"Because he knows you have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy."
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest written by Ken Kesey Ken Kensey's book is insane. The inmates at the facility are completely off their rockers. Or are they? Looking over at the Chronics they are vegetables in a sterilized garden of mental instability. Then there are the Acutes. They have a chance for sanity. Too bad for the Chronics, including the Chief. Chief Bromden is a fly on the wall. He is just there. But, more importantly;he is watching. He sees more than others see. Sure, not all the things he sees are real, but I prefer to think of it as metaphorical inspiration. He is the perfect narrator. Always watching, doesn't miss a thing. People always assume they can talk in front of his because he's bonkers. That and the fact they believe that he is deaf. However he is not, he's just a sweet, quiet, six and a half foot tall Indian. I thought this may be a boring book because of all the insane inmates on a strict schedule. However that is exactly why it is so interesting. Insane people saying crazy funny things make this book entertaining. You never know when one inmate will go off and say something inappropriate like Ruckly, a chronic with a stutter, who when prompted will say, "Ffffffff__k da wife! Ffffffff__k da wife!". I don't think he misses her very much. The strict schedule the institution is on brings the conflict. There's a reason why the rules are so strictly adhered to, and that reason is named Nurse Ratched. A heartless women, she runs the hospital like a nazi. No one crosses her. Except maybe the protagonist Randal McMurphy. He saunters into the facility and immediately asked, "Who's the bull goose loony here?". He claims to be the craziest and he is proud of it. He quickly becomes the "bull goose looney" earning the respect of all the other looneys. The Acutes to be specific. He is dirty, sexual, confident, and the propellor of this story, rebellious. For an insane guy he is quite level-headed. He leads the inmates to revolution against Nurse Ratched for their rights. Such as the right to watch the football game when it's on, the right to stop listening to the continual music playing in the background, and for the right to speak their minds. As he slowly introduces the inmates to beer, sex, fishing, and how to grow a backbone the inmates become more sane. No longer just cooky they become men who know their rights and plan to get them. His charismatic powers are astounding and his plots clever, but Nurse Ratched is an opponent like a final boss in a video game; they might have to lose a few times to get an eventual victory if at all. These two type A's will fight for control, and the Chief will witness it all. Who will win? The answer will surprise you.
Also watch the movie One Flew over the Cukoo's Nest if you want to see Jack Nicholson aka "Here's Johnny!"(from The Shining) being awesome as Randal McMurphy.
