jane eyre journals

Entry #1:

9-17-08

Pages 9-20

 

The novel begins in a considerable slump. Nothing ominous is mentioned of on the first page, but the first characters are introduced. The story is told in the first person from Jane's perspective. As I trudge on, I actually find the book interesting. Jane seems to be a little precocious. No one really seems to like her. That actually seems to be an understatement, considering John Reed, her nasty little cousin. He pushes Jane down and crack her head open, which wins her a punishment for being wicked (uhhh what?!). Jane also manages to see a ghost while being locked up for her "maliciousness." Said ghost would belong to her deceased uncle who took her in after both her parents died. But the aunt seems to hold nothing but contempt for the poor girl.

 

Entry #2

9-26-08

Pages 21-41

 

This part of the exposition sets up the next part of the book I suppose. We see the relationship between Jane and Bessie a little more. We also see the consequences of the red room thing. Jane is introduced to the idea of schooling. Which to her seems infinitesimally better than being at Gateshead. The man whom Jane talks to seems pompous and arrogant. He thinks Jane is wicked and basically believes her good for nothing aunt. Its funny I think, I wonder if everyone will believe what the aunt has said.

 

Entry #3

9-26-08

Page 51

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."--

St. Matt. v. 16

 

This is the inscription on the Lowood academy door. I find interesting I suppose, because I feel in some sense it might reflect what is in store for Jane. The bible quote makes the place that much more serious. I also kind of realize that this is basically like a puritan-y kind of school. Super simple, god forbid (haha) you are anything but drab kind of thing. Like a nunnery, without the nuns. And what I love is the Jane notices this. Also that that Bronte decided to point it out, its the kind of thing I love when author point out things like that. It helps along the symbolism the meaning and I suppose a theme of sorts for the book.

 

Entry #4

9-26-08

Page 60

"But I feel this Helen: I must dislike those who, whatever I do to please them, persist in disliking me; I must resist those who punish me unjustly. It is as natural that I should love those who show me affection, or submit to punishment when I feel it is deserved."

 

Jane is conversing to Helen about her "bravery" with punishment earlier. This quote in particular points out Jane's need to feel passionate for stuff. Well maybe I'm reading too much into that. But I feel Jane deals in extremes. She either hates something (not, not like) or loves something. I think that comes from her Gateshead childhood. Jane doesn't have much else to fall on but her emotions and I think she thinks that she needs to feel strongly for something to prove the importance of it. Helen of course tells her otherwise, in a more mature reasonable way. Jane still doesn't see it that way. I don't think she'll ever realize it and that will be her downfall. The fact that she can't see the grey.

 

Entry # 5

9-26-08

Page 72

"No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don't love me, I would rather die than live-- I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and it dash its hoof at my chest,"--

 

Jane is looking for love. She obviously doesn't care for the price that it comes with. She'd rather suffer than ever be alone and loveless. She's a true romantic that's all I have to say. Masochism in its finest form. Does this mean that she has a distorted view of love? Or that we all have different views of love? A thing that i would like to point out, she said this when she was young. Like 10 years old, not even in her teens. It seems to me that her extreme personality will find her love-induced misery.

 

Entry #6

9-26-08

Page 79

"Semi-starvation and neglected colds had predisposed most of the pupils to receive infection: forty five out of the eighty girls lay ill at one time. Classes were broken up, rules relaxed."

 

Is it supposed to be ironic that something bad like an epidemic is good for Jane? Is that supposed to be like a trait of Gothic lit? Well anyway, lots of death all around her. From disease... A lot like her adolescence. Her family died of disease and whatnot (Bronte). So this might be a possible connection to her past. She knew what it was like to lose someone by disease, so this also reflects that pain. Oh and probably foreshadow, my money is on Helen.

 

Entry #7

9-27-08

Page 84

 

I want to reflect on this whole page in general. Even though i kind of saw the Helen thing coming, i still can't believe it. I feel that Helen and Jane's friendship was something important to the book. The fact that she passes away doesn't devastate Jane but in fact it teaches her something in a way. Another thing I'd to point out, is what is up with Miss Temple in Helen? I think that Helen is her daughter. Didn't she mention it earlier in the novel that she never met her mother? And her father sent her away or something like that. Maybe Miss Temple was an unwed teenage mother and she had to give up Helen. Or something very TV. Show-y like that.

