Essay/Term paper: Changing the system

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Essays

The "system" is something that people are always out to change. You see people trying to change it all the time,

but few are actually successful at changing the system. The system can be a variety of things. In some cases it is

the government, it can be the a boss or basically anything or anyone that has some type of control or authority.

For some people fighting the system is their livelihood, their mission in life. They try to change the system because

of the corruption, because of unjust actions, because they were a victim of it or to seek the truth. In the novels

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main characters are

out to change the system.



Based on the novel by Ken Kesey, it seems that his perspective on this issue is that the system is in dire need of

change. Even if you are not successful in changing the system, it is still very effective that you tried and you set an

example for others to follow. Kesey also seems to believe that persistence is key when fighting the system. Kesey

believes that even if you change a small aspect of the system it was well worth the fight. One Flew Over the

Cuckoo's Nest, the main character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, fights to change the system in a mental hospital.

McMurphy is outgoing, a leader and a rebel. There was a constant power struggle in the novel between the

patient's new found savior McMurphy, and the evil Nurse Ratched who rules their wing of the hospital with an

iron fist. McMurphy fights to change the system to try to win back the patients' rights and in the process gain

more privileges for the patients and himself. McMurphy also seems to get pleasure out of fighting the system. His

motives are simple, he wants to help out his fellow patients, his friends, to make their lives better.



McMurphy was successful in changing many of the rules and regulations that were imposed upon them by Nurse

Ratched. McMurphy was a very inspirational speaker and during the regularly occurring meetings between the

patients and the doctors he would rally the patients to fight against Nurse Ratched. Thus he was able to win back

some of their rights. McMurphy also uses his cunning wit and his skills as a con man to persuade the doctors into

giving the patients more rights and activities. McMurphy is able to con Dr. Spivey to get a room where he and a

bunch of other patients can go to play cards without the loud music coming over the intercom.



Ray Bradbury has some similar views to Kesey. He also believes that the system needs to be fought and changed.

He believes that it is possible to change the system, and in his book Fahrenheit 451 the system is fought against

for change. Based on his works, Bradbury feels that persistence is also vital in the fight to change the system.



It is evident that it's very difficult to change the system, but it is possible. The right type of character and

personality is a big help when you are trying to achieve success in fighting the system. In order to make a true

difference you have to keep on trying and fighting. Even if you just change a small area of the system, the majority

of the time it is well worth the fight. In both of these novels the main characters were successful in changing some

aspect of the system. To them the corruption, unfair practices, and indecencies were enough. Something had to

be done, and they did it.