Holden Represents a Typical Teen

Holden represents a typical teen in a number of ways. One way Holden exhibits teen behavior is by being rebellious. He accomplishes the complete opposite of what his parents would like him to. Holden flunks out and is kicked out of a number of schools. He seems to have no big problem with this and is constantly placing the blame on others. Holden also indulges in inappropriate underage activities such as smoking and and drinking. Holden visits bars often and is constantly asked to provide id to show prove of age. This is done to see if he is the legal age to consume alcohol. Holden often times becomes offended when asked for proof of id because he feels he is and adult and should be able to drink. To avoid being asked for proof of id Holden tries to make himself look older then he actually is, this is shown when he meets up with Luce at the bar. "I sat down at the bar- it was pretty crowded and had a couple of Scotch and sodas before old Luce even showed up. I stood up when I ordered them so they could see how tall I was and all and not think I was a goddam minor." (Salinger pg.142).

Secondly Holden represents typical teen behavior because he expresses sexual attraction to the opposite sex and he also expresses interest in sexual topics of conversation. Holden's sexual drive is so strong that often times he lust for girls. Holden states that he "falls in love" with girls when he finds a girl who is physically beautiful. Holden shows this type of behavior when he goes out on a date with Sally Hayes. "She hardly ever wore a hat, but that beret looked nice. The funny part is, I felt like marrying her the minute I saw her. I'm crazy. I didn't even like her much, and yet all of a sudden I felt like i was in love with her and wanted to marry her. I swear to God I'm crazy. I admit it." (Salinger pg.124). Holden through out the book also chooses to talk about sexual topics, because he is curious about the topic of sex. At one point during the book Holden purchases a prostitute for a night. Before the prostitute arrives Holden describes his thoughts and lack of experience with sexually activity. "I was a little nervous. I was starting to feel pretty sexy and all, but I was a little nervous anyway. If you really want to know the truth, I'm a virgin. I really am. I've had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I've never got around to it yet." (Salinger pg. 92).  

Holden is much like a typical teen because he participates in reckless activities and shows signs that he feels indestructible. Teens often feel as though they are invincible and can do whatever they please. Teens also struggle with the idea that they are no longer a child but not yet an adult. Teens wish to be treated like adults and believe "acting" like adults by smoking, drinking, and participating in sexual activities will allow for society to accept them as adults. These are the same feelings and actions that Holden adapts through out the book.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Movie Vs. Book

After reading the book and watching the movie of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest I believe it is easy to see why the author Ken Kesey did not approve of the award winning film. The film much like the book helps to portray a free spirited and inspirational Mcmurphy.  Mcmurphy: "You're not an idiot. Huh! You're not a goddamn looney now, boy. You're a fisherman!" (Forman) However one of the major difference between the book and the movie is the perspective in which the story is told. In the book the narration is done in first person. Chief Bromden acts as the narrator even though he is "deaf and dumb". The movie version of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest uses third person narration which means the narration is not done through one of the characters in the book. This is a big difference because it does not allow the audience to establish a strong relationship with Chief Bromden in the movie version. In the book when reading along you feel as though Chief is having a conversation with you; you can begin to understand his and others struggles on the ward. "I've been silent so long now it's gonna roar out of me like floodwaters and you think the guy telling this ranting and raving my god; you think this is too horrible to have really happened, this is too awful to be the truth! But, please. It's still hard for me to have a clear mind thinking on it. But it's the truth even if it didn't happen." (p. 8). Where in the movie you do not hear much from him since he is "deaf and dumb". Eliminating the narration from his character tarnishes that strong relationship that is established between Chief and the audience.


The film went on to win a total of five Academy Awards. However the author Ken Kesey did not approve of the movie. "He was known to barely mentioned it (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest film) during the award ceremonies, and he made known his unhappiness with the film. He did not like Jack Nicholson, or the script, and sued the producers." [Ken (Elton) Kesey (1935-2001)] Kesey felt that to many imporant scenes were left out of the film. He also felt by changing the style of narration it changed the impact the work was intended to have.



Outside source: (http://kirjasto.sci.fi/kkesey.htm)

Nurse Ratched Vs. Mac

        When reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey's one thing I couldn't help, but notice was the power struggle between the Big Nurse (Nurse Ratched) and Mac (McMurphy). Nurse Ratched is clearly the more powerful of the two. This is proven in the fact that she has control over all the patients. Nurse Ratched has the capability of instilling fear in the patients; due to this the patients feel forced not speak out against her even if they do not agree with her. Most of the patients feel that it is better to set aside your pride and agree rather than become one of Nurse Ratched's targets. Nurse Ratched is the most powerful, because she also got the staff to keep quiet and agree with her way of thinking. Mac only has slight control over the men of the ward; where Nurse Ratched has control of the whole ward. This was proven when Nurse Ratched called the meeting to see if she could get Mac sent to the disturbed section of the ward due to his behavior. "Miss Ratched, as most of you know, called this get-together. She phoned me before the Therapeutic Community meeting and said that in her opinion Mcmurphy was due to constitue a disturbance on the ward." (p.153).
        Compared to the Nurse Mac is more therapeutic to the men. Mac helps the men to laugh and stand up from themselves. By teaching them how to stand up for themselves Mac is helping with building up their self esteem. Many of them have little to no self esteem and pride, because of the nurse and the black boys always belittling them. With the black boys beating them and taking them to get "treatments" the patients on the ward feel as though they are broken beyond repair; they believe no amount of treatments or medication will help them. Mac teaches them that if they never try they may never feel better and don't stand a chance of getting out of the ward; he is trying to teach them if you don't try you won't know the outcome. Mac shows this when he is trying to pick up the extremely heavy control panel and is unsuccessful. "He stops at the door and looks back at everybody standing around. 'But I tried, though,' he says. 'Goddammit, I sure as hell did that much, now, didn't I?'" (p.125).