Skip to main content

Identify one example of political commentary in the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tackles a great deal of sociopolitical issues, which is unsurprising given his personality and professional trajectory. One issue in particular that shapes many of the conflicts and relationships within the novel is racism. 


In the ward, the men are sharply divided between white and black: the patients are white and the aides are black. The inherent power structure sharply contrasts the stereotypical power structures of 1960s...

Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tackles a great deal of sociopolitical issues, which is unsurprising given his personality and professional trajectory. One issue in particular that shapes many of the conflicts and relationships within the novel is racism. 


In the ward, the men are sharply divided between white and black: the patients are white and the aides are black. The inherent power structure sharply contrasts the stereotypical power structures of 1960s America, in which black men rarely, if ever, held positions of power over white men. As a result, there is an inordinate amount of hatred and humiliation expressed by the white patients, who perceive their situation as exponentially worse because they are subordinate to black men. Kesey's commentary does little to objectively combat these issues, instead characterizing the black men as small-minded and amoral. 


The sole exception to this racial divide is Chief, the narrator, who is half white, half Native American. Even within this character, however, racism plays a prominent role, most clearly demonstrated in the flashbacks that reveal elements of his childhood to the readers. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more