 

Entry #8

9-27-08

Page 93

 

Bessie is back! Well only for a visit. This part of the novel takes place years on. When Jane is a teacher at Lowood instead of student. She grew close to Miss Temple and everything. Miss temple has left to get married to some respectable guy. But back to Bessie, she has a son. And she is happily married and still works at Gateshead. She also brings back unkind memories of Jane's cousins. Jane doesn't wish to know much more about them. Bessie also drops a bomb of sorts on Jane; family went to Gateshead to look for her. Bessie figures that they weren't that bad off or anything and that Mrs. Reed was just being an idiot.

 

Entry #9

9-27-08

Page 100

 

Jane has finally left Lowood to seek employment as a governess. A Mrs. Fairfax has hired Jane to work for a Miss Varens. Mrs. Fairfax treats Jane nicely, and she finds it a little weird. She really doesn't treat her like she is an employment but rather a guest. There is a mention of keys on this page too. So this is the fear of confinement theme we're going to run into. Jane seems very satisfied with the way things have turned out thus far at this new house. She Still finds the situation a little strange; but she actually finds out Mrs. Fairfax isn't even the owner.

 

Entry #10

9-27-08

Page 103

 

More on who actually owns the estate. Bluntly, it's Mr. Rochester's digs. Jane Questions why exactly he is not there. The very blunt response back, "he is a very traveled man." So basically he’s is out and about the world all the time. For some reason or another. He stops in every so often. But he never stays more than 2 weeks at a time. When will Jane ever meet him?

 

Entry #11

9-27-08

Pages 104 -105

 

Jane finally meets her pupil Adela. Which is actually Adele. Adele likes to speak French and Mrs. Fairfax doesn't speak French. And well that's basically code for little communication between them. I think its funny Mrs. Fairfax's incompetence disallows her from pronouncing the little girls name right. Not that i don't like the lady, i just think its funny that the girl has a French name and all. No wonder she never spoke English i would mess with the woman too. But Jane and the girl communicate in French, much to her pleasure. France has influenced this book. In a really obvious way. I think Adele possibly symbolizes something, I'm not sure what though.

 

Entry #12

9-28-08

Page 106

 

Adele is like weirdly talented. Not in the smart way, she can sing. But she seems like off. I don't know how to explain it; i don't think she is spoiled. Rather she has intent behind everything she does. I don't want to say malicious but it just seems like she is up to something. I have a feeling about her. And I've already said this, but i honestly can't tell what. Maybe she comes of arrogant, but then again that doesn't seem right either.

 

Entry #13

9-28-08

Page 111

 

Okay my qualm so far besides convoluted language, is the French. I took French 3 years and enjoyed it. But i don't think it’s just me... There are a whole bunch of grammar mistakes. Maybe I’m out practice (which honestly i doubt), but for example:

"J'ai bien faim moi!"

The translation i am hungry me. Is this on purpose? This is seriously bugging me. Even in a foreign language grammar will bug me.

 

Entry # 14

9-28-08

Page 112

"Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a constraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow minded..."

 

The quote continues on for about half a page.... Ha. But what i wanted to point out was the female role. Bronte asserts some pretty "wild" stuff there. For her time I'm going to make the assumption that all of that was pretty blasphemous. I think it’s interesting that she even brings that up. I mean isn't this about love. Maybe she is multitasking... She is tackling some social issues in the book as well. Or maybe its just general Victorian sensuality.

 

Entry #15

9-28-08

Page 118

"The incident had occurred and was gone for me: it was an incident of no moment, no romance, no interest, in a sense; yet it marked with change one single hour of a monotonous life."

 

I think is ironic too. It is a life changing moment. Only she doesn't see it as such yet. The quote follows the little meeting with a "mystery" man. He falls off a horse and Jane helps him after dawdling outside most of the day. He isn't rude. He just seems formal. To the point. Except when he asked her for help is that important? Like a role reversal for man and woman.

 

Entry #16

9-28-08

Page 119

"My help had been needed and claimed; I had given it: i was please to have done something; trivial, transitory though the deed was, it was yet an active thing, and i was weary of an existence all passive."

