sure power that extends

in all directions on hairlike wires too small for anybody’s eye but mine; I see her sit in the

center of this web of wires like a watchful robot, tend her network with mechanical insect

skill, know every second which wire runs where and just what current to send up to get

the results she wants (Kesey 28).

Chief Bromden feels that the psychiatric ward is ran just as a machine, because

everything is precise and orderly, from the patients and staff, to the building itself. Over the

years, Miss Ratched selected her staff, one by one. She shaped her ward by picking out each staff

member cautiously; making sure each would fall to her rule and act as her servants. If the staff

refused to cave into her dominance, they were fired. If the staff fit into her mechanical web, they

would stay and work beside her, enforcing every breath she breathed.

At Chief’s entrance into the ward, he envisioned there was fog, just as there was in the

battlefields in Europe. Recalling the war, Chief states, “You had a choice: you could either strain

and look at things that appeared in front of you in the fog, painful as it might be, or you could

relax and lose yourself” (Kesey 131). The fog symbolizes Chief’s escape from reality. At the

battlefield, fog clouded the world and left individuals either searching for clarity or falling into a

state of loss. Just as in the war, the psychiatric ward created a sense of fear and uncertainty,

centered from the regime like power in system. To ease the pain of reality, Chief lost himself,

relinquishing his body and mind to pure freedom from authority. His mind disappeared with the

appearance of being deaf and dumb, while his body vanished in the fog.

In “Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Paul Nastu asserts that Kesey related the

psychiatric ward and the patients to the events and cartoon characters such as those in Looney

Tunes. Nastu connects McMurphy’s first confrontation with Harding as a relation of slapstick

comedy used in the classic arguments of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. “Mr. Bibbit, you might

want to warn this Mr. Harding that I’m so crazy I admit to voting for Eisenhower.’ ‘Bibbit! You

tell Mr. McMurphy I’m so crazy I voted for Eisenhower twice!” (Kesey 21). This demonstrates

Kesey’s cartoonlike slapstick humor, centering jabs towards one another through the usage of

one-liners, or short, poignant phrases that get the idea across. This allegation is proven

throughout the novel several times through the continual reference of cartoon characters and

their corresponding dialogue.

Another topic discussed in Paul Nastu’s “Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is

the association of Looney Tunes characters to the psychiatric patients in the ward. Nastu relates

Yosemite Sam to McMurphy when Chief states, “We made him stand and hitch up his black

shorts like they were horsehide chaps, and push back his cap with one finger like it was a ten-

gallon Stetson, slow, mechanical gestures-and when he walked across the floor you could hear

the iron in his bare heels ring sparks out of the tile” (Kesey 318). Both Yosemite and McMurphy

have a loud, rambunctious personality, in which is hidden underneath their red locks or hair.

Where Yosemite conceals his face with the “Lone Ranger” mask, McMurphy is identified with

this distinct nickname.

As Nastu made the comparison between Yosemite Sam and McMurphy, further research

shows connections as well between Gossamer and Chief Bromden. Not only do both Gossamer

and Chief have a large stature, but also are strong, and at times violent. This is clearly depicted

when McMurphy states, “Criminy, look at you: you stand a head taller’n any man on the ward…

The first thing I saw when I came in this place was you sitting over in that chair, big as a damn

mountain…I swear you’re the biggest Indian I ever saw”(Kesey 219). Both Gossamer and Chief

were broad chested, and where Gossamer had red hair in which covered his body, Chief had red

(Indian) skin. The meaning of Gossamer relates to fragileness and delicacy, which in itself is

ironic for Gossamer is a monster. This coincides with Chief, for his stature is also quite large,

and at times, shows a monstrous personality and behavior. Through McMurphy’s instigating,

Chief developed from a quiet, gentle “monster” to a wild, strong beast, fighting against the

regime enforcing assistants (black helpers).

In “Metaphor and Mind Style in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Elena

Semino and Kate Swindlehurst propose that the novel indicates several religious suggestions.

