OPPapers.com Essay Index >> English >> Kensey'S Mien Kamf
We have many free term papers and essays on Kensey'S Mien Kamf. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Submitted by sozefsu on April 1, 2008
Category: English
Words: 1380 | Pages: 6
Views: 165
Popularity Rank: 84,483
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
Ken Kesey’s Mein Kampf
“The nail that sticks up shall be hammered down” This is an old Japanese adage and wholly encompasses the struggle presented in Ken Kesey’s most influential novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Many critics cite its popularity due to the fact that it is conflict between the individual and society. Yet, closer reading reveals a unique story. It is not just a story of a man vs. society but rather an almost prophetic analogous story of Ken Kesey’s life. The author has cast himself as the main character in his greatest novel. The unruly Randle McMurphy is not just an emulation of his creator; it is Kesey.
A study of an author’s life is very useful in more fully understanding a novel, for it is often in reflection of their experiences that the work is written. This novel is very unique in that the author not only used his past experiences but also his intended future activities to compose this book. Throughout the novel, we are exposed to a variety of characters, but they can easily be divided into three different groups: the head nurse and her staff, the existing patients at the ward, and finally, undoubtedly the hero, Randle Patrick McMurphy. With insight into Kesey’s life each of these can be seen to have a direct correlation to Kesey’s contemporary society.
Nurse Ratchet is introduced to us by Chief Bromden. The description we are given sets the stage and atmosphere for the novel. “…she‘s got that bag full of a thousand parts she aims to use in her duties today” (Kesey 10). The Chief also relates to us her largeness in power “and she blows up bigger and bigger, big as a tractor so big I can smell the machinery inside” (Kesey 11). In fact, Chief spends a seemingly inordinate amount of time describing the Big Nurse. He explains to us the conditions under her rule. He tells of how she uses fog to confuse the patients and how she uses pills and other medical procedures to control...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!