Up Next: The Novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest…

As a companion—or perhaps a continuation—of my study of Jim Crow in the Asylum, I’m reading Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I’m interested in what a fictional account can reveal about psychiatry’s abuses, particularly during the early to mid-20th century. I read the novel years ago without really “looking for anything.” This time, I have a grocery list, so I’ll be better prepared to recognize what the text puts on the shelf.

The story follows the rebellious Randle McMurphy as he challenges Nurse Ratched’s authority in a psychiatric hospital. I’m curious to see how both characters develop, what they come to represent, and which motifs and themes emerge from their conflict.

As usual, I’ll share my thoughts when I’m through.