Essay plan - how effectively the 'complexities of life' are explored in two novels

Question 1

Thesis statement

Answer 1

• both novels explore the complexities of life, specifically for men (Fight Club emphasis on modern society) - both having emasculation and an independent theme
• Fight Club explores main theme of emasculation and flaws of consumerism
• Cuckoo’s nest explores main theme of emasculation and sanity v insanity

Question 2

Fight club - para 1

Answer 2

Emasculation introduced in the extreme of Bob - represents the evolution of masculinity in society
- “His own gym, Bob owned a gym. He’d been married three times. He’d done product endorsements.”
- “Fast forward, Bob said, to the cancer. Then he was bankrupt. He had two grown kids who wouldn’t return his calls.”

Question 3

Cuckoo’s nest - para 1

Answer 3

Emasculation in nurse’s belittlment of the men
- “fidgeting and twisting, responding to the dials in the control panel.”
- “blood on the levers where he tore his hands. He pants for a minute against the wall with his eyes shut.”

Question 4

Fight club - para 2

Answer 4

Flaws of consumerism in superficiality and naivety
- “after a thousand years of killing people and rain, the ancient people found their clothes got cleaner if they washed at that spot.”
- “pack the flowers into boxes with a cake of pure tallow that will absorb their scent for making soap with a flower smell.”

Question 5

Cuckoo’s nest - para 2

Answer 5

Sanity v insanity in showing evilness of ward and logic of patients
- “that’s why she is fogging the ward for the meeting…she’s going to do something to McMurphy today, perhaps ship him to disturbed.”
- “perhaps the more insane a man is the more powerful he could be. Hitler an example. Fair makes the old brain reel doesn’t it.”

Question 6

Fight club - para 3

Answer 6

Detrimental consequence of freeing masculinity and absence of emasculation
- “I wanted out my job. I was giving Tyler permission. Be my guest. Kill my boss.”

Question 7

Cuckoo’s nest - para 3

Answer 7

Emasculation freed in men liberating themselves
- “our solemn worry was giving way in spite of us to joy and humour. When the nurse found the pile of pills Harding sprinkled on seafelt we started to pop and snort to keep from laughing.”
- “Not like that fat public relations laugh. This was real. I realise suddenly that it’s the first laugh I’ve heard in years.”