One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

In the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey criticizes the expectations to conform to society during the time of the Cold War through the rebellion of many of his characters. In the early 1950's, America entered into a Cold War with the Soviet Union. The situation in the United States was very hostile and many citizens did not approve of military and political decisions made by our nation leaders. One of these citizens was Jack Kerouac. Kerouac became the leader of the Beat Movement. Kerouac led many young Americans to rebel against conformity in the 1950's (Halberstam). Randal P. McMurphy is the main character in Kesey's novel and his actions parallel those of Kerouac's. Both men lead rebellions against conformity. McMurphy enters a mental institution and is instantly intrigued by the patients' willingness to adhere to all the harsh rules set by Nurse Ratched. Through both men's stories come ups and downs and inevitably, victory and defeat. Throughout the 1950's, people who acted or appeared to be outside the mainstream were viewed with great suspicion. The United States was engaged in a Cold War with the Soviet Union. This meant that while no open warfare was declared, "relations were tense and hostile" (Telgen 227). The men and women viewed with suspicion were often accused of being communists. Senator Joseph McCarthy led the nation in uncovering these communists and persecuting them for their supposed beliefs. While McCarthy's accusations were vague and inaccurate, he developed quite a support group. McCarthy made a speech at a Lincoln day celebration in West Virginia and claimed that 205 members of the State Department were communist. It was later proven that no more than 4 members were actually associated with communism. McCarthy proved to be a failure and lost his political stature (Halberstam). In many ways life in the mental institution depicted throughout Kesey's novel parallels that of society in the 1950's. Chief Bromden,