 

I decided to break up this quote, its part from the one in the previous entry. Jane likes to be needed. Even if it is stupid and nothing of consequence she lives for it. She also seems to like new things. She liked being at the house and whatnot, but now she’s absolutely bored. The not mystery man serves as entertainment. Maybe falling in love is just a thrill for her, but a necessary one. I don't know these two pages are like screaming information or insight on Jane to me.

 

Entry #17

9-28-08

Page 132

 

At this point, Jane knows who Mr. Rochester is. They have talked. And she finds him strange and moody. He seems super smart. Worldly is another good adjective for him. Downfall of it all is that he’s like 80! Ha. Poor Jane. Or maybe she is so mature that falling for him is the best thing for her. So far i don't really like him. I'd hate to talk to him. Oh, there is more bad French on this page. Ugh, seriously this needs to be fixed.

 

Entry # 18

9-28-08

Page 133

 

It’s not really a quote of interest, but more of a trend. Jane always, so far in the book (i think except for once) has done what she is told. So I'm thinking this trend means she is extremely submissive, or maybe she is supposed to personify Victorian women. This is something I'll bring up later. Regardless, does she realize it? She is ready to please everyone, it is really sad, but i suppose it comes out of being ordinary. Bronte describes her as nothing special. Even Mr. Rochester. Is that important as well?

 

Entry #20

9-28-08

Page 141

 

Mr. Rochester requests for Jane's company. And a little like before, only better, they have a conversation... Only he does more of the talking. So I'm going to make the assumption that he has a dominant personality. He judges her, which i think is weird. I thought speaking of your feelings to a woman was bad. Even worse if it was someone not of your status. So I'm going out on a limb here to say, that maybe he just doesn't care.

 

Entry #21

9-28-08

Page 142

 

"... It is impossible to be conventional with you; then your looks and movements will have more vivacity and variety than they are offer now."

 

Why exactly is it impossible? I think he thinks she is amazing already. He is criticizing her again. I think that’s just how he is. He is trying to spice up her life. And is it just I, or does that seem like a promise? Ha. That’s so teenage-y. Looking for cryptic messages in guy’s words. But anyway, in sense he is calling her boring. She understands that though, she is boring. And she is kind of a thrill seeker (so to speak).

 

Entry #22

9-28-08

Page 144

 

Mr. Rochester tells Jane of his past. He fell in love with a girl, a French one. And she was a singer, really pretty, that whole shtick. Since he does love to travel, he left her alone for a while. But do keep in mind that she was well kept. So one day he pops in for a visit earlier than expected and he waits for her in her room, he is sitting out in the balcony and he sees her carriage pull up. She steps put with a man and he realizes then that she is unfaithful. So he waits for the couple to confront him. He does, and she begs for forgiveness and all of that. But he refuses and leaves. He later finds out that she runs off with someone and abandons her daughter, which is allegedly his (Adele). And that is why he takes care of the little girl. Even though he is not sure if he is the father, he feels that he should take care of her, because she didn't deserve to be hurt by that woman.

 

Entry #23

9-28-08

Pages 151- 154

 

Jane can't sleep this particular night. And weirdly enough she hears noises outside her room. So she decides to take a look. And lo and behold there is smoke emerging from Rochester's room. She takes a step in and realizes that his room is on fire. Someone has tried to kill him! We have a murder mystery on our hands now. But in all seriousness, Jane splashes water on him to wake him up, because his rendered unconscious otherwise from the fumes. And he snaps to it. They put out the fire and he goes to investigate after a play by play from Jane.

 

Entry # 24

9-28-08

Page 155

"I both wished and feared to see Mr. Rochester on the day which followed this sleepless night: I wanted to hear his voice again, yet feared to meet his eye."

 

Whoa! Someone is in love, but doesn't even realize it. And I’m talking about both Jane and Rochester. I wonder if they only remain formal because they have to? And not so much out of need. Well anyway, they're in love now, and neither will probably realize it until it is too late. Sadly, but as revealed in class (Ms. Bosch) they end up together, it’s just a matter of time. So the drama in between the end and now remains a mystery. Question though, why exactly does Ms. Poole always drink? Why did she try to kill Edward?

