One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest

Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest deals with control, manipulation and destruction. These elements are portrayed in the novel by what is referred to as the Combine. A combine is a farming machine that is used for cutting, threshing and cleaning. In One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest the Combine is a metaphor for society and how it controls, manipulates and destroys. The Combine exists both inside and outside the …

…acceptable. Groups of people who take part in activities dubbed abnormal by society are called cults and are outcast. Society discards and destroys anything it does not agree with. Although society seeks to control and oppress individuality, it is ultimately up to the individual to be like McMurphy and have the strength of character to express himself even though his expressions might not conform with society’s values and standards and irrespective of the consequences.