The Monster Behind the Smile : An Analysis of Nurse Ratched’s Character in Kesey’s One flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Wasserman’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest: A Play in Two Acts.

Abstract: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962) written by Ken Kesey tells the story at a ward where the patients who reside at the ward are exposed of oppression and humiliation by Nurse Ratched. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: A Play in Two Acts (1963) written by Dale Wasserman is a theatrical play which is based on Kesey’s novel. The purpose of this essay is to argue that Nurse Ratched’s character is pictured as more evil in the novel than the play. In this essay, Ratched’s personality and outer looks was discussed as well as her methods she uses to humiliate and control the inmates. It was argued that Wasserman may have excluded information about Ratched’s character, so the actors have a chance to develop a personal view of Ratched. It was also argued that Ratched may have appeared as unnaturally evil if Wasserman had included all her evil traits, and thus picture her as a larger than life character.