The table in which EST is performed on is shaped like a cross; this is portrayed when Chief

describes McMurphy’s procedure: “Climbs on the table without any help and spreads his arms

out to fit the shadow. A switch snaps the claps on his wrists, ankles, clamping him into the

shadow… ‘Anointest my head with conductant. Do I get a crown of thorns?” (Kesey 283).

McMurphy compares the procedure of EST to a crucifixion. As the wood in which one was

nailed to for crucifixion, the EST table was also shaped like a T. In replacement of the nails were

clasps in which were placed at the wrists and ankles. In exchange for a crown of thorns was a

silver headphone, dripping with conductant, which took the place of blood.

In conclusion, the metaphors and symbolism depicted throughout the novel are both

literal and figurative. Even though the insane asylum was not a machine, it was ran as precisely

as one. Although the staff was not the Combine, their procedures gave the allusion for them to

be, changing patients’ state of mind and body through physical procedures such as lobotomy and

EST. And finally, McMurphy was not Christ, but was a savior to the patients, for his death had

saved them. McMurphy’s rebellion and defiance against Nurse Ratched’s regime like power

influenced the men to gain back their confidence and in the end, leave the insane asylum.

McMurphy’s death was not a defeat, but a reminder of the inner power an individual has to

change the system. McMurphy’s action gave several men the realization, “I been away a long

time” (Kesey 325).

“The Swinging Sixties” was a period of transformation in the United States in which

altered the way individuals perceived each other and the world around them, commencing with

the election of President John F. Kennedy. In the course of the 1960s, individuals began viewing

each other as human beings, no longer making race nor sex the dividing factors. As once stated

by Martin Luther King Jr, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as

fools”.

The decade first began with Kennedy’s election as President in 1960. John F. Kennedy’s

election symbolized the rise of a new generation, bringing forth fresh expectations in the country

for American politics. Kennedy’s “New Frontier” policy was put into effect upon his entrance

into the office. The “New Frontier” policy called for programs to which would fight against

poverty, stimulate the economy, fund for education, and strengthen American defense.

Kennedy’s “New Frontier” policy revitalized America as a nation, setting precedence for an

active generation of new principles. Accordingly, the Peace Corps were created; American’s

youth regained their spirits in regard to protecting the nation. Despite the fact that portions of

Kennedy’s economic plan were achieved, the majority were overruled by Congress. The

Congressional majority of Democrats were Southerners who opposed of the “The New Frontier”,

for it sought the improvement of injustices and inequalities in which minorities faced. Several of

Kennedy’s plans were later upheld by his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson (Opposing 26).

Kennedy’s presidency was an era of rebirth, not only in population, but also in culture

and new ideas. One of the main effects Kennedy is known for in his time of office was his

determination in the “space race”. The “space race” was the by-product of the Soviet Union and

the United States’ competition against each other’s technology. On April 12, 1961, Soviet Union

achieved the goal of sending the first man, Yuri Gagarin, to space. Merely a few weeks later,

Alan Shepard was sent up into space as not only the first American, but also the attainable proof

of America’s dream. As formally stated by Kennedy, “I believe that this nation should commit

itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning

him safely to earth”. This goal was accomplished on July 20th, 1969 by Neil Armstrong, six years

after Kennedy’s assassination (Opposing 30).

On Friday, November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee

Harvey Oswald while riding along through Dealey Plaza in the presidential limousine

accompanied by his wife, Jackie, and the Democratic Governor of Dallas, John Connally,

escorted by his wife Nellie. Kennedy’s expedition to Dallas, Texas was for political support for

his re-election in the succeeding year. While riding along in the motorcade, Oswald, an

employee of the Texas School Book Depository, fired three rounds at the presidential limousine,

murdering Kennedy with a single bullet in which penetrated his back and traveled on through

Connally. Kennedy’s assassination signified the termination of the younger generation’s hopes

and aspirations (1960’s Counterculture 165).

