|
The
characters of Nurse Ratched, Mrs. Bibbit, and Vera Harding
are representative of the matriachy that reigns in the
mental ward. On a larger scale, these women exemplify the
notion that women are to blame for the ills of soicety.
Kesey does introduce the characters of Cand Starr, a
prostitute and friend of McMurphy, and the girl in the
cotton mill, both of whom stand in stark contrast to the
matrons of the hospital. He also has McMurphy mention that
"ball-cutters" can be any age or gender. These parts of the
novel show hints of gender equality that the rest of the
book appears to ignore. Nontheless, One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest clearly illustrates a reversal in
stereotypical gender roles, and serves as a constant
reminder of the attitude biases still present in modern
society.
|