Ken Kesey "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest"

Introduction

I initially intended to compose a piece about One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey during Banned Books Week (September 27th - October 3rd). I fell behind with my reading, but learning about banned books should not be confined to just one week of the year, especially when it's crucial to promote awareness of these works. Originally published in 1962 and followed by a film adaptation in 1975 starring Jack Nicholson, the story is set in a mental institution in Oregon and follows the lives of patients living under Nurse Ratched's regime.

Context and Controversy

The arrival of a modern man who feigned insanity to serve his jail sentence in what he considered a more comfortable environment changes the dynamics within the institution. Over the past few decades, there have been repeated efforts to ban One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in the U.S. For instance, in 1974, five citizens from Strongsville, Ohio, challenged the Board of Education to remove the book from schools, arguing that it "glorifies criminal activity, tends to corrupt juveniles, and contains descriptions of bestiality, bizarre violence, torture, dismemberment, death, and human elimination" (American Library Association, n.d.). More recently, it was contested in the Placentia-Yorba Linda, California Unified School District in 2000 after parents complained that educators "could choose the best books, yet they keep picking this trash over and over" (American Library Association, n.d.).

Film and Book Comparison

The film is notably faithful to the book's themes, and the charismatic character of McMurphy is as compelling in the book as Nicholson's performance is on screen. However, a significant difference is that the narrative in the book is told from the perspective of half-Native American Chief Bromden, considered by others to be mute and deaf. His role as a patient in the institution, with no significant involvement in most of the events he observes, provides a unique perspective for the reader.

Thematic Exploration

Patients are categorized as Acutes, who are treatable, alongside Disturbeds, Chronics, and Vegetables, who cannot be treated and may never leave the institution. While the power struggle between the patients and the institution is a central theme, the most compelling aspect of the novel for me is the distinction between what is perceived as madness and sanity. The landscape of mental health is complex and often misunderstood, and the book challenges readers to reconsider their preconceptions. Despite knowing how the story would end, the narrative's impact was undeniable in its brevity.

Conclusion

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a fascinating study and serves as a reminder that many frequently banned books also happen to be widely recognized classics that address significant social and cultural issues still affecting the world today. Have you read any banned books?

References

American Library Association. (n.d.). Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10