 

Entry #25

9-28-08

Page 168-183

 

I'm catching on the events that have passed. Mr. Rochester left shortly after the whole fire incident. Jane is left behind confused i guess. Edward was a big part of her life and things seem to be a little boring. Only he returns a while after with a whole bunch of people. Upper class snoots, one of which he seems to be courting. What exactly is his thought behind that? I'm thinking jerk! But i figure it has to do with her status. I think that matters to him now. It didn't seem like it before honestly.

 

I hope this is allowed. I want to comment on the novel in general.

 

Entry #26

9-28-08

Page 194

 

Okay so Mr. Rochester has obvious ulterior motives. But Jane getting contacted by her family is strange. The reeds are nothing but brutes to begin with. Everything that has happened to them is totally karma. Johns nasty self, ha. His death is nothing of consequence. I really believe that the wicked pay and this was his way of paying for it all. The fact that the sisters are sort of reformed is interesting. Not reformed but changed. Vanity is a sin and all. Nobody got what he or she wanted in that house in the end.

 

Entry # 27

9-28-08

 

Jane and Rochester are meant to be. I like that things are turning out the way they do. She loves him, he loves her. Though can it truly be love? They are getting married. Yeah well inopportunely happiness does not last that long. Ugh. He's married. Really? Nice twist though not going to deny that. I'm just a little let down to say the least. Well thanks to some spoilers i know there is an ending to wait.

 

 

Pg 257-258- Georgiana, a more vain and absurd animal than you, was certainly never allowed to cumber the earth. You had no right to be born; for you make no use of life. Instead of living for, in, and with yourself, as a reasonable being ought, you seek only to fasten your feebleness on some other person's strength: if no one can be found willing to burden her or himself with such a fat, weak, puffy, useless thing, you cry out that you are ill-treated, neglected, miserable. Then, too, existence for you must be a scene of continual change and excitement, or else the world is a dungeon: you must be admired, you must be courted, you must be flattered — you must have music, dancing, and society — or you languish, you die away. Have you no sense to devise a system, which will make you independent of all efforts, and all wills, but your own? Take one day; share it into sections; to each section apportion its task: leave no stray unemployed quarters of an hour, ten minutes, five minutes, include all; do each piece of business in its turn with method, with rigid regularity. The day will close almost before you are aware it has begun; and you are indebted to no one for helping you to get rid of one vacant moment: you have had to seek no one's company, conversation, sympathy, forbearance; you have lived, in short, as an 'independent being ought to do. Take this advice: the first and last I shall offer you; then you will not want me or any one else, happen what may. Neglect it — go on as heretofore, craving, whining, and idling — and suffer the results of your idiocy, however bad and insufferable they may be. I tell you this plainly; and listen: 'or though I shall no more repeat what I am now about to say, I shall steadily act on it. After my mother's death, I wash my hands of you: from the day her coffin is carried to the vault in Gateshead Church, you and I will be as separate as if we had never known each other. You need not think that because we chanced to be born of the same parents, I shall suffer you to fasten me down by even the feeblest claim: I can tell you this — if the whole human race, ourselves excepted, were swept away, and we two stood alone on the earth, I would leave you in the old world, and betake myself to the new."

For the first time, Eliza confronts Georgiana, and tells her what she had been holding in all these years. Everything she kept bottled up inside her came out and Eliza put her into her place. She told her everything she was and everything she was not. She advises that she should become more independent and not to rely on only being complemented etc. she warns Georgiana that she wants to go her own separate ways and that Georgiana has to learn to look out for yourself.

Pg 283- It can never be, sir; it does not sound likely. Human beings never enjoy complete happiness in this world. I was not born for a different destiny to the rest of my species; to imagine such a lot befalling me is a fairy tale — a daydream."

Jane does not feel as if she deserves to be in love and feel as happy as she is at the moment. It seems like a fairytale to her. She feels that humans never quite feel happy; something always gets in the way. She just cannot comprehend how it is possible to feel happiness.

 

Entry # 30

Pg 283

And then you won't know me, sir; and I shall not be your Jane Eyre any longer, but an ape in a harlequin's jacket, — a jay in borrowed plumes. I would as soon see you, Mr. Rochester, tricked out in stage-trappings, as myself clad in a court-lady's robe; and I don't call you handsome, sir, though I love you most dearly: far too dearly to flatter you. Don't flatter me."

