Anthony Burgess knew not what he was doing when he created the futuristic and dark novel, A Clockwork Orange in 1963. Yet,he has admitted that "It seems priggish or pollyannaish to deny that my intention in writing the work was to titillate the nastier propensities of my readers" (CO,p. xiv)
This work has been controversial from the beginning, and the film version was even moreso. His title comes from London slang and was used to indicate something that was at the extreme of weirdness, odd or inverted to an outlandish degree, and the reader can take it from there.
While the reader must slog through a horribly bleak vista of our future, she can also reach for the beauty and possibility which are dangled mischievously next to the vicious shennanigans of the devilish droogs and the mindless inhumanity of the "man." As a contemporary critic indicated "Anthony Burgess has written what looks like a nasty little shocker, but is really that rare thing in English letters: a philosophical novel.
43 comments:
Hopefully, this is the correct forum for student responses (i.e. Homework) to the novel. If not, I'm sorry, Mr. Matthews.
The first two chapters of the novel are thoroughly confusing and unnerving due to the intense violence and bizarre slang the narrator uses. In fact, the vocabulary is varied enough to consider Alex's speech a futuristic dialect. The mish-mash of coarse words and images gives the story an appropriate frenzied mood. Although the diction and images are alien it does not take long to adjust. Suddenly, the reader finds himself/herself able to understand Alex. It is a triumphant and scary moment.
The second chapter contains a memorable scene, an act of violence that stands out from the others. Alex and his droogs break into a young couple's home, beat the man, rape the woman, and destroy the man's manuscript. The manuscript was titled, "A Clockwork Orange," and seems to address the issue of society's loss of humanity. Alex and his droogs are an obvious example of this lack of humanity; they are human, beautiful in creation, who act as if they have no souls. It as if these living creatures had their innards, their minds and hearts, scooped out and replaced with defective machinery. Maybe I am being melodramatic, but Alex and his droogs test the limits of imagination. How can a teenage boy live with the knowledge of such horrific actions?
-Michael Babus
Catherine here. I am not very tech savvy, so this took a while and I, like Mikey B., am not sure that this is right place to respond. Now, with that all being said, the following are my thoughts on Chapter 2.
There are two things that interested me most about this chapter. The first being the character of Alex. I have the tendency to like all protagonists in novels (with the notable exception of Emma) and I find that I am having to justify (to myself) the fact that I like Alex. Sure, he saunters about wearing silly platties, raping women, and pummeling helpless old men, but there’s something far more interesting about his character than there was about Emma. My personal feeling is that I am interested in this particular protagonist because of the moments that he seems out of character. Alex commits horrendous acts of ultra-violence on a daily, or shall I say nightly, basis. I wouldn’t expect Alex to care about the sloppiness of Dim’s platties after a brawl or to care if his droogs had food on their faces at the writer’s house. Those aesthetic elements are important to him. I wouldn’t expect him to care for a moment about what the drunk on the corner has to say about the state of the world. And yet he stops beating on that drunk because he’s interested in another human being’s take on life. Alex has and interest in humanity and that seems out of character to me and, therefore, interests me.
The second thing that interested me about this chapter is the commentary on the government. When I was reading about the old drunk man, I was please to see that he said something that I’ve complained about for years. The government is so busy getting a man on the moon and paying attention to things that do not really apply to humanity that they are, in essence, allowing humanity to fester on Earth. The government isn’t paying attention to the youth that prey on the old because they have “greater” things on their agenda. This shows how out of touch the government is with humanity. And let us not ignore “A Clockwork Orange”, the book that the unnamed author was writing. The reader only gets a small portion of that text, but what it seems to be saying is that the rigidity of laws is ludicrous when one considers how versatile mankind is. Laws would be reasonable if man were a “mechanical creation” but that isn’t the case. Again, this shows how out of touch the government and the officials are with humanity.
