One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest depicts women as either submissive or dominating in a negative light. Nurse Ratched and Vera Harding are three controlling women who fear men and hide their feminine qualities. Sandy Gilfilliam is a prostitute who submits to men objectification. Nurse Ratched’s feminine qualities are hidden by the women, while the rest of them emphasize their sexuality. Kesey has a few women who are negative and extreme, except for one female balanced, the unnamed Japanese nurse in the Disturbed Ward.
Nurse Ratched subdues male masculinity by defeminizing herself. Ironically, her attempts to subdue the men is ironic as she herself strives to be masculine. McMurphy says McMurphy is right in observing her influence on men: “No! The nurse ain’t any kinda monster poultry, buddy. She is a ball-cutter.” (57). Because men understand the severity of groin injuries, symbolic language such as “ball cutter” is metaphorical. The nurses do not physically harm men, but their actions have a detrimental effect on their mentality. Harding said that Harding is unselfish like the wind and works tirelessly for the benefit of all. This quote reflects the loss of men’s ability and understanding to decode manipulative activity. The men are used to Nurse Ratched’s tyrannical approach and see it as caring management. McMurphy, a former gambler and worker, is able to see Nurse Ratched’s perspective. In order to get out of a prison sentence for work on farms, he also pretends to be ill in the ward. Nurse Ratched is a constant source of insecurity for patients. Harding, for example, stated that Doctor Spivey is just like McMurphy and fully aware of his inadequacy. In her first words, she is calm, but then she uses hurtful words to end the conversation. Is it possible you have been biting your fingers again? (90). Her maliciousness towards men is further demonstrated when she displays Chronics to remind them of the dangers that can befall the Acutes.
Dale Harding’s wife Vera Harding has a different approach to Nurse Ratched. Vera uses her body and sexuality as an intimidator. She is known to flirt and kiss the black boy whenever she visits. Harding feels sexually vulnerable and insecure because of this behavior. He does occasionally show joy, but she says, “Dale,” (158). This direct insult tears apart his humor and personality, which cracks him up. She adds, “Oh Dale! You never have enough!” (158). Harding soon realizes that the reference is to his sexual inadequacy. Harding becomes a pitied figure. Vera provoked her husband and made him nervous. Vera’s domineering attitude is unlike that of the Big Nurse.
Vera Harding also profited from her husband’s homosexuality. Vera Harding states in the novel that Harding may be a closeted gay. Vera even says things about Harding. She continued, saying that she admires the “hoity-toity boys who have their hair perfectly combed and their little wrists that turn so nicely” (159). Vera is trying to “out” his husband, which could make him less popular among his peers. Vera is another vicious woman whose actions aim to dominate men.
Nurse Ratched uses Billy Bibbit’s mother’s authority to emasculate him and make him dependent on women. Nurse Ratched reacts after finding Billy with a prostitute. She says, “You can see how your mother feels when she’s disturbed, Billy, and you can see how sick the poor woman is” (264). To induce illness in a mother is a terrible idea, especially for a boy who is “mama’s boy”. After being shamed by his nurse, Billy’s stutter returns as a sign that he is afraid and self-doubtful. Nurse Ratched and Billy’s mom work together as friends and neighbors to overthrow the young man.
Sandy Gilfilliam (and Candy Star) are submissive women. They are in contrast with the previously described but are not as well-known as Kesey’s female characters. The women rely on men to provide for their financial needs and not for their love. Candy makes fun of marriage by saying that “To tell the truth Sandy got marital” (196). Sandy, however, revels in sexual satisfaction and describes her experience as Sefelt with “I’ve never experienced anything close to it.” (254). The negative portrayal of women in Kesey’s novel is further illustrated by the prostitutes, who are dependent on men and have no commitment.
The Japanese nurse, a strong-minded Japanese woman who appears briefly in the book, doesn’t make up for the negative attitudes towards females displayed throughout the book. She mocks Army nurses and says, “Army nurses, trying run an Army hospital.” They are all a bit sick. Sometime I believe all single nurses should get fired when they reach the age of thirty-five. Kesey considers her a woman of substance. However she doesn’t have any name or power in the ward. Therefore, the Japanese nurse does not do much to change the novel’s negative attitude towards women.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’s women portray stereotypes and are flat. The Japanese nurse, the single female with gumption, is unable to stand up against these characters. Kesey is widely praised for his novel, which is not without reason. However, the way he depicts women is less than admirable.
