*aNa*

In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, control is a major issue. The use of control is used differently in the two main characters. First off is Nurse Ratched’s control over the entire ward. She uses her power and authority as control over the patients and employees. Her way of control is very strict. She makes sure everyone knows she is the one in charge and what she says goes. All the patients in the ward obey her every word. Nurse Ratched uses this power to have complete control. She doesn’t want anybody to be able to overthrow her or have their own thoughts or ways at all. All the patients know when and where they are to be and what they are to be doing at all times during the day. Her control also goes a step further. There is also a punishment. All the patients know that if they do not follow her ways that they will have to get electroshock treatment to correct their “bad behavior.”
The ward was always run under the power and control of Nurse Ratched until McMurphy came. McMurphy possessed a different kind of control. Yes he still pretty much had control over the patients as well but the patients had a type of respect for him. He helped the patients try to overcome the control of the Nurse. Although McMurphy’s control was also used to “take” things from the patients they didn’t view it like that. They didn’t mind giving these things up to McMurphy because he did things for them. From teaching them to dance to getting them a fishing trip. The patients were under the control of McMurphy but this was better than the Nurse’s control. McMurphy’s control was more understandable and seemed to be used more to help than to hurt.