Okay, my comment was really long. Sorry all.
okay.. you see here, the words are not at all easy to comprehend considering my unfamiliarity with the slang words... i really hope you all understand some of my misinterpretations. that said, i noticed two major "things" in this chapter.
first, we get to hear about more personal and intimate opinions of the narrator about Dim. the narrator mentions his "vulgarity" and somewhat hot-headed character. what's ironic about this is that--having born out of such chaos and having lost the moral beliefs and rationality, it was quite interesting how the narrator could still perceive Dim's vulgarity--with the state of mind fully blinded by naivete(in a different sense). in the middle of the chapter the narrator says, "it was like he was singing blood to make up for his vulgarity when that devotchka was singing music." This comment sharply contrasts with his later statement saying, "I wanted music very bad this evening, that singing devotchka in the Korova having perhaps started me off." he clearly shows his affection for music but he does not attempt to identify his feelings with that of Dim's--perhaps jumping to conclusion that Dim's affection is more of a coverage while his affection is rather truthful and innate. in short, the narrator's oblivious mind makes him more conceited.
Well, first of all I would like to say it was a bit of a relief to read the third chapter of this novel because it had less violence then the first two chapters. I thought this chapter was particularly interesting because the author further divulges into the intricate personality of Alex. We get a better sense of who he is, his likes and dislikes, and we begin to realize his mind is more complex then we actually thought.
Furthermore, I personally feel that either these boys are bipolar psychopaths or were given an extremely complicated and perplexing mind because these young droogs change their absurd and violent characters in a blink of an eye. I mean, they pay and enter the train like young civilized teenagers do, and then a split second later, they become animalistic in nature, ripping, destroying and performing whatever vandalism possible in the train.
Also, during the bar altercation between Alex and Dim , I thought it was truly grand of Alex to actually abuse and lecture Dim about his rudeness toward the singing lady when. In essence (from a non-objective third party onlooker) Alex and Dim can be seen as very similar people, because they both willingly engaged in violent acts throughout the night. Alex’s rant on the necessities of discipline reminded me of an old saying, “Look at the kettle calling the pot black”, because who is Alex to judge his Dim when he often participates in the same distasteful acts his cronies do.
I mean, honestly, whoever thought that a boy who referred to seeing another fellow human, stricken by unjust violence could be seen as “all cut up and lovely” and in the same manner, be obsessed with cleanliness and classical music. The sheer evilness that seems to be rooted within the soul of Alex really juxtaposes his ideals of discipline/integrity.
I also thought that Alex’s home seemed to prove how he may have been affected by environmental determinism. The fact that treacherous violence and vandalism seemed to permeate throughout every aspect of his life, from his friends, the environment leading to his home, his disgustingly defaced apartment itself, I thought all show how he seems to live in a perpetual whirlpool of brutality and discontent.
Re: Chapters 4 and 5
It really amuses me that, in his dream, Alex is harassed for having dirt on his clothes. That amuses my endlessly.
This book was not divided into three parts by accident and, as we reach the climax of the first part of the book, there’s some lovely and ominous foreshadowing to build up the tension. P.R. Deltoid comes in as an authority figure and warns Alex that there will be serious consequences if he fouls up one more time. We all know that little Alex is going to get caught eventually or this would be a short story and not a novel. The reader cannot help but be curious what the consequences will be. Then, to add to that, there’s the friction between Alex and his droogs. Alex’s dream compounded with his father’s dream tip the reader off that Georgie is going to cause trouble for young Alex even before we see Georgie’s democratic treachery in action. There’s definite friction between them all and it’s obvious that things aren’t going to go well for our humble narrator. And to add to that there’s also the not-so-subtle fact that Alex ends the fifth chapter by saying that he led the droogs to his doom. Hmm… maybe that’s foreshadowing? (Maybe that was sarcasm.)
I also like what Alex says about how people go to the trouble of investigating what causes badness but not goodness. After all, it’s just as unnatural to be totally good as to be totally bad, right? Anthony Burgess thought so, anyway, as I believe he said in A Clockwork Orange Resucked.
Okay! Alright! Blogging! YES!
