The “bull goose looney” as a Totem Guide for Chief’s Writing Himself to Freedom

Abstract This paper examines the institutionalisation of psychiatric treatment in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest . Taking up work Michel Foucault, how those suffering from mental illness were classified as disruptive and unfit for society, subsequently labelled mad institutionalised facilities more akin to semi-judicial structures than medical facilities. McMurphy, having manipulated a transfer himself state farm what he perceives will be less rigorous confines institution, epitomises presence madmen, bringing world disorder chaos staff patients ward. Self-proclaimed head “bull goose looney”, McMurphy reflects counter-culture movements 1960s United States his rejection rules regulations imposed upon him by amounts totalitarian system control. A wild indomitable force nature, becomes totem Chief other patients, an embodiment human spirit have forfeited inside institutional system.