Cuckoos+Nest,Feminism


 * Discussion Questions:**
 * 1) Nurse Ratched is pretty much the only female character in this novel. What does the way she is portrayed argue about women?
 * 2) One of the themes of the book is expression of sexuality. What is Kesey saying about society?
 * 3) What does the contrast in Nurse Ratched's appearence and her mannerisms suggest about women?

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 * Opening Activity:**

Watch this clip from the movie version. How does Nurse Ratched assert her power? Also, think about how Nurse Ratched's power position effects McMurphy. How does his behavior differ from the other patients?

Michael Boardman wrote the critical essay on Ken Kesey’s // One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. // In his essay, Boardman discusses the anti-feminism, sexist tone of the novel, and argues that Kesey is saying that man's problems are caused by women's possession of the dominant roles in society. He also notes that McMurphy is the self-sacrificing character in order to save the rest of the patients. Thus far in the novel, I agree that Kesey's main argument is that women have caused a lot of men's problems by holding dominant roles, which causes problems because it goes against stereotypical society. By making Nurse Ratched so manly, lacking many feminine characteristics, suggests that Kesey believes that women can only hold powerful roles when they are not dainty and delicate. Kesey's sexist tone toward the nurses also suggests that women can't be taken seriously; the "women are only good for one thing" mind set seems to be predominant in the characters. Another feminist aspect of this book is McMurphy. Using this lens, it could be argued that McMurphy is the character where Kesey's fears are puppeteered through. Kesey could be arguing that people can only be saved when there is someone to act as a "sacrifice". Even though this novel seems to be anti-feminist, there are actually many aspects that can point to a hint of feminism.
 * Summary Response:**

[|H1100055041&docType=GALE|**http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=litt24484&tabID=T001&searchId=R5&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=14&contentSet=GALE%7CH1100055041&&docId=GALE|H1100055041&docType=GALE**]
 * Links:**

[|H1100055056&docType=GALE|**http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=litt24484&tabID=T001&searchId=R6&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=5&contentSet=GALE%7CH1100055056&&docId=GALE|H1100055056&docType=GALE**]

Boardman, Michael M. "//One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest//: Rhetoric and Vision." __Journal of Narrative Technique__. 9.3 (Fall 1979) 171- 183. **Rpt. in** __Contemporary Literary Criticism__. Ed. Tom Burns and Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 184. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 171-183. __Literature Resource Center__. Gale. ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL. 1 May 2008 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=LitRC&u=litt24484. Kesey, Ken. //One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest//. New York: Penguin Books, 1962.
 * Biblography:**

Zubizarreta, John. "The Disparity of Point of View in //One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest//." __Literature/Film Quarterly__. 22.1 (1994) 62-69. **Rpt. in** __Contemporary Literary Criticism__. Ed. Tom Burns and Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 184. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 62-69. __Literature Resource Center__. Gale. ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL. 1 May 2008 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=LitRC&u=litt24484.

~Egan