One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (script) by Dale Wasserman

by Dale Wasserman

The imaginative characters and innovative story structure made Ken Kesey?s debut novel ripe for commentary. Take a closer look at One Flew Over the Cuckoo?s Nest, which also enjoyed critical success as a play and a film.

The title, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Ken Kesey's One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Ken Kesey, a chronology of the author's life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Genres: Plays, Classics, Fiction, Theatre, Drama, Psychology, Literature

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Dale Wasserman was an American playwright.

His protagonists are a bit like Wasserman himself: raffish rebels, fiercely independent fools—poets, madmen and misfits—societal outcasts who defy authority and "tilt at windmills," reluctant heroes (sometimes anti-heroes), who are called upon to make some extraordinary sacrifice in order to protect or preserve their personal freedom or that of others.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One flew East and one flew West, an' one flew over the cuckoo's nest."

State Mental Hospital.

The doors are locked, the windows are barred and nasty ole Nurse "Rat-shit" (Ratched) rules the roost behind her elevated (also locked) window like a God with microphone speaker in hand.

Enter new admission, Randle P. McMurphy....who just may be feigning psychosis. He doesn't like the rules, the Lawrence Welk music or the way Nurse "Rat-shit" questions his new lunatic buddies during Group Time. He wants to gamble, watch the World Series, have a party....and get the best of "Rat-shit."....winning a few bucks into the bargain.

So, the bet is set, the party scheduled, but the outcome....it's bad....punishments severe.

Funny and sad with an unforgettably powerful ending. Thought the movie was even better, but still have to give the story five big ones!

[Hessa AlAtawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible:) It is one of those stories which remain memorably alive. The movie is as hilarious as the story itself.

[iana · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely would appreciate this more if I read the novel, which I think maybe perhaps mayhaps I will!! but for now, let's blame this sluggish enjoyment on having to read it for class. I struggled to understand the significance of a couple of elements doe, as they seemed unnecessary, but maybe I'm just missing a bigger picture here. by the end, I was pleasantly surprised but not overly so.

[Colin Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey was a powerful and thought provoking story about the conditions and lives of a group of men in a mental asylum. The story follows Chief Bromden, a half-Indian man, who reflects on his time at the Oregon psychiatric hospital. He illustrates the rough conditions in the hospital, usually caused by Nurse Ratched, a strict and cruel leader in the asylum. When Randle McMurphy, a somewhat cocky and colorful man transfers to the hospital, he begins to bring back power to the men once controlled by Ratched. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest introduces deep thoughts about the true definition of insanity, and the sexuality of differing characters. The story that ensues is hectic, shocking, and unhappy, yet it left me with pleased with the story in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I don’t normally read too many books. I’ll admit, I didn’t feel like reading this, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The story was written beautifully and it focused on a topic in which I had never read before. I enjoy stories, like William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that don’t always end completely happily, and the ending to this took a dark turn, making more memorable. I would recommend this book to anybody in high school or above. The story may be too advanced and mature for younger ages, but it was easily one of my favorites.

Overall, I would give the book five stars. It kept me engrossed with the story from cover to cover, and made me really think about mental illness and society’s view of it. The ending contains strong emotions and finishes what is an overall strong story.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Great book and wonderful movie



There are quite a few ways to look at this great novel. We can see the tyranny of the system breaking down those who oppose it.

Or insist upon the way we mistake the good guys for the bad.

Take Nurse Ratched- she is supposed to help people get well and all she does is get them crazy and suggest lobotomies whenever she feels like it.

R. P. Mc Murphy is the man who fights the system, the hero who attacks the dragon with ten heads, nurses and doctors who take peoples ‘brains and cut pieces out, not every day, but on occasion.

The fact that McMurphy is no angel makes the story even more interesting. We are dealing with a very complex character, which, in spite of because of his many flaws, becomes our favorite and is clearly more humane than medical personnel who seem to torture their patients and not care for them.

The parable can be extended to other systems, outside Health Care. The hospital can be seen as any place where totalitarian leaders take control and do as they please.

In the ward, they are supposed to have a democratic vote on issues like TV programs and such. But when the vote produces a result that the dictator- nurse does not like, she disregards it.

