Literary Essay "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey

        Many protagonists are considered heroes, ranging from Hamlet to Hercules. All of these heroes also did something to earn the honoured title. In today's society modern heroes have been found, one of which is the traditional Western hero. We also have a hero in Jesus Christ, saviour to some, yet a hero no matter what religion those who look upon him follow. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey uses both of these …

…images in such a way that the self-consciousness of one and the open hearted quality of the other remained separate from each other, yet stayed in the same character. This technique of keeping opposing characteristics separate from each other in the same character allows a broader more round character to be created. It is something that may be used in many protagonists allowing different types of heroes, that is, heroes that are combinations of others.