In One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, written by Ken Kesey, he alludes to a “fog”, which comes over the patients and calms them. The “fog” is medicine in reality, and it makes it easier for Nurse Ratched to control the patients, as the chronics lose themselves within the “fog.” Subdued patients are exactly what Nurse Ratched wants, her authority is completely unchallenged by any of the men on the ward. Nurse Ratched strives for control on the ward, and McMurphy strives for the exact opposite, chaos, they both believe they are doing the right thing in trying to achieve their goals. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest qualifies the ideas of appearance versus reality through the “fog,” as it is a mechanism to show who has power over certain things on the ward.
The song “Flagpole Sitta” heavily connects to some common themes in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In the lyrics, “I'm not sick but I'm not well, And I'm so hot 'cause I'm in Hell…” this relates to Bromden, as he is not entirely well in the mind, but the ward is not a fun lifestyle for him. And in the lines, “And rage against machine…,” which also connects to Bromden as he sees everything which is part of the ward’s society as parts to a machine.