In modern and historical literature, the battle of the sexes continues. From Greek dramas to modern stream-of-consciousness novels, the struggle between men and women is commonplace. Thus, in his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey contrasts the contrasting characteristics of Nurse Ratched and Candy Starr to highlight a concept of duality. However, as appears in the cinematic interpretation of the novel, such a theme is present, albeit much less so. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Early in the novel, Kesey develops a generalization of women as cold and manipulative, focusing on Nurse Ratched as the center of power. For example, in describing the head nurse as distant and controlling, Kesey describes her as more mechanical than human. The nurse's smile is said to twist and stretch "into an open snarl" as she "explodes bigger and bigger, as big as a tractor" and charges toward the black boys (5). Here, the nurse's feminine characteristics such as "a compact or a lipstick or a woman's thing" are hidden in favor of the "thousands of items that she intends to use in her duties today" (4). The effect of such literal objectification through reverse personification serves to portray the nurse as a powerful force whose feminine characteristics are replaced by means of controlling the men around her. Additionally, as McMurphy complains about the nurse's absolute domination of the room, she is referred to as "an old buzzard... who attacks your vitals", a "strong wolf" among rabbits, and a leader of a system in which men “are victims”. of matriarchy” (62-65). With such an explicit depiction of a woman waging a veritable vendetta against men, Kesey presents the female antagonist as an omnipotent force whose sole motive in life is to weaken male patients. However, this vengeful portrayal of the nurse is less apparent in the film's interpretation. For example, during the staff meeting that takes place in the film, the nurse does not employ the same manipulative tactics of silence and condescending stares that were constant in the text version. Also, in the film, the boss is not present at the staff meeting. This has the effect of attenuating the nurse's appearance of power since the boss's fear of the woman cannot be demonstrated. For this reason, the recurring descriptions of the nurse as omnipotent and manipulative, common in the novel, are toned down in the film. However, as Kesey exhibits the characteristics of control and passive aggressiveness that some men, including McMurphy, consider to be characteristics of women, the inclusion of Candy Starr tempers such generalization. By including the prostitute Candy in her novel, Kesey adds an important qualifier to her emerging stereotype of women. For example, in direct contrast to the way the nurse attempts to hide her feminine traits and control the men in the ward, Kesey describes Candy's first encounter with the male patients as a revelation. For example, when Candy meets the men, Kesey explains how the patients were fascinated by her body to the point of describing the scene with the vulgar hyperbole "it was so quiet...all along Chronicles row [you] could hear the catheters pop.” (232). Even more, even the virtuous doctor could not look away. Instead, Dr. Spivey is observed "looking at the blonde girl's T-shirt as if.