Although brief, Kennedy’s period in office was known for two main events, the Bay of

Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although initiated at the end of Eisenhower’s

Presidency, it was during Kennedy’s term the order for the invasion of Cuba was required. The

United States’ plan was to overthrow Fidel Castro and the Cuban Government. This event

resulted in failure and a continuing hostility between the United States and Cuba. After the

invasion, Castro’s uncertainty on his forthcoming rule over Cuba led to his instillation of the

Soviet Union’s nuclear missiles. This action steered the path to the Cuban Missile Crisis. In

response, Kennedy enforced quarantine on Cuba, averting any immediate confrontations in

which might have taken place and called for a meeting with the Soviet Ambassador, Valerian

Zorin, whom refused to discuss the matter. In conclusion, Walter Lippman compromised a treaty

with the United States, terminating the threat (Affluence 98).

Like his precedent, Kennedy was a pragmatic, refusing previous set theories and the

idealistic point of view. He distrusted liberals and often fell into the conservative frame of mind

when it came to Congress, supporting the Twenty-third amendment and repudiating the appeal of

the Taft-Hartley Act, in which he previously had. As for the economy, Kennedy believed that

growth was necessary and adhered to a Keynesian point of view through the reduction of income

taxes among corporations and personal life. Kennedy asserted a cut in taxes would raise

government income through the increase in consumers’ capital. Even though the tax cuts were

voted against during Kennedy’s presidency, when enacted under Johnson’s office, Kennedy’s

policy stimulated economic growth not only in federal revenue, but also amongst the nation at a

rise of 6% (Affluence 96).

Kennedy’s short-lived term as President is also linked to the Civil Rights Movement of

African Americans. Although under Johnson’s office racial equality blossomed, Kennedy’s

noted involvement in the movement aroused the change. Kennedy’s support was publicized in

the spring of 1961 at the occurrence of the “Freedom Riders”, an incident when multitudes of

conspirators attacked those who supported the desegregation of interstate travel. Kennedy

resolved the upheaval by commanding the Interstate Commerce Commission to desegregate

interstate travel waiting rooms immediately (Affluence 99).

Alongside the Civil Rights Movement was a resurgence of feminism throughout the

United States beginning in the 1960s. Throughout the decade, women’s efforts motivated a

second wave of political action towards the rights of women. Claiming that “the personal is

political”, women commenced organizations to fight against their personal rights, such as the

National Organization for Women (NOW). Founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan, NOW became

one of the most prominent women’s rights organizations, fighting against equality in education,

employment, and political rights. Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963,

was considered to be the book in which “started it all” (History).

Before Kennedy’s assassination, his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, encouraged Kennedy

to undertake the “moral commitment” of defending the civil rights of African Americans.

Although Kennedy initiated the revolution of the civil rights movement, it was Johnson who

embarked on the change. Immediately following Johnson’s rise to office was the rise to his

“Great Society”, Johnson’s proposal for America’s future. Under “The Great Society”, Johnson

envisioned "an end to poverty and racial injustice" (History).

Johnson’s undeviating commitment to his “Great Society” plan produced what is

considered “the most important piece of civil rights legislation passed”, the Civil Rights Act of

1964 (History). Under the Civil Rights Act, racial discrimination in any public facility was

strictly prohibited. Government was given the power to withhold federal funding from state

government facilities in which practiced racial discrimination. Furthermore, literacy

requirements for voting were nullified. Not only did the Civil Rights Act prohibit racial

discrimination, but also forbade the discrimination of sex, nationality, and religion in

employment facilities (Affluence 106).

As Kennedy’s predecessor, Johnson devoted himself in fulfilling Kennedy’s aspirations.

Even though he was unable to enact all of Kennedy’s bills, Johnson was capable of passing 2

pieces of legislation. The first dealt with Medicare, creating an insurance law in which mandated

that people over 65 had their general hospitalization fees paid for through social security taxes.

