Moopuna
Site Search:    

Term Papers Categories

Acceptance Essays
Alcohol & Drugs
American History
Anatomy & Physiology
Animal Science
Anthropology
Architecture
Arts
Astronomy
Aviation
Biographies
Biology
Book Reports
Business
Chemistry
Computers & Internet
Creative Writing
Current Events
Economics
Education
Engineering
English
Environmental Issues
Ethics
European History
Film & Cinema
Foreign Languages
Geography
Government
Health & Beauty
Health Care
History
Human Sexuality
Legal Issues
Marketing
Mathematics
Medicine
Movies
Music
Mythology
Philosophy
Physics
Poetry
Political Issues
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Science
Shakespeare
Social Issues
Sociology
Speech & Communications
Sports & Games
Supernatural Issues
Technology
Theater
World History
Zoology




A Comparative Study Of The Protagonists In One Flew Over The

Statistics

  Counts

  Total Pages: 9.68
  Total Words: 2420
  Total Characters: 11439
  Number of Sentences: 121


  Averages

  Words per Sentences: 20
  Characters per Words: 4.73


  Readability

  Flesch Reading Ease: 64.88
  Fog Scale Level: 12
  Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 9.18  

A Comparative Study of the Protagonists in One Flew Over the


     It is suggested that in modern literature, the true element of tragedy is not captured because the protagonist is often of the same social status as the audience, and therefor, his downfall is not tragic.  This opinion, I find, takes little consideration of the times in which we live.  Indeed, most modern plays and literature are not about monarchs and the main character is often equal to the common person; this, however, does not mean the plot is any less miserable nor the outcome any less wretched.  The first work I have chosen proves this fact.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a first novel by Ken Kesey published in 1962, is a contemporary tragedy describing the downfall of a rigidly administered ward in a mental institution led by the rebellion of a new admission.  The work I have chosen to compare this novel to is the classic play by William Shakespeare, Hamlet.    There is an intimate relationship between these to works beyond that they are both tragedies; the protagonist in each lacks conventional hero qualities.  Both Hamlet and R.P.  McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, can be defined as anti-heroes making these two pieces comparable for study.
     To examine the aspect of anti-heroes in tragedy, and how this relates to the characters of R.P.McMurphy and Hamlet, an analysis of the motivation of each is necessary.  Motivation is the source of all action, and only in this area these two characters similar to a traditional protagonist.  As the character himself evolves through the course of the plot, so do their motives.  Hamlet and McMurphy begin at different points with different purposes, but soon meet with a common incentive.  For Hamlet, this initial impulse is derived from his embitterment towards his mother for remarrying so soon after his father’s death and for selecting her late husband’s brother Claudius, as her second partner.  In a witty statement to his closest friend Hora...

Please login to view comments from other users.



If you are having problems registering, please don't hesitate to contact us.

© Copyright 1999-2007 Moopuna.com. All Rights Reserved.