Chapter 4 was pretty cool. Alex gives us a little more insight on his day to day life, which is pretty mundane, yet another reminder that this kid is just that-- a kid. Alex doesn't allow himself to become too dear, however, as at the end of the chapter he continues with ridiculously immoral acts. I don't really want to concentrate on the incident with the two young girls, though, as much as I want to talk about his meeting with P.R. Deltoid. Deltoid is the epitome of the preaching adult, and lectures Alex in a stereotypical (and amusing) way. Such repeat phrases include "I'm warning you", and "Do I make myself clear?" (pages 38 and 39, if you are interested), which could not be more representative of the harping 'adult' figure present in pretty much every single kid's movie ever made. Deltoid isn't just totally annoying because of his condescending manner, but because of the total disconnect that is so apparent between him and the younger generations. Deltoid is genuinely baffled with the behaviors of the youth, and because of this, there is very little chance that all of his hard work will actually yield positive results. Alex later states “…what I do I do because I like to do” (40), which pretty perfectly sums up the general feelings of his generation—Utilitarian and rather immature in nature.
Alright, in an attempt to keep it brief, I’ll move on to Chapt. 5, in which a power struggle takes place between Alex and his droogs. His friends are no longer satisfied with the petty (I use the word lightly) crimes they have been committing, and want to move on to bigger things, which is a scary thought. The droogs tell Alex they want a more Democratic and Capitalistic gang (ha!), but Alex remains in control after violently assaulting Dim. This is really ironic as Alex in Chapter 4 was complaining to us about how overbearing the government was in dictating the behaviors of the people. This makes me think even more so that Alex and his peers aren’t just a group of crazy out of control kids, but in fact a product of their society. Hey, that happens to relate back to the article Alex was talking about (remember- the youth’s problems being the older generation’s fault?)
Goodbye, all.
Adrienne
Alex- what a charming child.
While I hope that I am able to keep this brief, I have quite a few things to say. To begin with, Alex's dream is a perfect segway into this next phase of the novel. The image of Georgie posing as a threat to Alex and challenging his leadership among the droogs is ultamitely a refection of what is to come in the following chapter. Dreams become a tool which Anthony Burges utilizes for forshadowing events.
While Alex dreams that his gang has turned against him (with Georgie as dictator/general and Din hurting him with a whip), it is interesting to note how he runs away from Din, begging for mercy. He yells "Don't hit, please don't, brothers." This brings up two important aspects of Alex's personality and irony in the novel. While Alex begs for mercy from Din, he shows Din no mercy in Chapter 5 when he slices Din's wrists and back. Alex will show no mercy to his droogs when his role of authority is threatened.
The other interesting aspect of the novel is the use of "brother(s)" throughout Alex's dialog. Brother is often referenced as a person's equal, one they trust, someone they protect, or one they love. The continuous power struggle among Alex and his gang, in addition to the fighting among eachother, and disrespect Alex has toward some of his friends, changes how the word "brother" is understood. Alex uses it so loosely and often, that it is questionable what he means by it. Does he use it simply as a nickname? Or does Alex truely think that the dynamics he has with his friends, is what he thinks Brotherhood is supposed to be like? (I appologize if I am not being clear)
His father's dream is troubling, since Burges clearly builds the suspense and glimpses into the future through the character's dreams. As chapter 5 closes, we are left with the knowledge that the boys are going to take-up on larger crimes (which, as Teeley mentions, seems terrifying). The novel is climbing towards the climax, and Alex's fate is clearly going to be...well.....unfortunate (as Burges has warned us through his father's dream and P.R. Deltiod's visit). Alex leads his droogs "out to [his] doom." dun-dun-duh....!!!
Well today in class we were talking about why Burgess has Alex obsessed with classical music and then, because I am a huge nerd with too much time on my hands, I was buying some songs by this wonderful composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. (String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110: I. Largo, if anyone wants to know.) Anyway I then went on wikipedia to do a little research about the guy and I found the following quote:
"For some reason, people think that music must tell us only about the pinnacles of the human spirit, or at least about highly romantic villains. But there are very few heroes or villains. Most people are average, neither black nor white. They’re grey. A dirty shade of grey."
