59 pages • 1 hour read
Ken KeseyOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1962A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the story unfolds in an Oregon psychiatric ward where Chief Bromden, a patient who feigns deafness and muteness, narrates the struggle between the rebellious new patient, Randle McMurphy, and the authoritarian Nurse Ratched. The novel explores power dynamics within the ward as McMurphy challenges the oppressive rules, leading to significant changes and conflicts among the patients and staff. The book contains themes of mental health, coercion, and institutional control.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is lauded for its compelling narrative and complex characters, particularly McMurphy and Nurse Ratched. Critics praise its incisive look at institutionalization and control, though some feel the portrayal of mental illness lacks nuance. Overall, it remains a provocative, impactful read with enduring relevance.
Who Should Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
A reader who enjoys One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey appreciates intricate character studies and themes of individuality versus institutional control. Fans of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, who value deep moral questions and social critique, will find this novel captivating.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1040LBook Details
American Literature
Classic Fiction
Psychological Fiction
Mental Illness
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Health / Medicine
Identity: Mental Health
Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Values/Ideas: Power & Greed