The second piece of legislation passed concerned immigration laws. Both Kennedy and Johnson

hoped to eliminate the national origins system of quotas, in which limited the number of

immigrants allowed in the United States and tended to favor certain nationalities as well. In

1965, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act. This piece of legislation continued

to limit the amount of immigration allowed in the United States, but no longer permitted the

limitation on nationality (Affluence 110).

Although Johnson achieved abundance for Civil Rights, he had also limited individuals’

freedom under the initiation of the draft. In the course of the Sixties, the Vietnam War evolved

into a full-scale war, authorizing Johnson under Congress to take any measure to protect the

United States’ soldiers and Allies from the opposing Viet Cong. This authorization gave Johnson

permission to initiate the draft; thus creating an American controversy in which split the nation.

In order to escape the draft, several Americans fled to Canada while others chose street protests.

As the Vietnam War progressed, anti-war notions advanced into movements. The “Hippie”

generation repudiated war, and desired peace, demonstrating principles through such expressions

“make love, not war” (Age 37).

While despair for Vietnam took place before the late Sixties, it was during this period that

Americans’ aspirations for transformation truly extinguished. On January 21, 1968, the Tet

Offensive ignited at the United States Marine Base at Khe Sanh in Northwest South Vietnam,

where 6,000 marines were forced to hold-off 20,000 Vietnamese soldiers. Within the year of

intense warfare, the Viet Cong initiated a cease-fire (History).

Even though the Tet Offensive was a victory for the United States, it smothered public

support for the war and Johnson under the questioning of an effective commander. In result,

Johnson terminated his reelection campaign and the Democratic Party split into four. Another

downturn for the nation was the 1968 assassinations of two main “Leftists”, Martin Luther King

Jr. and Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy, leaving supporters of an egalitarian society in question and

concerned (History).

In conclusion, the Sixties was an era of rebirth, stimulating a transformation in not only

how the new generation perceived politics, but another individual as well. Commencing under

the 1960 election of Kennedy in office, and concluding in 1968 after the termination of

Johnson’s reelection campaign, the “Swinging Sixties” legacy will remain eternally in our lives

through the alterations in which it carried.

Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest demonstrates the historical

challenges of the 1960s through the depiction of several diverse aspects of society. Throughout

the course of the Sixties, authority was challenged continuously, altering previous regulations

and opinions. During the course of the decade, a transformation of personal values was

established, portrayed through the political policies of Kennedy and Johnson. Under the Civil

Right Movement, African Americans attained voting rights to which the majority was previously

deprived of due to the usage of literacy tests. Furthermore, the Civil Rights Act of 1964

prohibited racial discrimination in public facilities. Likewise, a resurgence of feminism

commenced in the 1960s through organizations such as the National Organization for Women.

As demonstrated throughout the decade of the 1960s, individuals’ morals were

challenged. Accordingly, Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was published in

1962. Depicting the resistance to authoritarian-like figures and the corruption of government,

Kesey illustrates the happenings in which occurred at psychiatric wards during the 1960s period.

As portrayed through Nurse Ratched, Kesey illustrates the power and control displayed under big

business and government during the 1960s. In contrast, Randle McMurphy depicts the rise

against conformity, exhibiting strength and leadership amongst the patients of the ward.

As revealed through the political protestors of the 1960s (i.e. “Hippies”), experimentation

with drugs and peace from war and corruption complimented the decade, giving Kesey the

backbone of his novel. While studying at Stanford, Kesey agreed to partake in a research study

involving chemicals such as LSD. Due to his participation in the project, Kesey experienced

side-effects such as hallucination. Attributable to the hallucinations came Chief Broom, an

imaginable Indian figure whom swept the floors at the Veterans’ Administration mental

institution to which Kesey worked at. In addition to Chief Bromden, Kesey’s secondary

characters arose from the lives of real patients whom inhabited the psychiatric ward.

Furthermore, Kesey endangered himself to the exposure of real-shock therapy, thus attaining an

understanding as to what patients went through.

Throughout the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey’s personal attributes are

revealed. Raised in a strong religious-based household, Kesey unites his Christian beliefs

through religious symbols with his novel. Through the depiction of EST (electroshock therapy),

Kesey relates crucifixion, comparing the head piece to a crown of thorns and the table to a cross.

