One flew over the cuckoo's nest

[Inti]

This is one of my favourite films. I think the acting is excellent and the subject matter mind-blowing. I first saw it when I was too young to appreciate it fully and revisited this film a while back and got so much more out of it. Prior to my last viewing of this film I was reading quite a bit about trickster wisdom and so with that in my mind I couldn't help but relate it to this film. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Or know whether this was the intention of Ken Kesey? I see Nurse Ratched and McMurphy as a duality here - two sides of the same coin. I see "Chief" as the hero in this film, the one who has learnt trickster wisdom to navigate his way through the oppression and once he sees the exit, opportunity, leaps out. Others choose to stay inside, are controlled by their fear, or get so completely drunk (McMurphy) that they miss their opportunity.

 

[Mark7]

The book is even better than the movie, which, as you mentioned, was based on the novel written by none other than Ken Kesey - of the 60's Magic Bus fame. I thought the movie was just about as good as one could hope for in terms of Hollywood translation, but still, the brilliance of the novel, in general, is rarely, if ever completely tranferred to the screen. Kesey's "Sometimes a Great Notion" was also made into a wonderful move starring Henry Fonda.

Could you explain what you mean by "trickster wisdom" and identify your source?

 

[Inti]

Hi Mark,
I have never read the book, I hear that some parts of it are different from the film, is that true?
Now, that you remind me of Ken Kesey and his 60s magic bus, I realise it is pretty obvious that he was interested in the trickster myth and role in life. After all he was with a band of pranksters (tricksters)!
I am not sure how much you know about tricksters, so if I'm just telling you what you already know I apologise!
The trickster is a common character in many myths worldwide. The trickster can take many forms but is often the mischief-maker, the one who shakes up the existing state of affairs. This is often so that something new may emerge. In North American myth, the trickster character commonly takes the form of Raven or coyote. In World Mythology (Willis) it says:

Along the Pacific coast of North America the Raven is presented as discoverer of fire. He is also the trickster who outwits the enemies of humankind, a role played in other parts of the continent by the coyote, the hare and the spider, and among the Plains peoples by a figure called The Old Man or Old Man Coyote. These cosmic jokers have the important task of staking a claim for the freedom of the human spirit. They work for the right of humanity to assume the godlike role of re-making the world, even if the attempt on behalf of humanity involves a tendency toward ludicrous and sometimes disastrous mistakes.

If you look at the film "One flew over the Cuckoo's nest", it appears that McMurphy takes on the role of trickster. He comes to the hospital and really shakes things up, he is strongly opposed to the laws put down by Nurse Ratched. He's mischievous, creates uproar, creates entertainment...but with disastrous consequences for himself.
Chief, on the other hand, has been seemingly inspired by this example...it's as if he's learnt his lesson from this trickster and finally has the strength he needs to break free.

I read some reviews of the other book you recommend, "Sometimes a great notion", many seemed to like it even more than "One flew over a cuckoo's nest" - thanks for the recommendation, I will try and read it one day!

 

[Mark7]

Yes, Ken Kesey was a 'Merry Prankster' and hung out with many 60's illuminaries. I read Tom Wolf's "The Electric Koolaid Acid Test" many years ago and from what I remember, it's hard to believe that Kesey had enough brain cells left to write such fine works. If you haven't read his works I would suggest them if you have time.

Perhaps the trickster angle could be applied to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", but from my current perspective it's too easy for me to see this work as a portrayal of what happens when someone fights agains the general law without first building a 'cage' around oneself, as described in Boris Mouravieff's "Gnosis" part I.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" reminds me of another great work... "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller. Both works seem to be the result of an overpowering creative impulse, a force that impels the author to nearly scream the words out, without much regard to the author's consious intent.

 

[Inti]

from my current perspective it's too easy for me to see this work as a portrayal of what happens when someone fights agains the general law without first building a 'cage' around oneself, as described in Boris Mouravieff's "Gnosis" part I.

What do you mean here? (I haven't read Mouravieff's Gnosis yet). Are you referring to protection of the self? As Chief does, by taking on the mask imposed on him of being dumb and thereby not giving any clues to others as to his inside self?

 

[PepperFritz]

What do you mean here? (I haven't read Mouravieff's Gnosis yet). Are you referring to protection of the self? As Chief does, by taking on the mask imposed on him of being dumb and thereby not giving any clues to others as to his inside self?

He is speaking of the practice of Strategic Enclosure, whereby an individual pursuing esoteric Work maintains an outer "silence" about what he is doing, in order to prevent psychic attack and the repercussions of General Law. These concepts are discussed at length in the following threads:

Why the Secrecy?
What experiences have you had defending your views regarding 9/11?
Wishful thinking/Strategic enclosure
Marital conflict, children and the Work

And, yes, what "Chief" does in the book can be seen as a form of Strategic Enclosure.

 

[Inti]

Thanks PepperFritz for answering that and the pointers to further reading on that. Yes, it is wise what Chief does here.

 

[Mark7]

PepperFritz, thank you for your links, knowledge of the subject of the general law/strategic enclosure, and scholarship here. Much here for me to become familiar with as well.