It is even a case where the patients, with their stutters, mother fixation or breast obsession, still come across as much saner than their guardians. The nurse is a special case of a sadistic maniac, but even the doctors, with their reluctant approval of extreme measures are very responsible, morally guilty and evil in the end.

McMurphy is provocative and innocent, aggressive and ignorant at different stages. He organizes a party and escapes with his mates for an outing. But he is shocked to find that jail terms do not apply in mental institutions, where you can be locked up for good, or until Nurse Ratched decides you are fit to go.

The ward is full of weirdoes, not in the sense that they should be behind bars. On the contrary, a message of the novel might be that we have turned values upside down; we lock up innocents and are guided or lead by brutish ruthless individuals. The one has the biggest chance to win in our upcoming presidential elections is a kind of Nurse Ratched, patronizing a crooked, evil system, where his acolytes are getting rich by any means possible. If cutting down forests on a massive scale is what it takes –so be it. People die because of the floods caused by unbelievable deforestation.

McMurphy was played by Jack Nicholson in what may be the best role of his career, under the direction of the fabulous Milos Forman, in a movie produced- this is less known- by Michael Douglas.

It is one of the best films ever. This is a rare case, where a great book is adapted for the screen and the result is magic. The novel and the movie are up to the highest standard.

I have seen the movie about three times or more, read the book and listened to a play this morning. The play was produced by the BBC, but I was not so thrilled by it.

Both the book and the movie are among my favorites, but the lead actor in the play was not that good trying to emulate or just copy (?) Nicholson.

There is a chance that after so many meetings with a material (6 with this morning or more) I am beginning to lose the original enthusiasm and the feeling of excitement when it was all fresh and new.

I am not so keen on the role of the chief. It feels a bit clumsy.

The fact that McMurphy uses too much foul and especially incorrect language grates on my ear:

- “They was” may just point out how street smart he is, with no education and still capable of such cleverness…but I still did not like it.

But then this is just picking a few small annoyances in what is finally a fantastic work.

I loved it about twenty years ago when I first read it and was taken aback by the film.

[kels · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3.5 stars

Wire, brier, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock.
One flew east, one flew west,
An' one flew over the cuckoo's nest!
O-U-T spells OUT,
Goose swoops down and plucks you out!

i think i’m currently not in the right headspace for this. everything was presented well and the characters, especially mcmurphy, were brilliant. there’s honestly nothing bad with the play, i just couldn’t seem to get hooked onto the story.

[marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

played ratched in a class production, what a time

[Rick Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes considerable chutzpah to tackle a pretty excellent novel and try to pare it down into a three-act play; it takes some serious skill to make it a compelling drama that loses very little of the original text in terms of pathos and power. I'm going to have to re-visit Kesey's novel now and see how much, if anything, was lost in this translation.

[Velvetea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was delicious to have performed Candy Staar for a production in fall of 2017.
The more time I spent with it, the more I loved this show and the ensemble of talent found new ways to leave me feeling astounded and disturbed each night.
It was an insane amount of fun!

[Erin Siu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I haven't read a more powerful novel in a long time...

[sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what to think.

Who is sane? Who's not? In the beginning, it was mentioned by the nurse - although it may have been an act of attempted traumatizing - that McMurphy may have been faking his psychopathy. Overall, he didn't seem like a psychopath. But by the end of the play, there was no doubt in my mind that somewhere inside of him was a tint of insanity.

And more than that question, who's good? I talked with a friend about this, who claimed that McMurphy was fully right in his actions since they were empowering to the other patients. They sure were empowering, but another aspect of his actions was that it was changing them through pressure. Dale Harding didn't seem to be the same person at the beginning and at the end, and I don't think it was mere empowerment. He seemed to be expressing that sort of situation where people use their empowerment for wrong. Everyone was empowered - but they were also empowered to act wrongly. Overall, their shyness was conquered, but their sense of violence was awakened. Is that empowerment?

Okay, let me talk about character. The personalities of the patients were entirely accurate, and such a great addition to the feel of the play. It added a messy comical aspect that was so enjoyable. And the character development??? Was? So? Good??

AND THE MONOLOGUES. CHIEF BROMDEN'S MONOLOGUES. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THIS.

