The title One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is derived from a children’s nursery rhyme. The rhyme goes:
Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn,
Wire, briar, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock,
One flew east, one flew west,
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest.
The phrase ‘one flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ symbolizes someone who has gone mad or is considered insane. In the context of Ken Kesey’s novel, it refers to the protagonist, Randle McMurphy, who is seen as a rebel and a non-conformist. McMurphy’s actions and behavior challenge the oppressive system of the mental institution, making him appear ‘crazy’ in the eyes of the authorities. The title thus reflects the theme of individuality versus conformity and the thin line between sanity and insanity.