Essay plan - male characters are defined by their actions but the reality is often far more complex discuss with reference to two novels

Question 1

Thesis statement

Answer 1

• in both novels there is a prevalent character who is falsely represented as his actions, when there is much more depth to each character
• in Fight Club, the Narrator is so distant from reality that his actions as himself and Tyler do not represent his intentions
• in Cuckoo’s Nest, Bromden is defined by his actions as a deaf and mute but he is far more complex and insightful

Question 2

Fight club - para 1

Answer 2

begins to suggest that Narrator does not feel in touch with what is happening to him
- “You wake up at O’Hare. You wake up at LaGuardia. You wake up at Logan.”

Question 3

Cuckoo’s nest - para 1

Answer 3

introduces his insight to society and the reason for people being on the ward
- “the culls of the combine’s product, the chronics. Not in the hospital these to get fixed, but to keep them from walking round the street giving the product a bad name.”
- “everybody calls him Chief Broom, though because the aides have him sweeping a large part of the time. There’s not much else he can do, I guess. He’s deaf.”

Question 4

Fight club - para 2

Answer 4

soap makes Narrator seem like a genuine and respectable business owner
- “Tyler calls himself the paper street soap company. People are saying its the best soap ever.”
- “We made soap out of it. Her. Marla’s mother.”

Question 5

Cuckoo’s nest - para 2

Answer 5

further insight, this time into the domination and control the nurse has of the ward
- “One of these days I’ll quit straining and let myself go completely, lose myself completely in the fog the way some of the other chronics have.”

Question 6

Fight club - para 3

Answer 6

actions are horrific and would be assumed to be malicious, but is actually all for love
- “I know why Tyler had occurred. Tyler loved Marla. From the first night I met her, Tyler, or some part of me needed a way to be with Marla.”

Question 7

Cuckoo’s nest - para 3

Answer 7

actually much stronger than thought
- “I lurched it up to my knees and managed to get one arm round it and another arm under it.”