User:Stuspa/sandbox

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I learned how to train in the training wiki.

Themes
There are several themes in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Masculinity

Ken Kesey uses the conflict between Big Nurse and McMurphy to simplify the overarching theme of society versus the individual. This is shown primarily through the following four characters.


 * Chief Bromden - Bromden's family history includes his mother refusing to take her husbands Indian name. This is the first time Bromden's father "loses masculinity" in a sense. Ultimately, this leads to the government taking away his tribe's land and claim on the river.  Eventually, this is the reason for the Indian chief's alcoholism and death.  For this reason, Chief Bromden more or less "submits" to society and the Big Nurse.  After meeting McMurphy, however, Bromden is able to go on a fishing trip and begin to reclaim his masculinity.  He sees the outside world and "flies" on their rental boat, The Lark. The act is symbolic because Bromden is "the biggest bird of all." Finally, Bromden's escape shows that he has reclaimed his strength, throwing the control panel through the window.  This "symbolically represent[s] his identity and his awareness of the past and hope for the future."


 * Dale Harding - It is clear that Harding finds himself to be lacking masculinity. "We comical little creatures can't even achieve masculinity in the rabbit world!" This inferiority complex comes from his wife, Vera, who calls him homosexual and "lacking in brutality"  Harding tries to prove that he is masculine by forcing his hands to do woodwork and hiding his hands. Vera serves to remind Harding that he is lacking masculinity and how she is suppressing him.  It has been suggested that Harding's marriage to a woman who he is "intellectually superior" to is a way for him to try to dominate the matriarchy.  But Harding fails in this domination, until he finally is the first patient to leave the ward after McMurphy's death.


 * Billy Bibbit - Another way of describing masculinity in the book deals with a strong sex drive, while "the predominant feature of this feminizaiton becomes submissiveness." Billy is scared of his mother and submits to her denial of his adulthood.  One theory is that when men's sex drive is contained, they go mad and "cease to be men." When Billy triumphs over the Big Nurse after his night with Candy, it is easy for the reader to sympathize with him.


 * Randle P. McMurphy - McMurphy is the "model of traditional masculinity" that is put up against the evil matriarch of society. His toughness is what allows readers to identify him with masculinity.  His laugh is also an important symbol as it is "the first laugh [Bromden's] heard in years."  McMurphy defines what masculine is in the novel.

During the final fight between McMurphy and the Big Nurse, she is exposed. This is a "literal transformation here from a cold machine to something more vulnerable,” empowering the men but sacrificing McMurphy. This is the overall message of the theme, that “the human must be liberated from the machine if the oppression of the Combine is to be eliminated." The theme suggests that the two opposing parties should know their place. This could be applied on a governmental level, suggesting that the government and society stop trying to make individuals conform. If the suppression does not stop, sacrifices will be made.. “Kesey is warning us that some recent developments in American society may serve to weaken masculine individuality, assertiveness, and spirit." At the time of the novel, men were very scared of the idea of having women in powerful positions.  Whether or not this is a valid point, the Big Nurse represents government and the Combine that Chief Bromden consistently refers to.  This is the institution that threatens "individuality and personal freedom."