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Theme Of Conformity In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

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The texts One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and Dead Poets Society by Peter Weir explore rebellion against conformity using various techniques. Setting, contrast, characterisation and camera angles are employed to illustrate the necessity of a rebellion against conformity. The benefits of freedom are demonstrated with the use of characterisation, camera angles, symbolism and plot. The techniques of characterisation, camera angles, symbolism and plot are utilised to display the risks of freedom.

The rebellion against conformity is illustrated by Kesey and Weir to be necessary through the use of setting, contrast, characterisation and camera angles. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the Chief is characterised by his peers as “deef …show more content…

Similarly, Todd in Dead Poets Society is shy and withdraws from conversations in their English classes. For instance, Mr Keating asks Todd why “language was developed” and Todd remains silent. Weir uses a high camera angle to portray the weakness Todd feels whenever he is expected to contribute. The Chief also feels this same weakness and expresses this to McMurphy saying he is “bigger and tougher [than himself]” (p. 187). As the characters feel the pressure to conform and behave according to what society believes is correct, they lose their strength and voices. The authors’ choice of setting also conveys the necessity of rebellion against conformity. Setting the texts in the late 1950s illustrates a time of rigidity and tradition due to the threat of the cold war where anyone deemed ‘un-American’ would be considered a danger. The patients of the hospital and the students at Welton are both pushed to conform to the standards set by authority figures so they can be successful Americans in society. The patients have been pushed out of society as a result of society “chanting ‘shame, shame, shame’” (p. 265) at their differences. For example, Harding is

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