Well, I thought that actually applied fairly well to A Clockwork Orange and so that gave me a little smile. And then I got back to thinking about other books we had read with classical music in them. On Beauty in particular. Remember when they all go to Mozart’s Requiem? It’s all about the struggle between good and evil for the human soul.
Ah, but my loserness continues. Then I decided to look up Beethoven’s ninth symphony because I don’t actually know much about it and it was mentioned in chapter 4 on page 42, if you wanted to know. I discovered that this was his last symphony and of particular significance because of the use of a human voice as such an important instrument. I think it’s interesting that Burgess chose to mention a piece of music that has humanity as an integral part of the art.
Well, that’s all I’m going to say about classical music and A Clockwork Orange. I just thought it was sort of interesting and now you may do with it what you will.
Wow…
So chapters six and seven were pretty action packed. Instead of leading his droogs into doom, Alex led himself into doom. In chapter six Alex and his droogs definitely move onto bigger things when they decide to rob the house of an elderly woman. While Alex and his droogs hope to gain a larger profit from this next act of vandalism, it only perpetuates the violence. Chapter six is plagued with violence, yet humor taints this robbery scene. In an attempt to permanently define his leadership, Alex battles a cat lady. It is actually quite hilarious picturing Alex stumbling over saucers filled with milk as he is hit on the head with a cane then attacked by an army of felines. It’s also quite ironic that Alex should have such an experience at the exact moment he tries to validate his leadership and ultimately prove his manhood. Alex’s aesthetic appreciation for music also comes into play when he sees the bust of Ludwig van. This reminds us of that part of Alex aside from that horrifying need to harm others. I thought it was also ironic when Alex referred to himself as “Your Humble Narrator,” (63) when his actions and speech label him almost everything but humble. Unfortunately, the chapter concludes with a switch in power. The lower class which consists of Georgie, Pete and Dim have stripped Alex of his leadership. Georgie and Pete abandon their “brother” when the police come and Dim traps Alex so that he is unwillingly present when the police arrive. Unfortunately, exactly what P. R. Deltoid had predicted was coming true.
Chapter seven begins with Alex in the police station. This chapter was interesting because it provided parallels to previous parts in the book. When Alex first arrives in the police station he is given a mirror. His face looks awful. Prior to this point Alex continually commented on how his droogs presented themselves, whether they had just eaten or Dim was just scrapped up after a fight. Also, I was surprised when Alex thought it was unfair when he was treated with brutality in prison by the police, when it is that same brutality and cruelty that he uses every night. P. R. Deltoid comes to see Alex. He is disappointed but not surprised that his predictions of Alex came true. Now, Alex wants help because the danger of his situation is finally becoming clearer to him. However, it is too late. P.R. Deltoid even spits in Alex’s face. Initially I thought that it was disgusting and degrading, but what do you expect. P.R. Deltoid’s actions let Alex know that he is beyond disappointment but an utter failure. What makes the situation worse is that the cat lady had died in the hospital after Alex had hit her. While Alex definitely deserves whatever punishment that he will receive, I felt awful. We have gotten to know Alex and perhaps even like him. The dismal and terrifying reality is that Alex is a murderer at age 15.
I agree with Catherine's comments she made about chapter 2. Throughout the book the violence becomes so overbearing that we grow accustomed to it. However, early in the novel, as Catherine wrote, Alex does several things out of character like listening to what that drunk old man had to say about life. These instances act as pauses throughout the book that reveal more about Alex's character.
I have to admit that this book is really interesting, but I still think that this is a little too violent (especially in part 2). However, I believe that this book would not have been as good if it were not depicted this way. I guess violence in this book helps the readers to stand for more distinctive side – either yes or no. Thus, it prevents the readers from haphazardly switching their opinions on the subject. I am strongly against the experiment Alex is going through. First of all, it is inhuman and immoral. Secondly, this method does not cure his core problem. Alex still thinks about beating a guy and raping a girl when he is finally put into tests. It is the unnatural distress that prevents him from actually acting out his thoughts, not his will to be nice. This is just not okay, and I do not think this will eventually work either. Two-week program cannot change a human soul that has been built up for 15 years. This is merely a too-convenient hope of those old and powerless people. They are just trying to feel safe from the kids, while they know that it is just a temporary relief.
