Different, Yet Similar

     While reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad I realized that there were some things within this novel that I felt I'd seen before, it struck me then that my current novel is similar to a previous one Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Although the books are polar opposites when it comes to content and literary devices they contain similar elements, which help us as readers to further understand the text. Both of these authors use fog to symbolize uncertainty and to create a powerful main character with the power to influence the stories narrators.

     Fog is and important symbol in both novels, within One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest its use is as an insinuation as to the combines actions concerning the patients blindness towards them (combine) and its intentions. There it connotes to feelings of self-doubt, uncertainty and confinement. On the other hand with Heart of Darkness the fog appears as something that symbolizes what is unknown.

     Yet the most remarkable similarity is the narrators idolization of a certain character, Marlow idolizes Kurtz while McMurphy was idolized by the patients whom made him their symbol of hope. Only within Conrads novel the idolized character is not so obvious until the end of the second part of the book. Which is when as readers, we realize that Mr.Kurtz became of importance to Marlow. DEspite his actions Kurtz is without a doubt a major character in the Congo, to a point in which the natives rebelled due to his leaving the area. Relating to this is the "celebration" the patients of the ward had, which may help portray this point.

   Despite the differences aspects of Heart of Darkness remind me of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.
These two novels are indeed quite different, yet similar. 

And the Truth Is?

Often times people have wrong ideas about information, and that we must know all of the facts in order to get a clear picture or concept. Yet as we live our own separate lives we learn that this is not the case, in reality the things of upmost importance are left unsaid. This is the situation we are in when reading the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. As you weave your way through the ironic text of this novel you'll start to wonder what exactly does the author want us to know? As readers we are given an interesting character, Marlow an enigma you try to decipher in order to acquire information for the unanswered questions in your heads. The use of irony puches this novel forward or rather, back and forth. Conrad makes his readers think and rethink every word and action, every situation Marlow faces.

Surprisingly one figures out that the original narrator wasn't narrating the story at all in this intriguing story. He is i fact retelling the story told to him by the real narrator, Marlow. This makes you stop and think as readers, when you find out that the identity of the real narrator is unknown, what is determined?

Something that was subject to questioning was Marlow's attitude towards the natives. It remains uncertain if Conrad is using his irony when mentioning the european' "noble task". One thing is certain though, and that is that Marlow was shaken by what he witnessed in Africa, that's probably the reason why this story is beng told in the first place. Where is he leading us? What should we expect? What's determined, and the truth is?

Satirical Song

      The song Great Nations of Europe by Randy Newman is a satirical piece which refers to the european conquest of the "world". With the use of irony Newman expresses what he truly feels and thinks of the europeans and their "conquest". "great nations of Europe" is the line repeated most throughout the song. Here great means, excellent and above average achievement for the Europeans. Which were at that time not so great at all, for their cruelty towards the native americans.

           "He met some friendly indians whom the church told him were gay,.. "

   Another example of irony is seen within this excerpt. Which demonstrates the Europeans extreme measures. The irony comes from his use of the word "holy", seemingly ridiculous given the absence of said holiness within the Europeans actions.

An example of a non ironic part in the song would be the description of the European conquest in the east, the songs first paragraph.

Of Change and Chance

      When you think of change the first things that might pop into your consciousness could be the rise and ebb of the seasons, perhaps the weather. Still change is the single factor in life that is ever present, this applies to us as people as well. It's a topic which never fades in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest, a factor induced by a character who is viewed as the wild card; Randle Patrick McMurphy.

      This character was the spark of change within the ward, he drove many towards it and some of them succeeded. Chief Bromden was affected most of them all. He is an enormous half Native American who deceives everyone in the ward, making them believe that he is deaf and dumb. Yet he is no such thing, in fact he proves to be quite cunning. Whilst everyone believes he is deaf Chief is able to eavesdrop on privat conversations within the ward. At the beginning of the book he's a man troubled by his anxiety and hallucinations. Insecurities and fear for Nurse Ratched lead him to a life out of everyones way.

       With McMurphy's help, he and many others start down the road of change and take the first steps out of their shells. With this new patients arrival a sense of freedom is spread throughout the ward. A clear example of Chief's change is when McMurphy encourages him to vote in favor of watching the game, in this situation instead of remaining dumb he raises his hand in sign of a vote in favor. This is the first time we see Bromden leave his comfort zone and takes a chance in interacting with the world around him. As the novel progresses passages containing the "fog" fade, as Chief Bromden becomes more confident and feels in control of situations around him.

    McMurphy became an idol of sorts when he charged into the ward, challenging authority and returning the patients a voice they had long since lost or never really had. When McMurphy returns from the electroshock treatment as a chronic something in him makes him see all the things he could have by leaving the ward. Chief makes the choice to escape the ward and takes the chance, by throwing a control panel out one of the windows. Free at last he regains his true self, a confident person who is not troubled by a single thing.

      The change Chief Bromden experienced was something that would have never happened were it not because of McMurphy and the extreme luck of having him transfer in to their ward. Without him, no change could have ever been possible. Was it because of the system itself that McMurphy came to live in this ward? Or was it just by chance?

     

  

Sex vs Control

In the novel One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest, women play an important role.  They are constantly present in and outside of the ward and their personalities vary along with what they portray.  Nurse Ratched, also known as Big Nurse, portrays authority and power.  The things in the institution go "her way or the highway".  The patients in the institution fear her and think of her as a man.  On page 64, instead of saying that her face is beautiful the patients use the adjective handsome.  They constantly describe her using masculine adjectives except on page 38 where they speak about her feminine features.  In that time period women were seen as people without authority.  They were lower than men in terms of status.  It's ironic that this woman has so much power over all of the men in the institution, even the doctors that have a higher education.  In order to maintain on top, she uses fear and evil methods.  If someone misbehaves, she sends them to electro-shock therapy (EST).  Although EST is said to be painless, it is unpleasant and no one ever wants it again.

Sandy and Candy portray a whole other meaning.  They represent sex.  They do not have any type of authority and only do what gives them pleasure.  They do not care what men think of them, so they sell themselves.  In the novel, Sandy appears only once and Candy appears twice.  She goes with the patients on the fishing trip.  Not only do both of their personalities represent sex, but so do the description of their clothes.  They use the expression on page 199 the patients say that they could see the date of the coin in her pants because of how tight they were.

It seems as if Ken Kesey is not a big fan of women.  They are either prostitutes or cruel figures that have power over men.  When trying to determine what exactly it is that the women represent, the reader realizes that it is a competition between sex and control.  In my opinion, there is more authority because the Big Nurse is constantly present and she is always trying to overthrow McMurphy.  The novel, I guess you can say, is not only from the point of view of the chief, but the relationship between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched.