One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Title??

daithiocondun

I am a big fan of the film "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and I am aware that the film is based on a novel of the same title. Can anyone tell me the significance of the title? To what/who does the cuckoo refer to and what is the significance of flying over the nest? Is is in reference to the main character (cuckoo) who changes the cuckoo's nest (the asylum) such that he overcomes the opression of it - i.e. is is flying over the cuckoo's nest another way of saying conquering it??? Please explain, Thanks.

sxt

That is such a film! ere's what its about:)

The title "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" refers to a shock therapy-induced recollection of a childhood game the Chief played with his grandmother. The game centered around a quixotic chant whose elements represent OFOTCN's 3 main characters, and their respective conflicts and polarities. The lyrics are as follows:

"Tingle, Tingle, Tangle Toes
She's a good fisherman
Catches hens, puts'em inna pens
Wier blier, limber lock
Three geese inna flock
One flew east, One flew west,
One flew over the cuckoo's nest
O-U-T spells out
Goose swoops down and plucks you out.

Obviously, Nurse Ratched is the "good fisherman Catch(ing) hens..." and "...put(ing)'em inna pens." With respect to the "Three geese inna flock," Kesey uses the chant to assert the opposite polarities of the Big Nurse & RPM. The "east/west" polarity represents the opposite philosophies and social-politics at the base of their conflict, and which represents their respective ideas re: the individual's relationship to the state/society.

The Big Nurse is the "Socialist." She makes absolutely clear she puts the group/society over the individual; prizes the discipline and efficiency of regimentation and order, to the chaos inherent in personal preference and individuality, considers self-denial and humility, confession and betrayal her "Chicken soup for the non-soul."

RPM is the "Laissez-Faire" Capitalist. He considers "the individual" the building block of the group, without which there could BE no group. His beliefs and ideals represent the polar opposite of those championed by Nurse Ratched. He is also the chant's symbolic "goose." The introduction of his presence to "the Cuckoo's Nest" sets the Big Chief's healing and eventual restoration to health and independence in motion. In this manner, he "...swoops down and plucks (the Chief) out.

Chief Bromden is caught in between the two direction polarities. When the latter two meet head on, both symbolically and in actual conflict, he is sprung free; the sole beneficiary of the conflict. The Nurse & RPM are casualties of "...the cuckoo's nest," but he "... flew over the cuckoo's nest" (italics mine.)