But there's a reason why I'm not rating this five stars, despite the chills going down my spine and the obvious evidence that I am asking questions that such a thriller would wish me to ask. The reason is message. I understand that it's unlikely a play such as this would aim for a positively affective message, but I think the idea is potentially damaging. My point of view for this comes from my knowledge of psychiatric hospitalization, and that the message behind this play is much of what patients convince themselves is actually happening, therefore slowing down their recovery process.

Anyway, overall, this is such a well-written production and a great use of an afternoon. (Congrats to all involved in this production at CSP - you all did an amazing job!)

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering this book was published in 1962, it must have been a big eye opener for it’s time. I understand why this book has been banned ( not that I believe in banning books). Mcmurphy enters the “hospital “ to get away from a jail sentence, and changes things on the ward. I never realized this was told by Bromden. After seeing the movie with Mcmurphy being the main character I would ave thought he’d be telling his story. A must read for all

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a while ago, but one of my favorites. The reading process is entertaining, somewhat comforting

[Joe Schmidt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too mysogonistic

[Rebecca Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great play adapted from a novel that explains the importance of challenging authority and taking back as much power as you can. There are interesting characters and it's short in length.

[Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seoses ühe väljakutsega, kus tuli lugeda teost, mille autor kirjutab etendusi või millest on tehtud etendus, siis sain lausa kaks kärbest ühe hoobiga. Kuigi “Lendas üle käopesa” romaan on kirjutatud Ken Kesey poolt, siis teatrilise raamatu tegi temast Dale Wasserman ning peale selle lugemist olen kindel, et mingil hetkel võtan kätte ka Kesey enda romaani. Lihtsalt mitte praegu, mitte veel.

Kui võrdlen Kesey raamatu kirjeldust Wassermani omaga, siis arvan, et võin kindlalt öelda, et Wasserman on väga hästi hakkama saanud ning kogu loo mõte on edasi antud. Pakun, et meil on tegemist 1960ndate aastate Ameerikaga, kuskil Kanada piiri juures (kas siis Alaska või Montana, Washingtoni, Põhja-Dakota, Minnesota osariigiga) ning tegevus leiab aset psühhiaatrikliinikus. Täpsemalt ühe konkreetse korrusega, kus on 16 meespatsienti. Raamat algab tempokalt, kus kiirelt tutvustatakse põhitegelasi ning peaõde Ratchedit. Sisse kirjutatakse uus patsient McMurphy, kes ei saa aru, miks enamik meestest seal haiglas üldse on ning hakkab võitlema vabaduse kõige algsema versiooni eest.

“Lendas üle käopesa” on kindlasti teos, mida peaksid kõik kogema. Olgu see Keyesi romaani, Wassermani näidendi või Formanni filmi näol. Ideaalis miks mitte ka kõike kolme. Suures laastus on vaatluse alla võetud meie enda ühiskond, kuid kinnisemas kompleksis ning väiksemas mastaabis. Sellest olenemata on teemad ikka samad: kas meil päriselt on ka demokraatia, kas arvestama peab ikka kõikide osapooltega, kas erinev inimene on automaatselt hull inimene, kelle käes on tegelikult võim? Kas hulluks sünnitakse või tembeldatakse ühiskonna kui ka pere poolt? Kurb oli lugeda ning tõdeda, et hulluks võidakse sildistada ka oma pere poolt, nii lihtsalt põhjusel nagu sooviga mitte lasta lapsel suureks kasvada. Veelgi kurvem aga inimeste vabatahtlik soov ise olla hull, sest mingil määral nad erinevad ühiskonnast. Olgu see siis intellektuaalselt, füüsiliselt, sooliselt või etniliselt. Puudu ei jää ka võimu, mida esindab õde Ratched, üle arutlemine. Näha, kuidas inimesele lööb võim pähe, tekib isikukultus iseenda suhtes, demokraatiast sõidetakse magusnaeratusega lihtsalt üle - see tekitab küsimuse, et kes tegelikult on meie seast hull? Kas see, kes elab oma maailmas ja kedagi ei tülita, või see kes naudib haiglaslikult teistele haiget tegemist erineval moel, aga alustades kõige lihtsamaga - elementaarse vabaduse ära võtmisega?

[Kellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stage managed this play for school over the course of three months. During that time, I reread this script over and over again while I watched my classmates embody the characters.
This is not a play for high schoolers to enact. It’s emotionally demanding, the themes are complex to grasp as an adolescent, and the rehearsals were rough. The actors could be mean, the tech was rough, we really struggled to put it together sometimes. It was three months of pure grueling work.
And yet, the final show brought so much life to this script. I’ll never forget the tears in audience member’s faces, and the roaring applause once the stage faded to black. For that, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest deserves five stars.

[Stoney_E2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

In a mental institute, many men are imprisoned there. Mcmurphy tried to cure everyone in the institute, and he successfully cured their introvert problems and made a presumed deaf and dumb Indian talk. He did so by extending TV rights, and he hosts a liquor party in the institute. He even experienced shock therapy and even worse punishments after those several attempts to cure the other people's problems. You would like this book if you enjoy reading about conversations instead of the actual storyline. Personally, I did not enjoy reading this book because the story progression was a bit slow, and the story did not fit my taste.

[Romina Soler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story sticks from the movie I watched so many years ago and yet of course the book is much more memorable. The characters come to life as the pages turn and I am able to picture the scenes so much more clearly with insight into the characters’ minds. The horrors of the time depicted in the Nurse’s actions and the Indian’s hallucinations in a mental asylum. He is the only one to escape the Institution which in the end is victorious in shutting down the vicarious main character Murphy.

[Maya Ma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a pretty fun read. I feel like I might appreciate it more if I had read the novel version or read it a second time. I do enjoy the ending because I like Chief Bromden way more than any other character. I also loved the death of all the other characters (McMurphy and Billy). They really moved the plot on well and taught us lessons. I view Chief Bromden somewhat like Lennie from Of Mice and Men. They are all big and have disabilities and are often misunderstood.

[Jesse d-p · Rating 5 out of 5]

please if you have watched the film, or you’re debating whether to read or watch first. READ.

i first read this because i’d decided to write my A-level english lit coursework on it. After i’d completed it and could forget about the technical side of it, i decided to watch the film.

the film has not done justice to the true plot of this book. in fact, i hate the film.

the book uses the character Chief in such a clever way, i was angered he was just a side character in the film.

i loved the book, even after rigorously studying it.

[Roddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the book, before the movie, the first time I ever encountered Cuckoo’s Nest was my high school’s production of the play. That was 1978 or 79. As I recall, the some of the language was changed “f#cking” became “fricking” , for example. “Bitch”, on the other hand, stayed in. Otherwise, I think it was pretty much untouched. I teach the play at my current high school now and have students perform scenes from the play.

[Deirdre]

This became a classic the moment it hit the bookshop shelves. It was a hit film the minute it was released. Everyone knows what you mean the minute you refer to someone as "Nurse Ratchet". I love this book. This is Breakfast at Tiffany's in an insane asylum. It's Auntie Mame in a straight jacket. What's not to love?

[Molly Elizabeth Hector · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depiction of mental illness is actually way better for the time this was written in. This is coming from someone with mental illnesses of her own. I read this for class and had a fun time reading for Dr. Spivey and Candy. I think all of the characters in this book were very entertaining, with my favorite being Chief Bromden. I highly recommend this!

[marjorie hall-venmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book, but sad at the same time, I also watched the film, although the film was good there's nothing that can compare to the book. In the mental hospital it appeared from day one that they just wanted to control the patients. Brilliant, brilliant

[Katya Collazo]

September 25-

I am reading the play at the same time as the novel to prep for a production in the next few weeks. I am at about the same place in the book and in the play version.

What I love about the play adaptation is that it makes it very clear how powerful one woman can be...to the point that it takes a group of men to try to overpower her. It also highlights how men are intimidated by women and that the "blood" that Nurse Ratched "pecks" at are the flaws that men carry and she forces them to see those flaws in order to change. What happens is that they don't like it and therefore act out.

What brilliant and wonderful writing.

Just as the novel, it left me speechless at the end. I look forward towards working on this wonderful play.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I liked this more but I thought it was just fine. The unreliable narrator was fun and it’s an interesting setting to explore but to be honest I have a feeling I’m gonna think the movie is better. Whoopsie.

[Daisy Leather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can definitely see why this story has stood the test of time. A very interesting play full of power dynamics and colourful characters. Would love to play Nurse Rached one day - and if McMurphy could be played by a woman I'd be ALL OVER that.

[Kirt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary Provoking!!

[Jelena Panza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and moving.