Nurse Ratched, the head of the psych ward, runs a pretty tight ship. Oppressing her all-male patients and enforcing strict rules, readers experience the mechanical, routine life in the ward through the eyes of Bromden, a half-Indian deaf patient. This life is disturbed by the new patient McMurphy, exuberant and philanthropic in his own way, who catalyzes a change in the men on the ward. Kesey chronicles the war between him and Nurse Ratched while tying in ideas of societal pressures, sexuality, and the 1900s concept of mental health. As the story develops, the fight between the two seemingly shrinks as the real war shows itself: the men vs. the Combine, the bigger, badder evil and unstoppable destructive force.
The most impressive thing Kesey does with this book is include so many different themes, motifs, and symbols, and the best part? It all works together. To say that this book warrants some level of analysis beyond casual reading is an understatement; it begs for full analysis. Of course, the overall message of the book is outdated, but I respect Kesey in terms of his literary abilities. In 300 pages, he creates and develops deep, nuanced characters that play off of each other. As a reader, I wasn’t rooting for one particular character to succeed but, instead, was rooting for a prominent theme ringing through the pages: freedom to be an individual and freedom to make your own choices. The core of the book was my favorite part, although I thought the ending was a bit weak but sufficient overall. I highly recommend this book to any fans of classics who are looking for deeper books and even recommend this book for readers who just want to read. There’s a lot to take away from Cuckoo’s Nest depending on how much you want to get into it. I, for one, think I flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. 4 out of 5 stars.