Образ трикстера в романах К. Кізі "Над зозулиним гніздом" та Дж. Керуака "На дорозі"

Abstract

The paper explores the trickster archetype in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Jack Kerouac's On the Road, which embodies chaos, transformation, and rebellion against established social norms. Special attention is given to the specificity of tricksterism in mid-20th century American literature, particularly in the works of the "beat generation," reflecting a period of value reassessment. The trickster's functions as a catalyst for change, a critic of societal conventions, and a symbol of the quest for freedom and meaning are analyzed. The study contextualizes the Beat phenomenon, which significantly influenced the literary depiction of this archetype. Through a comparative analysis, the research highlights differences in the trickster's portrayal: its tragedy within the confined space of the mental institution in Kesey's novel and its nomadic, exploratory nature in Kerouac's narrative