Oppression/manipulation

One flew over the cuckoo’s nest full of oppression and manipulation in the form of racism, complete mind and physical control, fear/threats of harm .Ken Kelsey clearly states different points to each of the ways the patients are oppressed through the racism of the black boys and chief Bromden, the complete control of the patients and Miss Ratchet’s manipulative tactics and abuse of power. The Racist remarks made by Ken through chief Bromden in a demeaning way towards the black boys with who they are and their appearance. Belittling them and making them out to be savage machines that only answer nurse ratchet, also towards chief by others in the storey referring to him as a typical deaf and dumb Indian giving him the nickname chief broom. Ken also shows miss ratchets control by manipulation of the patients through the repetitive schedule, medicine and the fear of the shock shop. Miss. Ratchet also has control over the doctors too, with them fearing her and the dirt she has on them. Then comes Randal McMurry that throws a wrench to Miss. Ratchets plans. By His loud, free laughter stuns the other patients, who have grown accustomed to the control and repressed emotions throwing Miss. Ratchets will oiled and smooth running schedule in to turmoil. Mr. McMurry is a man with is own agenda.

 You can see manipulation in everyday life for instants the school yard with the popular kids and all the kids that want to be in the popular circle. How the popular kids manipulate the less popular kids to thing they wouldn’t normally do, like belittle other kids or make them cause a disturbance in class etc... Much like how miss ratchet manipulates the patients under her control to turn against one other and report everything the other guy does wrong into the log book. Another example of manipulation I can think of would be the media; and there use of commercials, bias interviews or data to change your thoughts or sway your opinion for their gain/profit. Miss. Ratchet also uses this method to her advantage by altering the clocks and picking and choosing the testimonies she use to make her case. A perfect example of Mr. McMurry in class would be Austin. How he freely speaks out in the middle of a listen sometimes helpful other times a nuisance upsetting the classes flow, Sorry Austin you were the first and best example I could think of.

The best example of oppression on the world level today would be the Middle East, with the oppression of the people by the government and the oppression of women as second class people. This relates to cuckoo’s nest with Miss. Ratchet and her staff as the government and the patients as the oppressed people. As for Racism not as common today, but back in the sixties was common place and was harsher towards some races than others.  Like forcing the African Americans to the back of the bus and not allowing them into some restraints with white only signs, and with the Native American by forcing them to their reserves and treating them as basically non-humans. The way this ties in with the book is, this is Ken Kelsey’s world as he wrote the book manifesting itself in the in the charters and the way some are depicted. Showing Ken Kelsey’s views as to where he stood on the topics of the day.