Discourses of Conformity in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s...

Throughout the novel ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ written by Ken Kesey, and the poem ‘Advice to Young Ladies’ crafted by A.D. Hope, there is evidence to suggest that the discourses represented by the characters in the novel and poem unveil the ways discourses of conformity underpin the characters’ actions, perceptions and motives, as well as inviting and silencing beliefs, attitudes and values. The author and poet are able to strongly convey their beliefs to the reader from their personal experiences. The four dominant discourses that both the novel and poem share and represents: conformity, sexuality and religious. These will be analysed and compared. The dominant discourse of conformity is characterised predominantly by†¦show more content†¦Kesey uses several symbolic references that lead the readers to believe that McMurphy symbolised Christ to the men in the hospital. These extracts examplify how McMurphy develops as a Christ figure. The novel depicts how the religious discourse positions and privileges the character. The poem, â€Å"Advice to Young Ladies†, crafted by A.D. Hope, does contain similar dominant discourse of conformity in Kesey’s novel. Although it foregrounds a particular viewpoint similar to the one presented in Kesey’s novel, the representations of religious and sexuality supports the conformity discourse. Postumia is not conformed to the Vestal Virgin as she is thought to talk too witty for her age. This can be demonstrated by: ‘Too witty for a young girl, her eyes, her walk. Too lively, her clothes too smart to be demure.’(Line 7-8) The poet positions readers to see Postumia’s smartness as a threat for men and her life being torn from her. A religious discourse can be used to explain this phenomenon. Hope portrays to the reader is that back then, men were superior and women were made invisible. Females did not have the right to use intelligence or even the right to express themselves. Hope portrays that men were superior then women. Femal es did not have the right to use intelligence or even the right to express themselves. An example of this can be demonstrated in line 47: â€Å"Than whose how, in their folly not less blind, Trusted the servile womb to breed free men.† This challenges