Classics Without All the Class discussion

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has been criticized for its treatment of race and gender. Why do you think this is the case?

I liked how the author reversed the role of the woman with the Nurses. They became the driving force or decision makers in this story. While on the outside/real world women were still fighting for that voice in the career world. Nurse Ratchet not only had control over the patients (who were all men) but the Doctor as well. Which was only accomplished by her adopting a very masculine and forceful personality.

And the "black boys" (as the book calls them) are abusive to the patients. Knocking them around and keeping them in submission, which was the polar opposite of what was going on during the Equal Rights Movement. The patients/white man had not rights in the institution. They were not equal and were stripped of the things that made them feel human.

However in both of these instances, there is still a good deal of stereotyping going on. The women, although in charge, are portrayed with a sexual undertone. As if that is the only good thing they have going for them. The "real" way they control everyone. The Black boys are portrayed as not being able to think for themselves. They are still slaves to the nurses by doing whatever they are ordered and will be punished when they don't. There were times it came off that they were stupid or simple minded. And, sadly, all of the above is how both parties were portrayed in the world when this was published.

I wish there were a "like" button, Jessica. Good thoughts, you paid better attention than I did :)