Mr. Rochester is now trying to get Jane to be someone who she doesn't want to be. He wants to spoil her with jewels and dresses, but h forgets that she is not accustomed to a luxurious life, and she probably does not feel comfortable to a life like that. She would feel uncomfortable with such a sudden change. And Jane feels that luxury is not a part of he, and it never will be. She is plain Jane and she does not want to change her identity by changing the way she looks just because she marries a wealthy man. She tries to make Edward understand this.

Summer Essay

Will Satcher

Mrs. Bosch
AP Literature
14 September, 2008
One Flew Over, One Flew Out
In 1959 Kesey wrote a novel called Zoo pertaining to the beatniks presiding in the North Beach community of San Francisco that was never published. He wrote another novel a year later called End of Autumn about the life of a college football and wrestling star, which, once again, went unpublished. Kesey started writing a third novel, however, which he entitled One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The inspiration for Kesey's novel was derived from his work at the Menlo Park Veterans' Hospital on the night shift with Gordon Lish. There, Kesey could often be found conversing with the patients, occasionally under the influence of the hallucinogenic drugs with which he had volunteered to experiment in a CIA funded test at the hospital. Kesey believed that these patients were not insane, but rather that society had forsaken them because they did not conform to the conventional ideas of the way humans were to act and behave, operating much like robots instead of men and women. He believed that people should not be cast away like broken machines, a phrase often used in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, often stating that he believed highly in mankind’s inherent freedom from influences of two different generations, stating that he was “too young to be a beatnik, but too old to be a hippie.” The book was a major success and was later adapted into a successful stage play by Dale Wasserman, then into a screenplay by Miloš Forman in 1975. The film starred Jack Nicholson and won the "Big Five" Academy Awards: Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Actor (Nicholson), Academy Award for Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Academy Award for Best Director (Forman) and the Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay (Lawrence Hauben, Bo Goldman).
This is by far his most widely acclaimed work, as it raises questions relating to how many react to the behavior of mankind versus how they should feel, based on the worth of a man and whether or not humans should be valued individually. It is shown, rather obviously in fact, through the contempt of Nurse Ratched (most commonly called the “Big Nurse”) toward all of the patients and much of the staff, that Kesey reflects his views of those who do not value the human life through her. Other characters such as Randle McMurphy, the protagonist, and Chief Bromden, the character whose point of view the novel is written in, illustrate Kesey’s view on those who do believe that a man has worth. One can clearly discern Kesey’s aversion toward those such as Ratched, who believe a man is just a robot, some not able “to get fixed, but just to keep them from walking around the streets giving the product a bad name.” (Kesey, 14) Seeing as she doesn’t believe they are wholly humans, one might question her qualifications for running the staff of a hospital meant to care for people and help “fix” those who are “broken.” She sees many of them as useless and meaningless, and the rest of them she regards “smiling, pitying, patient, and disgusted all at once—a trained expression,” meaning she deals with them as if they are all the same; not individuals, rather a body of gray scum, barely able to be maintained. (152) The infamous Public Relations man speaks of the hospitals in the older days, when there was brutality; when there was filth and bad food, in comparison to how “cheery” they are now. Yet one aspect has not changed within the hearts of the nurses: the belief that the patients are of little to no value. Brutality is about an equal trade for neglect. McMurphy, however, is a completely different story. He is Kesey’s tool so that he might project his belief of the value of a man, that each should be appraised as an equal to the next, and that humans, however “damaged” they may be, should not be cast aside as worn machinery. McMurphy treats them all as equals, although he is somewhat of an ass. They are humans to him, something that none of them have felt in a long time. One can tell simply by the way he acts, talks, and walks that yes, he may be a jerk, but he is also the type of man who sees worth in each human, who views them all as the equal man to himself, and would rather fight with than against them, rather rally them than put them down. In a way, this can be attributed to his simplicity of manner, shown in his reasoning for his admittance, that he was in a few too many “hassles” at the farm, that society believes a psychopath is a man who “fights too much and fucks too much, but they ain’t wholly right…” (13) And it is not right for society to deem a man mentally insane because of his differences, no matter how immense. Granted that, understandably, aside