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Example research essay topic: P Mc Murphy R P Mc - 1,085 words

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One Flew over the Cuckoo s Nest Ken Kesey Option 5 How can the novel be said to be about power and control? Power and control are the central ideas of Ken Kesey s One Flew over the Cuckoo s Nest. There are examples of physical, authoritative and mechanical power in the novel, as well as cases of self-control, and control over others. Nurse Ratched is the ultimate example of authoritative power and control over others but R. P. Mc Murphy refuses to acknowledge the Nurse s power, and encourages others to challenge the status quo.

The other patients begin powerless, but with Mc Murphy s help, learn to control their own lives. Many symbols are also used to represent power and control in the book, such as the Combine, fog, and the imagery of machines. The Big Nurse Ratched runs the ward in which the central characters reside in a manner that induces fear in both patients and staff. The Nurse controls almost everything in the men s lives; their routines, food, entertainment, and for those who are committed, how long they stay in the hospital. Nurse Ratched is the main example of power and control in the novel. The Big Nurse has great self-control; she is not easily flustered and never lets others see what she is thinking or feeling.

Rather than accusing the men of anything, she insinuates. Although she isn t physically larger than the small nurses, The Chief describes Nurse Ratched as Big because of the power she holds this presentation of size is used for many characters. Once Mc Murphy attacks the nurse and exposes her breasts and thus her sexuality which she has always tried hard to conceal she loses control over the ward and ultimately loses the ongoing battle between herself and Mc Murphy. Randle Patrick Mc Murphy is a loud-mouthed, defiant and unpredictable man. He has power simply because of these characteristics.

He rejects authority and keeps them on their toes. The Chief sees Mc Murphy, like the Big Nurse, as big. Mc Murphy teaches the men to gain control over themselves by questioning their compliance and apathy towards their own lives. In his efforts to over-power the nurse, Mc Murphy learns to control his anger. The only times that he really loses self control are when the Black Boys (aides) bully rub-a-dub George for which Mc Murphy receives EST (Electro-shock therapy) and when Billy Bibbit commits suicide the incident following Billy s death was what led to Mc Murphy s own lobotomy and eventual death. Throughout the book, many symbols are used to portray Mc Murphy as a religious icon, which indicates he is powerful.

He claims that a girl once referred to him as a symbol, at his EST he asks for a crown of thorns and at once stage he leads twelve patients (disciples) fishing (Christ has been described as the Big Fisherman or fisher of men). Although Mc Murphy dies, he does not lose all power. Euthanizing Mc Murphy is the final step in the Chief s growth, and after Mc Murphy is lobotomized, all the other patients decide they are ready to leave the hospital and the Nurse loses all power over them. At the start of the book, Dale Harding describes all of the patients as rabbits. They have no power over anything and are scared of the outside world. With Mc Murphy s help, they are able to grow (in the Chief s eyes) and gain control of their lives.

An important part of this growth is their discovery of their own power. During the fishing trip, Harding states Never before did I realize that mental illness could have the aspect of power. Power. Think of it: perhaps the more insane a man is, the more powerful he could become PG 185 This is a far cry from his original rabbit theory. Charles Cheswick is a minor character who exhibits childish, angry behaviour when he challenges the Nurse.

Soon after that, while at the pool, he is still agitated and distracted. He dives into the water and drowns accidentally. At the end of the book, the Chief still sees Billy Bibbit as relatively small. Although he has experienced some growth, he still has no power over his mother because he is still afraid of her.

Billy commits suicide because of this fear. These are exaggerated examples of how those without power and control cannot survive. After Mc Murphy helps him, Chief Broken manages to grow back to his full size (figuratively), and eventually uses his own physical power to escape. Many symbols operate throughout the book to represent power and control.

The Nurse s supposed ability to change the rate of time is a symbol of the extent of her control over their lives, the Chief believes she is so powerful she can do the work of God. The fog that the he refers to occurs when the Chief feels out of control like when he is scared or confused and the fog disappears once the Chief grows and takes control. The Combine is an organisation that the Chief imagines that makes everything the same on the outside (of the hospital). He believes that the hospital is a dumping ground for the Combine s failures.

The Combine is yet another symbol of control as seen by the Chief. Throughout the novel, things are referred to as machines, such as the Nurse and the Black Boys. These machines are controlled, emotionless and powerful. The Chief presents them in contrast with nature, which is beautiful, unique and comforting to him. All of the symbols used present a negative view on power and control in the book. The nurse changes time to annoy the men, The Combine is against him, and the machines are the enemy.

The book One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest provides many examples and symbols of power and control, although these are depicted in different ways. Nurse Ratched s power is due to the fear she instills in others and she has control because she makes the rules. R. P. Mc Murphy stands up to the Nurse, and gains power through his defiant ways. The inmates of the hospital gain power and control over their own lives with Mc Murphy s help.

The symbols that operate include the Chief s Combine, the fog he imagines and his imagery of machines. All of these examples contribute to a novel that has a central idea of power and control.


Free research essays on topics related to: r p mc, flew over the cuckoo nest, power and control, p mc murphy, one flew over the cuckoo

Research essay sample on P Mc Murphy R P Mc

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