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Themes Essay The author of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey, was deliberate in choosing which themes to include in his story. Society's depiction of mental institutions as well as Kesey's own experience with mental patients formed the themes of this novel. A number of the themes discussed within the novel support Chief Bromden's idea of "The Combine". Also, the idea of the abuse of power is introduced using thematic clues. Kesey was …

…all of the themes and motifs contained within the novel. The themes within this classic novel can be traced to a core of power, sex, insanity, freedom, women, and their effect on the individual. Though several themes are actually motifs, these motifs can be included into the major themes of the story. Kesey masterfully relays the idea of "The Combine" using thematic undertones and has achieved his goal of revealing the horrors of mental institutions.