Before the existence of language, life stories were painted upon the walls of tombs, engraved in stone tablets, written in ancient pyramids and found among constellations and beneath the vast oceans. From the beginning of time, literature has had an intimate connection with life; it serves as a reflection of our beliefs, traditions and cultures of a specific time or place. All forms of literature (whether it be poetry or prose) cultivate wonders, embody thoughts and manifest life. In actuality, what literature is really about is the experience of life: its rich lived experience, its fundamental injustices, or both.
The poem Restless by Cecilia Borromeo speaks of the craving to experience a life full of richness whilst Ken Keseys’ novel One Flew over the Cuckoos’ nest, written in 1962, addresses both fundamental injustices and the exhilaration that is felt when one experiences the glorious taste of life filled with the fullness of freedom, expression and sexuality. Freedom is utmost element of life that makes it rich; it is spoken about in literature whether it is being experienced or longed for. In One Flew over the Cuckoos’ Nest, Ken Kesey describes a rigid lady named Miss Ratched.
With her cold attitude combined with her passion for rules, regulation and routine, she runs the psychiatric ward with immense control. “The least black boy and one of the bigger ones catch me before I get ten steps out of the mop closet, and drag me back to the shaving room. ” (Page 9) The patients were forced to adhere to the strict routine, which included every part of their lives from shaving to their sleeping patterns. Punishments such as electrotherapy and seclusion existed to keep the patients controlled. McMurphys’ rebellion against the rules sparked warmth within he patients as they realised the regime of Miss Ratched had pushed them all into a false sense of safety with being confined. “I remember I was taking huge strides as I ran, seeming to step and float a long ways before my next foot struck the earth. I felt like I was flying. Free” (Bromdon, page 178) Once Chief Bromdon realises that the asylum doesn’t provide freedom he escapes to fulfil a life of richness. Much like One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, Cecilia Borromeo speaks of the desire to be free through poem Restless.
She uses personification and symbolism in the phrase “urgent hiss of a new page calling” to describe the urgency that she feels for a different adventure. Similar to many of the ward patients in the novel, Cecilia describes being uncertain with her life through the words “that single space of uncertainty–And I ask what am I doing here? ” The poet also uses the metaphor “I teeter on thin ice” to describe the delicate decision she has to make whether she should take a risk for a new adventure or stay within her safe place. This could be a decision to take on the journey of self-discovery.
The journey to discover ones true self is one of the most common stories spoken about through the history of literature. Chief Bromdon recognises the size of people mentally rather than physically. “I’m way too little. I used to be big, but not no more. You’re twice the size of me. ” (Bromdon, page 123) Despite his insane height, Bromdon had been belittled for so long that he saw himself as small; he had been tasked with nothing but sweeping up which resulted in both his nickname being ‘Chief Broom’ and his humanity being stripped from him. “All of us in here are rabbits of varying ages and degrees… e’re all in here because we can’t adjust to our rabbithood. We need a good strong wolf like the nurse to teach us our place. ” (Harding, page 38) Throughout the novel it is clear that many of the men are afraid to live freely because of their fear of fitting in with societythey prefer to hide from the world than to be judged by it.
McMurphy was such a character who emitted a rampant individuality that was foreign, but stimulating to the patients, his ultimate objective: to bring his individuality and freedom of expression upon others. “I want something done! I ain’t no little kid! (Cheswick, page 96) The influence of McMurphy allowed Cheswick to stand up for himself and demand his cigarettes from Miss Ratched. By the end of the novel, Chief Bromdon had found his inner self and was able to believe he was big again. As a result, he believed he was strong enough to left a heavy sink from the ground and throws it through the window to escape the ward. The poem Restless quotes a phrase “perennial immateriality dwelling between living and dying” which basically means a constant unimportance is felt throughout the author’s life. This is very similar to how the men of the ward feel towards themselves.
The poem says “crouched in the corners and grappling by the hinges only to remain unseen” which could easily be compared to how the men stay in the ward to avoid being judged by society. As well as literature speaking of finding oneself, it also speaks of the relationships between people. Sexuality is implied, throughout the novel, to be a vital factor of sanity and a rich life. McMurphy undoubtedly has a bold sexuality, symbolised through his pack of cards showing fiftytwo different sexual positions and his pride in having sexual relations with a fifteen year old girl.
On the other hand, Nurse Ratched characterises a frigid, controlled sexuality. “Black boys in white suits up before me to commit sex acts in the hall and get it mopped up before I can catch them. ” (Bromdon, page 1) Many of the patients have damaged sexual identities due to being sexually assaulted by the aides or to their previous negative relationships with women. Mr Harding struggles with accepting his homosexuality and Billy – being in his early thirties – is so dependent on his mother’s approval that he restrains himself from acting sexually – that is until McMurphy arranges for him to lose his virginity to Candy.
At the end of the novel, McMurphy arranges girls to come to the ward to sexually free all the men and regain their masculinity. Before Billy was shamed into suicide by Miss Ratched, he is proud and absorbs the praises of the other men of the ward. In the poem“We weave our web of what we believe we understand of the relationship of our acts and events” uses figurative language to describe a web of life (including relationships) that they are taught to understand.
In addition the poem adds “only to remain misunderstood”, which is similar to how the patients do not know who they truly are because they are prohibited from expressing themselves. All the issues discussed in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest such as: the outrageous routine of the ward that leaves no room for freedom, the men not being able to express themselves or sexually explore are all fundamental injustices of life that are being experiences.
Addtionally, the men taste the experience of a rich life filled with freedom of expression and sexuality through the means of McMurphy. Likewise, the poem by ____ Restless talks of the longing that she feels to escape her mundane life and experience a rich one. That is what literature is: the experience of life; without literature, there would be no life and without life, there would be no literature.
