John Kesey s One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest - 3682 Words

In Ian McEwan’s ‘Enduring Love’, Ken Kesey’s ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ and Sylvia Plath’s ‘Ariel’ Collection, the themes of gender and identity are clearly linked. Kesey and McEwan explore gender and identity through the male perspective and consequently present themselves as misogynists through their texts in their deleterious portrayal of women who do not adhere to what tradition dictates is ‘ideal’. Plath, on the other hand, presents the female perspective, providing readers with an alternative view, that of the female sufferer. However, in her portrayal of men, Plath comes across as a misandrist, and hence readers are exposed to biased views from both the male and female perspective. All three writers incorporate controversial matters in their exploration of gender and identity and depict how sexual identity is constrained due to society’s norms and values, and events that had occurred and influenced opinion. Kesey’s ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’, is a ‘response to changing gender roles ’ that some argue is an ‘anti-feminist work ’ ,and that consequently Ken Kesey was a misogynist, as ‘the text celebrates a â€Å"natural† maleness which is placed in opposition to a domineering emasculating representation of the feminine ’. Thus, presenting the men as ‘victims of a matriarchy ’ stressing the benefits of patriarchy; ‘The premise of the novel is that women ensnare, emasculate and in some cases crucify men ’. Nurse Ratched is demonised ‘for trying to save her ownShow MoreRelatedJohn Kesey s One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest1157 Words   |  5 Pages Though every period of time, people often find themselves looking for a savior. While most people turn for Jesus Christ or other religious figures, in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, the patients of a strictly-run psychiatric ward turn to Randal Patrick McMurphy. Kesey uses McMurphy to create a Christ Figure, or a character that shows allusions to Christ, in his work. Despite being a patient, McMurphy finds a way to stand out as a Christ Figure through having his individualRead MoreOne Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest Speech Act Theory Essay1281 Words   |  6 PagesKen Kesey forms the intricate relationships among the characters in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by the unique use of perspective and speech. Throughout the novel, Kesey depicts this connection between the public world and the seemingly closed off society inside the mental institution. This creates two separate spheres separated by a few walls and doors. Kesey goes on to form a unique perspective in the novel, told by a paranoid schizophrenic, with the narrator’s caricature-likeRead MoreFeminism lens essay about One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey: Stereotypical female roles against matriarchal female (Big Nurse)1502 Words   |  4 Pagesand sustain power in society has proven to be difficult, and has coexisted with a rivalry against the opposite sex. Women have been denied many throughout the course of history. They have been discriminated against, lost jobs, lost privileges. Women s suffrage had not developed in the United States until the Nineteenth Amendment, which became effective in time to allow the voting by women nationally in the Presidential election of August 18, 1920. Stereotypical views of the ideal features of womenRead MoreOppression in Cuckoos Nest1621 Words   |  7 Pagesexpress their feelings and attitudes regarding an amalgam of elements. An example of this exists in the two texts, â€Å"One Flew Over the Cuck oo’s Nest,† and â€Å"The Life Your Save May Be Your Own;† in both texts we see a clear correlation between the plot events in the stories and the events that took place in American History to oppress women and Native Americans. â€Å"One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,† and â€Å"The Life You Save May Be Your Own,† are similar due to the fact that they both metaphorically representRead MoreAnalysis Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest By Ken Kesey1622 Words   |  7 Pagesor someone. Leadership on the other hand, may be a tool used to overcome authority which is depicted when McMurphy is admitted into the ward and effectively changes the patient’s lives for the better. Throughout the novel, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, written by Ken Kesey, McMurphy’s leadership dominates Nurse Ratched’s authority due to his success in transforming the patients into better people from the second of his arrival and giving them the option to live a better life. McMurphy, a gambler