The plot of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest oscillates between the individual and the role of authority during the 1960s. The film questions the amount of power the authorities have and highlights what happens when the authorities have too much power. In Dedria Bryfonski's book, Mental Illness in Over Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, she writes that "evil is not exercising free will and that evil is always that which appears to control" (Bryfonski 38). In the film, Nurse Ratched is an authority figure who is in charge of the ward McMurphy is in and has full control of all the patients. It dictates when they take their medications, what they can and cannot do, and how they live their lives. This presents a problem because McMurphy is not truly mentally ill, but has put in place an act to avoid hard labor for the crime he committed. This raises the question of the definition of mental illness. According to Corey Keyes' article, “Mental Illness and/or Mental Health? Investigating Axioms of the Complete State Model of Health,” explains how it is important to clearly explain the difference between mental illness and mental health as they are not mutually interchangeable. Mental health is generally associated with emotional, psychological, and social well-being, while mental illness is related to the occurrence of major depressive episodes, generalized anxiety, or panic disorders (Keyes 539). According to Keyes, some people assume that mental health is the opposite of mental illness. They believe that if someone recovers from their mental illness, they will get their mental health back. However, this is not the case as mental health does not require one to be mentally well. It is simply related to how you feel emotionally. By carefully defining the two terms, even people whose mental health is in trouble can get the help they need. Just because they don't suffer from a mental illness doesn't mean they are perfectly healthy either. People who have mental health problems also need all the help they can get. In the context of psychiatric disability, mental illness is defined as such when the illness significantly hinders performance in activities such as communication, work and learning. Because of this definition, people suffering from mental disorders can apply for Social Security Disability. In Allison Ruby Reid-Cunningham's journal article, "Anthropological Theories of Disability," she explains how "people with disabilities and mental illness are often labeled 'the other,' somehow separate from people who are not considered disabled " (100). The idea of ​​having a mental illness like any other is seen in Shutter Island. On Shutter Island, when Teddy first enters the island where the mental institution is located, he sees a woman with no teeth and little hair. When she smiles at him, he shivers at her appearance. This is because he sees her as different from himself due to her appearance and behavior. This is further seen in the film when Teddy enters Ward C, where the most deranged prisoners are located. He sees George, who is locked on the lowest floor of the ward. Teddy is afraid of George because he looks like a creature with a hunched back and crooked teeth. Teddy once again sees George as the other due to his behavior and appearance. This refers to how society views people with mental illnesses. They see