Institutionalization In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Jordon Jasper
English IV
Messier
Institutionalization vs. Human Dignity
Despite One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest obvious play on Insanity vs. Sanity, the book follows a much more simple and obvious theme. The book plays on our own desire to see equality and liberation among the men of the ward, and our anger when Nurse Ratched pulls her tyrannical grasp over the patients. It’s because of this that one can argue that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest purpose is to show the war between Institutional control, and human dignity. Nurse Ratched is a manipulative woman who constantly tries to assert her dominance over the other patients. It’s because of this desire to have control that she becomes the perfect example of the institution/government/‘the …show more content…
The fog lifts for Chief and the remainder of the wards spirits are lifted. The men play, joke, and go on outings, they gain confidence in themselves which restores their dignity. The party scene allows the characters to realize that they are in fact human beings. Despite being locked up they are able to enjoy the things ‘normal’ people enjoy. The men realize that through committing to the ward they have not only sacrificed their rights but their very being. However, through the help of McMuprhy they begin to rediscover themselves and test the power of the institution and Nurse Ratched. “In the group meetings there were gripes coming up that had been buried so long the thing being griped about had already changed. Now that McMurphy was around to back them up, the guys started letting fly at everything that had ever happened on the ward they didn’t like.” (18) McMurphy’s defiance of Nurse Ratched spark something inside the patients; that she is just a human and could be stood up against. The patients begin to complain and challenge Ratched authority for their dignity and rights. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a beautifully written story. It plays with how one sees the people around them and the control of the government and other systems bigger than themselves. It acts as a reminder that even though categorization and institutions can sometimes be productive and helpful, it is not worth the loss of human dignity. Because without human dignity, society becomes nothing but a machine; a
English IV
Messier
Institutionalization vs. Human Dignity
Despite One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest obvious play on Insanity vs. Sanity, the book follows a much more simple and obvious theme. The book plays on our own desire to see equality and liberation among the men of the ward, and our anger when Nurse Ratched pulls her tyrannical grasp over the patients. It’s because of this that one can argue that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest purpose is to show the war between Institutional control, and human dignity. Nurse Ratched is a manipulative woman who constantly tries to assert her dominance over the other patients. It’s because of this desire to have control that she becomes the perfect example of the institution/government/‘the …show more content…
The fog lifts for Chief and the remainder of the wards spirits are lifted. The men play, joke, and go on outings, they gain confidence in themselves which restores their dignity. The party scene allows the characters to realize that they are in fact human beings. Despite being locked up they are able to enjoy the things ‘normal’ people enjoy. The men realize that through committing to the ward they have not only sacrificed their rights but their very being. However, through the help of McMuprhy they begin to rediscover themselves and test the power of the institution and Nurse Ratched. “In the group meetings there were gripes coming up that had been buried so long the thing being griped about had already changed. Now that McMurphy was around to back them up, the guys started letting fly at everything that had ever happened on the ward they didn’t like.” (18) McMurphy’s defiance of Nurse Ratched spark something inside the patients; that she is just a human and could be stood up against. The patients begin to complain and challenge Ratched authority for their dignity and rights. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a beautifully written story. It plays with how one sees the people around them and the control of the government and other systems bigger than themselves. It acts as a reminder that even though categorization and institutions can sometimes be productive and helpful, it is not worth the loss of human dignity. Because without human dignity, society becomes nothing but a machine; a