Essay on cuckoo's nest

How does Kesey use narrative structure, foreshadowing and symbolism to create a tragic form in ‘One flew over the cuckoo’s nest’?

Introduction:
- Novel name / author
- General overview; In his novel Kesey uses tragic form in illustrating events in an asylum that serves as a microcosm of 1960’s American society.
- Brief explanation of tragic form and how techniques contribute to tragic form
- Linking sentence into narrative structure
Body
• PARAGRAPH #1 : Narrative structure
- Topic sentence: Significance of the four parts and how they parallel those of a tragedy
- Examples;
 Part 1; Rise of McMurphy o Disruption in ward; “the chief’s vote makes it 21 [majority!] “ (p. 143) o Elevated hero; “[hollers] and screams about discipline and order and recriminations”(p 145). o Fatal flaw: “[He will] bug the Nurse until she comes apart at those neat little seams [without destroying himself]” (p. 72).
 Part 2; Rise of the Nurse o Observes that; “the Nurse reassumes her complete control over the institution” (p. 181)
 Part 3; Rise of McMurphy o Kasey adds to the tragic atmosphere as in part 3, McMurphy gathers twelve men (symbolising Christ and his 12 apostles) to go on a fishing trip.
 Part 4; Victory of the Nurse o Finally in part four McMurphy assumes the role of a selfless martyr and perishes because of a frontal lobotomy ordered by the Nurse after his attack on her.
- How these connect to form tragic form (TRAGIC FLAW; EGO, THE BET; INEVITABILITY)
- Linking sentence to Symbolism; In order to successfully utilise narrative structure in exploring tragic form, Kesey also uses many intricate symbols.

• PARAGRAPH #2: Symbolism
- Topic Sentence; Kesey uses symbols extensively in the development of characters that are essential to the tragedy.
- Examples; o Nurse incarnation of evil; blows up bigger and bigger, big as a tractor, so big I can small the machinery (p. 11). o Fog machine; “[everything see,s] hopeless and dead…nobody can