from the criminally insane who should probably be imprisoned for the safety and benefit of mankind, if there is no real damage done can a man truly be called insane, or is he simply out of the ordinary? Kesey believed that a man was not only worth what he worked to be, but that each had the potential to be anything, to be the greatest human on earth, yet each was still equal, and these beliefs echoed boisterously throughout each clinic patient, especially McMurphy and Bromden. He conveys what will happen to each of us if we allow society to become too powerful, too much like Nurse Ratched. Those who are too “out of the ordinary” will be forced to conform, transformed into empty shells of what once glowed. His open-mindedness somewhat promotes freedom and can be connected, if one so inquires, to the freedom of America, yet the status quo of what each person is expected to be. The novel itself shows, through the characters, that a man is worth what he makes himself to be, large or small; yet that is still something, and thus we are all equal in our different ways, thus, each deserves to be free.
These main characters, especially pitted against their highly suppressive environment, not only display honor and strength in themselves and their fellow patients (although sometimes ill-placed, e.g. when Cheswick looks to the others for “something to be done” about their freedom), but also some strategic genius in that they know when enough is enough so as to avoid any severe punishment. Each piece of this book contributes to the theme of equality and worth: setting, point of view, character style, imagery, everything. What is especially eerily moving is the art contained throughout the novel, usually of characters introduced. They all seem as scribbles of a madman upon pages, blotting his imagination and memory onto whatever he can to show the world that he did in fact have something. Each character is so well played that a screenplay was hardly necessary, although brilliantly executed. These characters each bring something to the table, be it a necessity for freedom contained in most of them, or an obviously odd demeanor, likely the reason they were admitted instead of true insanity. The Chief, in many ways alike to McMurphy, especially in that he is more misunderstood than insane, is the character whose point of view the novel is from, a genius scheme on Kesey’s part. Not only does the reader not truly know the thoughts of any of the other characters, forcing them to formulate suggestions, to think as Chief Bromden, but this also places the reader in his situation, fusing altogether with the thoughts and ideas of Bromden, becoming a piece of his subconscious, a small camera in his eyes. Kesey displays Bromden’s thought pattern to show that he is not truly insane, which proves altogether that he should not truly be in the hospital, and that none regard him as an equal, none believe there is worth to his soul. For whatever petty reason this innocent man is locked into a world that he has been forced to accept, forced to “mind… like a baby.” (4) And the characters! They are simply brilliantly woven into the plot, each one of crucial importance. The way they walk and talk in all of their different ways; Nurse Ratched, the machine-like spider, and McMurphy as hearty and wild and free spirited as an animal, every one of them tightly locked in a battle for equality, most of them ready at any time to tear each-other limb from limb, yet some of them too enslaved by the view of how they are supposed to behave to allow themselves to do so, just as they prohibit others for the same reasons. Although the book does not end happily, it does convey the painful and horrid truth: not all humans believe their fellow humans are equal or worthy to live. Kesey shows how America is headed down a dangerous path that cannot end in freedom or happiness for all, but that this can be changed.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest conveys the consequences of a lack of equality and thus freedom. It shows what the American people must never allow their country to become, and submits that once this does occur there may be no peaceful way to end it. It also shows how some are segregated by society simply because they are different from what society believes they are supposed to be and sometimes not of sound mind, although technically perfectly sane. This book should not only be included on a list of high literary merit, but encouraged by teachers and scholars for students to read and absorb, as the message is one that resounds throughout an eternally repetitive history—that each human is worth something, each should be considered equal, and none should be restrained simply for their difference, and even encouraged.






















Works Cited


Ken Kesey. Amazon Biographies. 2008. 15 September 2008. [http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/kkesey.htm]

Ken Kesey & the Merry Pranksters. 1998/06-02-08. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. 15 September 2008. [http://lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/kesey.html]

Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. 1999/05-08. Peggy Whitley and Susan Goodwin. 15 September 2008. [http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/kesey.html]

Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1962.

