One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

1146 Words5 Pages
Underneath the Insanity “What goes beyond is what you see beyond what you know”, a famous quote by American author and journalist Earnest Hemingway delineates the hidden aspects of the novel, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. This novel takes place in the mind of a disturbed and paranoid Native American known as Chief Bromden who resides in a mental hospital along with several other characters. He is a giant man physically but a weak and coward person mentally. Bromden undergoes a path towards sanity throughout the novel. The almighty power in charge of these patients is known as Nurse Ratched who is the oppressive and strict figure who represents modern day society. She has complete control over every aspect of the ward such as schedules and privileges. She is presented as a machine like figure in the mind of the narrator, Chief Bromden Along with Bromden and “The Big Nurse”, there is also Randal McMurphy who is an obnoxious, disobedient, loud and sexual figure who defies all norms and rules of the ward causing a great shift in mindset among the patients. Throughout this novel, Bromden observes and pays attention to everything that occurs around him. He presents several elements in the novel which pose extremely significant symbolic meanings such as cigarettes and keys. The reader is able to comprehend the presence of these symbols but with the help of Bromden’s observations, one is also able to detect a significant purpose for each and every element. Although there are several symbols prevalent throughout the novel, the fog, McMurphy’s boxer shorts, and the electroshock therapy table all illustrate universal and fundamental ideas providing the reader with a sharpened insight into the novel. The Fog is a very significant element of this novel which demonstrates the insanity of the narrator Chief Bromden as well as the condition of the asylum. Fog is known to
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