Rebellion in Fight Club and One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest

Rebellion in Fight Club and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest All societies have a basic structure, and in order to function well with others, a person must conform to the laws and regulations of said society. In the novels Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, a variety of themes are discussed, with the major theme being rebellion. The main characters of both these novels struggle with the established structure they are living in and are unwilling to conform to its rules. They both rebel by openly defying laws, and disobeying authoritative figures. The novels’ main characters are furthermore comparable because they not only rebel but also guide others to do the same. The men whom they lead carry on†¦show more content†¦When the two station attendants try to exploit the men, McMurphy helps them gain the upper hand by posing as criminally insane (Fick). Even though the patients â€Å"become men†, adult sexual ity is conspicuously absent from the novel. It is mainly the men’s cause to â€Å"remain boys on their own terms† (Fick par. 8). McMurphy’s women are boys’ companions. Candy and Sandy are good bad girls. â€Å"McMurphy’s sexuality complements a personal consistency that obliterates the distinction between past and present. Returning from the fishing trip, for example, he stops by his childhood house and tells the men of his own sexual initiation† (Fick par. 9). The rebellion in both novels is also caused by a sense of monotony. The narrator in Fight Club is discontent with his lackluster life; he is so into his material possessions that he creates an alter ego who destroys them all. â€Å"I hated my life. I was tired and bored with my job and my furniture, and I couldn’t see any way to change things† (Palahniuk 172). It is only after he gets rid of everything and stops leading a consumerist lifestyle that he is finally free. Th e tedium in the ward drives McMurphy to rebel, much like the narrator in Fight Club. He feels bored with everyday life and with following the rules; he wants more. The theme that raises questions in both novels is insanity; Tyler Durden is the narrator’s alter egoShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest 1306 Words   |  6 PagesBenjamin Wiki - Conformity Intro â€Å"Conformity is behaviour in accordance with socially accepted conventions.† - One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest The novel is set in the 1960’s inside a mental institution told by a patient, Big Chief Bromden and can be seen as a miniature mirror of society. The wards society is presented as a machine, called the Combine, that makes everyone conform to its strict rules and timetables. All individuality is taken away from the patients, and the happy feelings are