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Robert Maynard once said, “Human rights rest on human dignity. The dignity of man is an ideal worth fighting for and worth dying for.” The meaning of this quotation is exhibited in both the novels Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time by Charlotte Culin as well as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. These two novels are both amazing books, communicating to us the tales of two heroes and their struggles. Although these two stories are very different from each other, they also share a great number of similarities. Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest both involve characters who escape their deplorable surroundings, eventually gaining freedom in the real world. As well, both novels involve characters who deal with their problems passively, but eventually make friends and overcome their fears. However, aside from these similarities, both books exhibit many differences. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest portrays a hero able to deal strongly with his surroundings, perceiving the situation for its best. Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time, on the other hand, portrays the main character as a weak individual, subject to frequent break downs due to her frail personality. Also, Charlotte Culin’s narrative ends happily, with the protagonist finally achieving her well-deserved freedom, while One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ends with the death of the main character. Apart from these topics of comparison, both novels communicate to us a number of strong messages, which reflect upon our lives in the real world. Both Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest exhibit the theme that although we may fight a battle and lose, we must never give up for victory is only awarded to the strong. Both novels involve characters who face a great many obstacles ahead of them. But rather than give up, the characters of both stories defeat the obstacles, gaining strength along the way. In Cages of Glass, Flowers of Time, Claire constantly faces abuse, from both her mother as well as her grandmother. However, Claire continues living her life, and meeting new friends, who help her to conquer her fear of people and defeat the barrier that prevented her from pursuing her much loved pastime of drawing. Throughout the book, Claire never gives up, and although her mother never does abandon drinking, Claire doesn’t let that discourage her, but keeps fighting, resulting in new surroundings, a new home, and a loving guardian.
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