Biblical allusions

Biblical Allusions:

The Fall: refers to the transition of the first humans (Adam and Eve) from a state of obedience to God, to a state of guilty disobedience to God. This represents man’s desire (in the story of Adam and Eve, the consumption of the apple demonstrating mankind’s greed) and disobedience in order to attain knowledge that is not necessary for those who believed in God. The consequence was the inability of any mortal to ascend into heaven without some sort of divine intervention by God himself. Christ’s death is supposed to have washed away the application of “original sin” to each man, presenting a possibility for each man to earn his way into heaven.

 

The Flood: was a tool used by God to wipe out all undeserving humans so as to make the world that much purer. Noah, a noble man among his generation, was instructed by God himself to build the ark and save his family and one pair (male and female) of each species. The angered deity then disposed of all humans but remembered Noah on the fortieth day, halting the flood. Afterward he promised never to create and unleash such a destructive force upon the world again, at least until the final judgment of all mankind.

 

The Creation: referring to the creation of heaven and earth; the eight commands that god uses over six days with a final seventh day of rest. On the first day, he creates light; on the second, heaven; on the third day, god creates the earth and sea, and “fruit bearing trees” and other plants. On the fourth day, he creates lights in the heavens to mark the times and days (most likely the sun and the moon, but not specifically known), then on the fifth he creates creatures of the sea and “birds to fly across the heavens.” On the sixth day god creates beasts to walk the earth and man to tame them, and finally on the seventh day he rests.

 

The Mark of Cain: This refers to the first born son of Adam and Eve.  God placed a curse upon him to warn others that his death would wreak the vengeance of god.  The passage describes the two brothers, Cain and Abel;  Cain the brother who "tilled the ground" and Abel the brother who "kept the sheep" both made a sacrifice to god.  However, god accepts Abel’s, but not Cain’s. Cain kills Abel and god confronts him and tells him whatever he sows will never grow, thus making killing a sin.

 

Lot and his wife- Lot was the son of Haran, Abrahams brother. Abraham lead a rebellion against those who are trying to overthrow the king.  This angers god, who decides to punish the five cities of the plain.  God sends angels to save Lot and his family from the destruction.  The men of Sodom want to rape the angels, but Lot offers his daughter instead who claims are virgins. The men of course refuse.  God tells the angels to move his family to safety.  The angels forcibly remove the family urging to get to safety and to never look back.  As they are escaping Lots wife looks back upon the cities that are being destroyed and is turned into a pillar of salt by the wrath of god.

 

Sodom and Gomorrah- Sodom and Gomorrah are two cities that are destroyed by god in the bible. For the sins of their inhabitants Sodom, Gamorrah, Zoar , Admah, and Zeboin were all destroyed.  Sodom and Gomorrah are metaphors for sinfulness and sexual perversions, and are part of the Pentopolis.

 

The Nativity- The nativity is probably the most recognized bible story.  It conveys the birth of Jesus in Nazareth.  This story plays a major role in the vast majority of Christian religions.  In the Gospel Of Luke, the angel Gabriel tells Mary she is going to  have a child, Jesus Christ. She asks the angel how this is possible if she is virgin, and Gabriel replies that the holy spirit will visit her and that with god, nothing is impossible.  When it is time for the child to be born, Mary and her husband travel little ways from home.  Realizing it is time to finally have the baby, they stop at the  manger where Jesus is born.

 

Lazarus- Lazarus was a follower  of Jesus who was said to have been resurrected by Jesus himself.  Lazarus was quite ill. His sisters, also being followers of Jesus, sent word to him to see if anything could be done.  Jesus got the message and traveled to them only to find out Lazarus had been in his tomb for four days.  Lazarus' sister Martha approached Jesus, but he reassured her saying that he would rise, proclaiming that he was the resurrection and that whoever believed in him had life; that there really was no death.  Jesus had the door blocking Lazarus' tomb removed, and Lazarus rose.

 

The Crucifixion- The crucifixion marks the end of Christ’s life on earth.  This takes place after his trial and arrest as his sentence for his blasphemy.  This event is critical to all of the religion because it justifies the death of anointed ones as a necessary and proper cause to save us from ourselves.  Jesus descended to hell, then was resurrected 3 days later and appeared to his disciples for a  period before ascending to heaven.

