Word Count: 969

Comparative Essay

SACE 294924 R

In what different ways do the authors of two texts present the idea that
suffering can lead to growth?
Suffering has been defined as a state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship.
The idea of suffering can lead to growth is true in most cases within our lives.
Whether it be true or false, creators have used this idea to tell stories within the
bigger picture by using various literature techniques. Author Ken Keseys novel
One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest and Peter Weirs film Dead Poets Society,
interpret the shared idea of Suffering can lead to growth. They have used
foreshadowing and contrasting characters to convey this theme in both similar
and different ways.
Kesey has shown foreshadowing within the title of One flew over the Cuckoos
Nest. As the book is set in a mental institution, the cuckoos nest represents the
institution. One Flew Over then implies that someone for some reason leaves the
institution, hence One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest. During the end of the book,
we find out that narrator, Chief Bromden leaves the institution, therefore,
confirming the title. Similarly, the title in Dead Poets Society can also be seen
through foreshadowing. The group of boys form an after school club named Dead
Poets Society. Within the meetings, they read the poems of dead poets. This is
seen as foreshadowing of the ending when Neil Perry dies. He can be seen as a
poet and therefore he is able to foreshadow a dead poet.
Authors have used characterisation in order to portray the idea that suffering can
lead to growth. Director, Peter Weir has contrasted headmaster Mr. Nolen to past
graduate, now a teacher, Mr. Keating, to show the difference in their teaching
styles. Mr. Nolen is seen as a traditional, strict and rigid teacher, whereas Mr.
Keating teaches the boys to think for themselves instead of being told what to
do. He received quite a bit of criticism from the Latin teacher during dinner
saying, you are taking a big risk in making your students think they are artists.
Keating responds with, Im not trying to make them free thinkers. The Latin
teacher rebuts him reciting poetry; free thinkers at age seventeen? By also
quoting poetry Keating responds, It is only in their minds that men can truly be
free. T'was always thus, and always thus shall be." Similarly, Author, Ken Kesey
has the character McMurphy rebel against the system according to head nurse
Ratched, like Keating rebelled against the traditional teaching methods
suggested by Mr. Nolen. A group of men are placed in the ward of Mrs. Ratched,
seen as the symbol of authority throughout the text. The men are authorised a
particular regime according to the dictation of this tyrant referred to as the Big
Nurse until all is disrupted due to the arrival of Randle McMurphy. McMurphy
allows the men to realise that they have the ability to think for themselves,
resulting in the complete abandonment of the original system. The main scene
where Weir has expressed this in is when McMurphy claims to be able to lift a
heavy control panel in the tub room. After failing to do so, he says at least I
tried. This comment can be seen as a turning point in the novel. This gives the
other men incentive to try and stand up for themselves against the control of
nurse Ratched.

Word Count: 969

Comparative Essay

SACE 294924 R

In Dead Poets Society, as the school year progresses, a second public school is
introduced due to Knox Overstreets infatuated love interest, Chris Noel. Well into
the school year, Knox is invited to a friend of his fathers house for a dinner party.
On arrival, his life is turned upside down. In his eyes, he discovers the one girl he
loves and will always love, Chris Noel. Chris was Knoxs object of desire.
Everything Knox did was based on his feelings for a girl that he knew as Chris.
This must be stressed, as Chris actually, is unknown to him. He only knows
what he perceives of her to be and the challenges he must overcome to obtain
her as his girlfriend. The main point is that Knox risked quite a lot for a girl he
never really talked to. He broke rules to see her, competed for her attention
against her boyfriend, and sacrificed his relationship with his family and the
Danburys. Chris was a symbol of freedom to Knox. He felt so free, thought less
about his personal life and just lived in the moment whenever he was with her.
Similarly, Keating was a symbol of freedom for Neil. Keating allowed Neil to do
what he wanted and follow his dreams. This characterisation of the two
characters shows that both authors have used a similar technique to portray the
idea that growth can be found through others.
After coming back home from the play, Neils father is disappointed in Neil and
how he disobeyed his opinion about pursuing an acting career. In this scene, Weir
has used camera techniques in order to characterise Neils father as the villain.
Weir has the camera look down on Neil and up at his father to represent their
positions of power. In his room, Weir has Neil place his crown on from his
performance in the play, as to foreshadow his death; as the crown symbolises his
last opportunity to know how it feels to be acting. Contrastingly, Kesey allows the
audience to have completely opposite thoughts towards Keatings character. He
is seen as the good person that allows Neil to pursue his dream of acting
whereas Neils father sees the son he is disappointed in. He only sees the son he
doesnt believe in and has reserved expectations for in the decisions he makes.
After analysis of both texts, the two authors of the two texts have shown that
suffering can lead to growth using the techniques of contrasting characters and
foreshadowing.

References
ClickView, (1989). Dead Poets Society. [Film] Available at:
http://online.clickview.com.au/exchange/categories/302/english/videos/201174/d
ead-poets-society [Accessed 3 Jul. 2016].
Kesey, K. and Pratt, J. (1996). One flew over the cuckoo's nest. New York: Penguin
Books.