Demonstrating the self-perpetuating oppression of individuals, Kesey’s One Flew Over

the Cuckoo’s Nest indicates how control leads to conformity. As Nurse Ratched and her staff

displayed a regime-like power over the psychiatric ward, voluntarily committed patients

collapsed under their regulations, thus abstaining voice and opinion. Likewise, presented through

the decade of the 1960s, citizens felt they neither attained a voice nor opinion underneath

governmental control, leading towards the creation of the counterculture and hippies.

In conjunction with the counterculture movement raised the perceived thoughts and

opinions of the decades’ rebels towards mental institutions. In response to conformity, hippies

rebelled; thus undertaking the title of social nonconformists, a label often given to mental

patients. Counterculture rebels therefore looked at mental illness as nonexistent, an idea as to

which was popular in the Sixties. Psychiatrists’ research led to the beliefs that mental illness was

purely psychological, pertaining strictly to environmental and social conditions. Therefore,

“mental” patients were simply just social nonconformists, or society’s rebels. Furthermore, with

the rise to mind-altering drugs, such as LSD, social nonconformists and mental patients had the

ability to escape from reality.

In conclusion, Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest establishes the roots of the

Sixties through a personal and worldly level. Not only does the novel personally connects with

Kesey and his real-life experiences, but also connects with the events in which influenced the

formation of the Sixties. Overall, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest clearly portrays the mindset

of the decades youth through the depiction of nonconformity and squelching under an

authoritative figure.

Annotated Bibliography

Brick, Howard. Age of Contradiction: American Thought and Culture in the 1960s. New York: Twayne,

1998. Print.

In the Age of Contradiction: American Thought and Culture in the 1960s, Howard Brick

depicts the events in which led up to contradiction and tension in the United States. Brick's

discusses the Vietnam War and the opposing views of the nation about the United States'

participation in it. This book was quite helpful to me, because it allowed me to understand why

the Vietnam War caused so much tension throughout the nation and which events led to the

separation of support.

Degler, Carl N. Affluence and Anxiety: America Since 1945. 2nd ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman,

1975. Print.

In Affluence and Anxiety: America Since 1945, Carl Degler depicts the United States'

society since 1945. Throughout the book, Delger discusses Kennedy's and Lyndon B. Johnson's

presidencies, dictating the main events in which occurred during this period. It was helpful,

because the book allowed me to determine the important events in the decade and understand the

effects.

Dudley, William. The 1960s. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2000. Print.

In the 1960s, William Dudley depicts the main events during the 1960s in which caused

much contradiction. Throughout the book, Dudley discusses Kennedy's "New Frontier" policy,

his assassination, the space race, and Johnson's plan.

Hamilton, Neil A. The 1960s Counterculture in America. Santa Barbara: Abc-Clio, 1997. Print.

In The 1960s Counterculture in America, Neil Hamilton depicts the decade of the 1960s

through the concepts of socialism, culture, and politics. Discussing the 1960s as a period of

intense upheaval, Hamilton depicts the decade as a revolution for American society through

several movements and changes in culture such as Woodstock music. This book was helpful,

because it allowed me to understand the significant events in the 1960s in which shaped the

decade.

"History.com." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 29 Apr. 2012.

<http://www.history.com/>.

The History Channel's website discussed several different aspects of the 1960s, through

articles, videos, and several other angles. This website was helpful, because I was able to attain

liable information on several topics and events of the 1960s, such as feminist movements and the

Vietnam War.

Kesey, Ken. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, a Novel. New York: Viking, 1962. Print.

In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the happenings of an insane asylum

are discovered through the eyes of a half Indian man who is considered to be deaf and dumb. At

the admission of Randle McMurphy, a criminal psychopath, Nurse Ratched’s authority as head

of the ward is challenged by McMurphy’s will to overthrow corrupt regime like policy. This

source was useful, because it was the main stem of my paper, and allowed me to further my

search and the topic.

