The Oxford Dictionary defines an institution as “a society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social or similar purpose”. In contrast, an individual is defined as “a single human being distinct from a group, class, or family.” Institutions are organizations created by groups of individuals to provide social order and guidelines for a community. Although institutions are intended for the common good, they can ignore, manipulate, or even enslave individuals. In corrupt institutions, authority figures maintain power by oppressing and persecuting those who threaten their authority and are even willing to exterminate individuals to protect the institutions. There are two types of individuals that institutions typically persecute: those who cannot be molded into the ideal citizen; and those who speak out against the institution. Throughout history, authoritative figures and controlling institutions have taken extreme measures to stifle individuals, threatening their power. For example, the German Nazi regime sought to create a perfect society by eradicating individuals deemed contrary to the model of the Aryan race. The result was Nazi control of the lives of individual citizens across Europe and the systematic murder of over six million people who spoke out against the regime or were deemed unworthy of living within the corrupt institution of Nazism. How did so few within the corrupt Nazi regime control the lives and deaths of millions of individuals? In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Trial, Ken Kesey and Franz Kafka describe the threat that corrupt institutions in modern society pose to the individual. The authors explore the dehumanizing and conforming effects of social institutions... half of the paper... Studies 46.1 (2011): 210+. Literary resources from Gale. Network. October 23, 2013. .Sherwood, Terry G. "Kesesy, Ken." Contemporary literary criticism. Ed. Carolyn Riley. vol. 1. Detrot: Gale, 1973. 167. Print.Sokel, Walter H. “Franz Kafka.” European writers. Ed. Giorgio Stade. vol. 2. New York: Sons of Charles Scribner, 1992. 847-75. Press. European writers. Ward, Bruce K. "Giving Isaac a Voice: The Sacrificial Victim in Kafka's Trial." Shofar 22.2 (2004): 64+. Literary Resource Center. Network. October 1, 2013. Sutherland, Janet R. “A Defense of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” by Ken Kesey. English Newspaper 61.1 (1972): 28-31. JSTOR. Network. October 31st. 2013. .