Individual Versus Society

1. Individual Versus Society One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Into The Wild, and Bringing Down The House By: Carsyn Ciuba

2. Ken Kesey • American writer known for being the hero to the counterculture revolution and hippie movements in the 1960s • Many of his books (especially One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) received their foundation from Kesey’s mind-altering drug experiments • Basis of other books came from Kesey’s psychedelic experiences with the Merry Pranksters • Tom Wolfe describes Kesey’s life as a hippie and journey with the Merry Pranksters in his book Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test http://www.pcs.org/blog/item/ken-keseys-exploration-in-psychopharmacology/

3. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest(Randall McMurphy) Published in 1962 • McMurphy's lively, vivacious, determined, and carefree attitude clashes with Nurse Ratched at the mental ward • His actions to stand against authority fails and results in various punishments such as electroshock, time in the disturbed unit, and a lobotomy • Ultimately his rise against society is life costing

4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest(Billy Bibbit) • Billy Bibbit is shy, stutters, and is largely dominated by the authority figures in his life • Billy rises against society on his fishing trip when he sleeps with a prostitute • His attempts to defy authority are shot down when Nurse Ratched drives him to suicide • Billy Bibbit fails in his rise against society and loses his life in the process as well

5. Jon Krakauer • Not only recognized as an author, but also for his accomplishments in the mountains • Writing is influenced greatly from his successful career as a mountaineer • Most famous for Into Thin Air • Krakauer’s Into The Wild was also on New York Times Best Seller list and was a story the reflected his own adventures in the great outdoors http:www.newnewjournalism.comauthors/Jon_Krakauer.jpg

6. Into The Wild Published in 1996 • Chris McCandless was raised in a "comfortable upper-middle class” • He went to Emory University with excellent grades but always avoided being honored or awarded • McCandless had it made with an outstanding education, solid family background, money, and a bright future in Law School. • Unlike the ideal individual who would take these advantages and dominate society, McCandless opposes it and completely rejects the system

7. Into The Wild • McCandless neglects the whole idea of society leaving everything behind to live off the land • Instead of going to school he hitchhikes through South Dakota, California, and Alaska • Rather than getting a successful job, he finds the gruesome jobs here and there that no one else will take just to have enough money to get food • Instead of starting a family he lives all alone with no place to call home • He leans of the mercy of strangers opposed to the comfort of family and friends • McCandless neglects society at every turn and lives life how he pleases

8. Into The Wild • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVSR4zEJvtg

9. Ben Mezrich • Created exciting twist on non-fiction books through manipulation, questioning morals, and defying authority • Most famous for Bringing Down the House, Accidental Billionaires, and Ugly Americans • While researching these books, gained access to worlds rarely discussed and his opportunities and adventures became the basis of his stories • Bringing Down the House became the movie 21 • Accidental Billionaires turned into the award winning film, The Social Network www.topnews.in.com

10. Bringing Down The House(Kevin Lewis) Published in 2003 • Brilliant math student at MIT • Unusually capable at counting cards and playing various roles as a gambler • Goes against society to manipulate the system of card counting and bring down different casinos with his team of MIT students • Uses costumes and alternate identities to fool authority • Use of spotters to have an advantage over game

11. Bringing Down The House(Micky Rosa) • One of MITs youngest ever graduates. Founder of many blackjack gambling groups • Rosa’s skills and success at a young age leads to his identity being recognized and barred from the casinos • He defeats the system of card counting several times over • Continues to overcome society by creating more teams of blackjack players and passing along the skills to defeat

12. Works Cited