Nastu, Paul. "Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Mar.

2012.

In "Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", Paul Nastu connects the relations

between the insane asylum and Looney Tunes. Not only are there several references to the type

of slapstick humor in which is performed in cartoons but also one-line conversations. Ward

patients are also compared to Looney Tunes characters. This source was helpful, because it

helped me realize connections I had not seen previously, and allowed me to expand on my

personal thoughts about the relations between the psychiatric ward patients and Looney Tunes

characters.

Semino, Elena, and Kate Swindlehurst. "Metaphor and Mind Style in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the

Cuckoo's Nest." MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

In "Metaphor and Mind Style in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", Elena

Semino and Kate Swindlehurst discuss the metaphors in which are used by Kesey throughout the

novel to describe the regime like ward. Another topic discussed was the religious symbolism in

which was discovered throughout the novel. Also, the article discusses Chief Bromden's distinct

mind style, which is the cause of how the novel is narrated. This source was helpful, because it

allowed me to make connections in which I previously hadn’t seen. This allowed me to be able

to expand on topics in while I could make relations to, such as the religious symbolism and

relationships throughout the novel.

Reflection

As I sat upon my fluffy purple chair in the corner of my room, thoughts rushed through

my mind. Weighing heavily upon my heart were the numerous amount of pages in which were

waiting to flow like an impulse down my brain and out through my fingertips onto the keyboard.

Contained in my corner by a barrier of books, I peered out around me, searching for the simplest

way to dive into the research that was upon me. Starting off miserably, I selected my first piece

of literature, receiving an instant paper cut. After binding my battle wounds, I attacked my

research.

Having an interest in Psychology led me to the selection of Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over

the Cuckoo’s Nest, for the novel discussed rebellion in an insane asylum. Although I’m not a so-

called bookworm, my interest in the novel soared the further along I went. Scanning the pages

feverishly, I conquered the challenge of reading the novel and progressed on towards the writing

process. Despite the fact that at first the process seemed overbearing, the procedure was much

more simplistic than I imagined. After selecting and reading a novel that interested me, the

evaluation came naturally.

After completing the Literary Analysis, I unrelentingly traveled on to the Historical

section, examining the decade in which One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was published in, the

1960s. Even though this section required heavy research for accuracy, it was rewarding.

Discovering the historical decade of the 1960s led to a clear understanding and connection as to

why One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was published during this period of time.

Due to this writing assignment, I was able to make a clear association between the novel

and its corresponding decade. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was written in the Sixties as a

response to not only the rebellion against authoritarian-like figures, but also the way an

individual perceived one another. Throughout the course of this project, I was able to understand

the connection between a work of literature and its corresponding decade it was published in. In

response to the events in which take place in society, authors are inspired to write about the

occasions, portraying the society’s mindset on concepts such as corruption.

Literature is a direct response to History and therefore represents its transformation,

through the written report of such events. Intertwined, Literature and History complete one

another. While history depicts a series of actual events that take place in society, Literature

portrays a more personal standpoint on the events. Whether from personal experiences

(autobiographies), or through a fictional depiction of the events, history is expressed in the works

of written art. Likewise, Literature contributes to history, allowing society to interpret the effects

of events and therefore decide on their personal standpoint pertaining to the issue. Furthermore,

literature may guide the future of history through movements. Betty Friedan’s The Feminine

Mystique, published in 1963, influenced the formation of the National Organization for Women

(NOW) in 1966.

In Conclusion, the expedition as to which the paper led from beginning to conclusion was

truly rewarding due to the wealth of knowledge from research and writing procedure.

Constructing a multipurpose essay with several positions was a distinct revelation as to college

papers and the amount of work necessary to not only complete, but achieve a high score. The

main lesson I have taken away from this assignment was the importance of working ahead in

projects, therefore giving myself enough time to revise or continue additional research. Although

overwhelming, I believe that time was well spent on the construction of the paper and presented

an overall preparation for college.