Discourse of conformism in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and advice to young ladiesAny text, despite an appearance of neutrality, is underpinned by specific discourses. Throughout the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest written by Ken Kesey and the poem Advice to Young Ladies written by AD Hope, there is evidence to suggest that the speeches depicted by the characters in both texts reveal the manner whose discourses of conformity underlie the characters. ' actions, perceptions and motivations, as well as inviting and silencing the beliefs, attitudes and values ​​of individualism. The author and poet are able to powerfully convey to the reader, from their point of view, their beliefs about the importance of individuality. The three dominant discourses that the novel and the poem share and represent are: conformism, sexuality and Christianity. These values ​​are privileged by the novel and contested by the poem. The dominant discourse of conformity in the novel is characterized primarily by obedience to the rules described by Kesey. At the beginning of the novel, all the silent acute and chronic patients comply with the rules of Nurse Ratched, the main antagonist, before McMurphy arrives. This is evidenced by the following quote: “…it explodes bigger and bigger, as big as a tractor…” (p.5). McMurphy is described as a Jesus figure in the novel. After his arrival, he begins to take control of the patients. He begins to take on the role of leader. Kesey highlighted McMurphy's character as different, thus creating a binary opposite that is represented in the novel. Kesey shows binary opposites as good versus evil. The first is represented by the crook, McMurphy, and the second is represented by the head nurses...... middle of paper ......that "To be a woman of genius is a crime" (Line 25). This clearly demonstrates that women cannot be superior to men. Furthermore, Postumia's life being taken from her is quite distinct in lines 19 and 20: "A vestal virgin who scandalized this city had a fair trial, and then they buried her alive?" Obviously, this was the religious belief of the Vestal Virgin because she did not conform to the Vestal Virgin. In conclusion, this complements the religious discourse in Kesey's novel. From the arguments and supporting evidence presented throughout the essay, it can be established that both the novel and the poem contain the discourse of conformity. The novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Ken Kesey, and the poem Advice to Young Ladies, written by AD Hope, endorse the presented discourses on conformity, sexuality, and Christianity; the poem differs by challenging them.