Elliott answers “I have long thought of this book as one of...”

Adam asked this question about One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest:

I have long thought of this book as one of my favorites, but noticed some heavy racist and misogynistic undertones when I re-read it. Much of this was left out of the film. Does old fashioned sexism sully an otherwise great work of literature?

Elliott okay, I'm a little late to the party but yeah honestly the book doesn't hold up at all. I realize that Nurse Ratched represents more than just the ide…moreokay, I'm a little late to the party but yeah honestly the book doesn't hold up at all. I realize that Nurse Ratched represents more than just the idea of a matriarchy, but the reality is that the "hero" we're given is almost immediately introduced as a child rapist who dismisses the charge because "she wanted it." his "rebellion" is getting people drunk and pimping out women. there are multiple conversations about how Nurse Ratched just needs to get raped and then she'll be way more tolerable.
why are these men in an institution? because they're not big and strong, because they've been emasculated by their wives or society or whatever. the big payoff is that they've rediscovered their "whambam." that's right, an inspirational Irish rapist can make a gay man straight! or something? I was expecting some amazing work of literature, but this basically reads like pulpy trash. I'm not even going to touch on the racism, but there was almost nothing good about this book. (less)

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Elliott An interesting read, thanks for sharing! I had read Harding's character differently - he says he wants to wait until he's ready to leave and then he'l ...more
Nov 27, 2017 04:58PM · flag

Adam I never thought much about Harding as a dynamic character or even as definitely gay - mainly because of the film version where he’s just odd, high str ...more
Nov 28, 2017 08:56AM · flag

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

by Ken Kesey

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