Kassidy Stumbo
Mr. Behler
Academy English 2
March 17, 2016
The Perfect Anti-Hero
King Arthur. Luke Skywalker. Harry Potter. Atticus Finch. Throughout history, Americans have always loved a good hero. However, late in the 20th century, a different kind of hero began to emerge in popular literature – an anti-hero. The difference is simple. While a traditional hero is morally upright and steadfast, the anti-hero is usually morally flawed and often has dark personality traits such as disagreeableness, deceitfulness, and aggressive tendencies. This definition almost perfectly fits the protagonist in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, McMurphy. Through Kesey’s use of McMurphy as the perfect anti-hero, he teaches us that Americans will champion even the worst of people if they are charismatic and charming.
Even from the minute McMurphy stepped on the ward, he causes trouble. As the readers learn through the nurse’s attempt to shut McMurphy up during the first group meeting, he had a history of “street brawls and barroom fights and a series of arrests for drunkenness, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, repeated gambling, and one arrest – for
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Throughout the text, he demonstrates uncontrollable fits of anger and aggressiveness. The most blatant perhaps was his brutal attack on the nurse at the closing of the book. Although a strong argument could be made that she deserved it, the attack undoubtedly shows his aggressive tendencies. However even after he tries to literally choke her, the readers (myself included) pitied him. Not the nurse who had been brutally attacked, but rather, her attacker. Why? Since the nurse has a cold, bland personality, we automatically characterize her as the villain as opposed to McMurphy with his wit and charisma. In the end, they were both villains. Although they might’ve truly been trying to help the patients, they both manipulated the men on the
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ended up causing life altering predicaments. At the moment on page 164, the situation has a direct correlation to McMurphy within the novel, yet shines a light upon the situation that all humans face as well as the consequences that may not be apparent at the specific occasion. The fate of others constantly depends on the actions and events of external forces. Throughout the novel, McMurphy grapples with the
Marlene Xique 10/4/17 M8 The Anti-Hero Anti-hero, anti-hero is a character that lacks characterists of a hero. It is the opposite of a hero but not a villian. The character has characteristics such as being selfish, insecurity, rebellious, and is very independent. The character can aslo be the outsider who does not fit-in, and has problems with authority & with rules, which we learned in class.
Randle P. McMurphy represents freedom, life, joy, and hope to the patients in Big Nurse's ward. He comes from the Outside, loud, seemingly perfectly sane, and wreaks havoc on the orderly world imposed on the patients. As Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest progresses, McMurphy displays the power of the individual against a repressive establishment. He brings many of the patients in the ward that were self-admitted to the hospital full swing, showing them what life can be like outside of the ward. Chief Bromden, Harding, and even Billy Bibbit end the novel as completely changed men.
An advanced anti-hero may be An hero of a story whose characters’ qualities need aid conspicuous to the individuals of the prototype saint. Guy Montag, those principle character for fahrenheit 451, may be An hero whose qualities fit this depiction. He will be brave to routes that need aid main could be allowed On he breaks the theory and goes against as much vocation. Montag distinguishes the deplorable routes of social order Furthermore looks those To to as much identity or individual information. He doesn 't have the dauntlessness of a excellent legend alternately he might proposed will have others know those truth Additionally.
1 Where do humans fit in among the other races of Middle-Earth? Are humans a “good” race? As we have seen, the various races shown in Middle-Earth each demonstrate very specific invariable characteristics. Human goodness does vary, however.
According to the article, Defining and Developing Your Anti-Hero, “An anti-hero is a protagonist who typically lacks the traditional traits and qualities of a hero, such as trustworthiness, courage, and honesty. If he were assigned a color, it would be gray. Often, an anti-hero is unorthodox and might flaunt laws or act in ways contrary to society's standards”. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury depicts the protagonist, Guy Montag, as this individual. Guy can not be considered a hero due to the fact he acts like a criminal and and immoral thoughts, however one may consider him a hero because the way he tries to change society.
“The “anti-hero” (also known as the flawed hero) is a common character archetype for the antagonist that has been around since the comedies and tragedies of Greek theater” (Michael). The author believes that “anti-heros” exist and within our culture today we have heroes that are know as “anti-heros”. The author said “At different points in history, the culture-at-large has preferred stories featuring anti-heroes over those with traditional heroes, and vice versa” (Michael). Over time the way we view heros has changed between the two types of heroes. Michaels thoughts might be summed up as: “Characters who shine as morally pure and upright don’t ring true to us anymore, because it’s not who we see around us in the world” (Michael).
One normal day everything was going how it was supposed to, the ward was following the schedule, just like Nurse Ratched liked it. The patients were following her rules and did everything she said. But that day R.P. McMurphy was introduced into the ward. He was in there because he committed a crime and said that he was insane, so he got put in there for evaluation. In the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" two characters, Randall McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, had this sort of competition going on to gain the allegiance of the patients.
An anti or un hero is a character that has good intentions but uses bad reasoning, makes bad choices, or is not honest about how they got to be where they are. They are someone like Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby threw parties, bought an expensive house, let anyone come over all for one person, Daisy. Anything he every did was for her. He wanted her to love him again.
The Movie Character’s behavior In the movie “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” Randle McMurphy is a rather sane man who chose to be institutionalized instead of residing at a "prison farm"(1975). McMurphy is a risk taker with a vulgar mouth, endless energy, and he enjoys challenging
The conflict between the two main character's Nurse Ratched and McMurphy serves as a bridge for the overarching theme of sexuality. Or to be more specific the battle of sexuality. In the book the two main characters represent both sides of the spectrum when it comes to sexuality concerning genders. Nurse Ratched represents feminism and McMurphy represents masculinity. With the two conflicting views of how the character’s believe the institution for the mentally ill should be run you can see more of the juxtaposition between the two.
In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the main character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, is a perfect example of a tragic hero. Throughout the novel McMurphy sets himself up to be the tragic hero by resenting Nurse Ratched’s power and defending the other patients. He can be classified as a contemporary tragic hero, but he also includes elements of Aristotle’s tragic hero. McMurphy’s rebellious nature and ultimate demise are what truly makes him as a tragic hero.
What separates this film from others is its’ use of movie devices and techniques, as well as the emotionally charged story. What makes “One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest” special is the set of characters. We have Randle McMurphy, the fearless and cold criminal which it turns out, actually has a heart of gold. We have the calm and cold nurse Mildred Ratchet that tries with her full power to stop McMurphy from doing his mischief. And of course the patients like Billy Bibbit, Charlie Cheswick, Martini and Chief Bromden, all played beautifully by the actors, making the viewers feel that they are inside the mental institution.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest The film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, prompts very important aspect of the human condition. In the movie, the protagonist, Mac McMurphy, is deemed dangerous, so the mental institute tries to suppress him (Kesey). The film highlights various aspects of human conditions like psychology, sociology and philosophy. The mental institute tries to suppress the mentally challenged people rather than to try to communicate with them.
This leads anti-heroes to be described as ‘misunderstood’. The reflection that this contemporary class of heroes has on society is