 

The Denial- refers to a few different topics. One such topic is the denial of Jesus himself being the savior. Another is the denial of evil that he wishes would be set upon mankind. It can be attested to that this is the reason that mankind is mean to be forgiven his sins. The third is the Israelites’ denial of Christ as a messiah, for which God is said to have wrought punishment.

 

Thirty pieces of silver-  This refers to Judas Iscariot,  one of the original 12 apostles.  He was in charge of the money but is more known for his betrayal of Jesus, whom he sold out (though Christ already knew he would) for thirty pieces of silver to Pontius Pilate’s soldiers.

 

David and Goliath-  This is the tale of the future king of Israel, David and a philistine warrior.  David is young and overhears the Philistine champion, the giant Goliath, challenging to fight the Israelites’ champion. David insists that he can defeat Goliath despite the odds.  David defeats the hulking Goliath using his sling. The Philistines then flee and leave the Israelites alone.

 

Buddha/Buddhism-  Based around the teachings of Gautama Buddha who lived around the 5^th century BCE in India.  All teachings recognize Buddha as an enlightened teacher whose purpose is to help people end their suffering according to the laws of karma.  People are supposedly reincarnated as animals or humans again, or transcend into Nirvana, depending on whether or not they finished their journey correctly. Unlike many other religions, the ultimate goal is now like heaven, where angels can basically have anything they want, but more like a pool, where one’s existence is not longer one, but with all; completely indistinguishable.

 

 

Golgotha-  Also known as the Calvary, it refers to the site where Jesus' crucifixion took place:  located outside of ancient Jerusalem's city walls.  The site is often referred to with the skull of Adam, although its significance has somewhat lost significance through time.

 

The Prodigal Son-  Also known as the Lost Son, its one of the most famous parables about Jesus.  It is usually read on the third Sunday of lent. The story is about Jesus telling a story of a man who has two sons.  The youngest son demands that his father give him his inheritance money he goes off to a far country to spend it all.  In consequence he must take a job as a pig herder.   Humbled by his lowly job, he comes to his senses and goes back to his father  to beg for his forgiveness. Basically welcomed back with open arms things go back to normal all with the exception of the older brothers anger.  The father calms him by saying "Son thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad : for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again, and was lost, and is found."

 

Revelations- This is a book in the bible, which solely deals in apocalyptic events.  The book describes what would cause the end of the world. The events foreseen are: The Great Tribulation, the Campaign of Armageddon, the Second coming of the Messiah and his 1000 year reign, the imprisonment of Satan, a final rebellion by Satan, God's final judgment over Satan, the great white throne judgment, and the creation of the new heavens and new earth.

 

Jonah and The Whale- This story concerns Jonah, who can be seen as a messenger from god.  God sends Jonah to see Nineveh. However, Nineveh is Israel's enemy, so Jonah decides not to go.  Jonah tries to escape god by traveling by ship, but there was a storm.  Knowing that god had cause the storm,  he asked the sailors to throw him overboard to end it all,  yet he did not drown because God sent a whale to save him and take him to shore.  Jonah prayed to god again and took up his mission.  He goes to Nineveh and tells the people that they must confess their sins to god or else he would destroy the nation.  The people of Nineveh agree and are saved from god’s wrath.

 

Samson and Delilah- Samson is the son of  Manoah, an Israelite, and is supposedly sent by god to punish the Philistines. He succeeds in killing thousands throughout his life because of his strength lent to him by god for his oath to never drink or cut his hair. Eventually, Delilah seduces him into cutting his hair, and he is thus imprisoned and his eyes burned out by the Philistines. Eventually, he is sent to “entertain” their religious leaders in a temple where many people come to watch, but Samson preys that God “let [him] die with the Philistines.” Soon, the temple collapses and kills all within, including Samson. Delilah is never again mentioned.

 

Moses and the flight from Egypt- Moses was given up by his mother when his village was attacked as a young baby, as slaves would not be allowed to have children of their own. She sent him downstream in a basket and was later adopted into Egyptian royalty.  Moses was a Messiah, chosen by God, who lead the Jews out of Egypt to escape slavery. He was said to have done so with the help of God, especially when parting the Red Sea and when the plagues were released upon Egypt. The time he spent wandering through the desert with his people was also said to be a test of the faithful, although he died before reaching the land of Israel for his questioning of how to retrieve water from a stone.