By the way, this book reminds me of the movie, 28 days later… I hate that movie…
ok... well i guess we haven't quite gotten to this chapter yet, but i just read part 2 chapter 1 and i wanted to comment. OK so ALEX IS GOING TO JAIL! I MEAN REAL JAIL! I mean, he's going to be spending 14 years of his life in an adult prison! Its pretty crazy and sad for him, because he's only lived on earth for 15 years, and now he'll be locked up for another 14. But i guess, he deserved it though.
So i keep reading on in this chapter, and I was initially really proud and impressed about Alex taking a liking to Church and the Bible, (I was under the naive impression that a mix of prison and religion would be the cocktail Alex needed to change his ways) but i was WRONG! The only reason Alexi seems to like the Bible is because he fantasizes about being one of the Roman Soldiers who tortured Jesus. Again, Alex disappoints and surprises me with his unhealthy affinity for violence and cruelty.
I'm replying to top notch diva's last comment because of her unexpected reaction to Alex's jail time activities. Because she is a normal person, her response was to commend Alex for his sudden interest in the Bible and Christian works. Her kindly thoughts reflect the manipulation and selfishness of Alex and its effect on others (I should say, more innocent others). Alex is so wrapped up in himself that he can take a hold book and make it seem crude; he has the unnatural ability of projecting his cruel spirit. Maybe that's how he kept parents and teachers from ratting him out long before the betrayal of his droogs. As Dr. Brodsky said, Alex is a master of the obsequieos smile and gesture. He fakes a sudden interest in religion to curry favor and garner some alone time with his favorite records.
Diva proves that Alex has enough charm and falseness behind his brutality and boldness to stay under the radar. That is, of course, until he ended up in jail.
OK, this comment is just my unhappy reaction after part 2 of the novel. The scene where Alex is set on a stage to prove the effectiveness of his "rehabilitation" is wretched. I felt a pretty nasty combination of pity and anger throughout the whole deal. We have already gove over the whole concept of choosing good over foisting good upon the populace; it's fairly obvious that the Ludovico Treatment would fill the streets with reformed zombies stepping on egg shells all the time (in order to avoid the sicky feeling of badness and evil thoughts).
Back to Alex, after sessions in class where almost everyone admitted to liking him (although he is a terrible malchick), it was difficult to see him suffer in such an inhuman way. Instead of just being in pain, he was (to qoute Adrienne Teeley) "trappoed in his own body."
It was Alex who expressed the meaning behind the metaphor of the Clockwork Orange. The young writer from the the beginning of the novel (the man Alex beat so severely) summed up Alex's current state long before. After his treatment, Alex is only a man in appearance for he lacks free will.
It’s a big, bad world out there. There’s crime, violence, death, drugs, rock and roll… any number of unpleasant things. Not many people like to think of these elements of the world, but at least when we hear about these things it doesn’t generally cause us to feel physically ill. By removing Alex’s ability to tolerate violence, the government has removed Alex’s ability to be a part of the world. Many things in life are violent. Birth itself is not a pretty, peaceful picture. Still, childbirth is called a “miracle”, despite the violence that is inherently a part of it. Alex couldn’t handle something as basic as that without losing his lunch. He can’t even look at the pictures in a medical book; he can’t view the truths of humanity and life. It’s no wonder that he wants to die. Life is definitely too much for him. It would be for me too if I couldn't read the Bible because it was too violent.
Oh, and I would like to tolchock Dim in the teeth.
I found myself reaally pitying Alex in this chapter. While he's not entirely "cured" of his evil thoughts, he feels horribly sick every time he thinks of one. However, the description of his sickness is very vague, so it wasn't too disturbing. The "evil" thoughts Alex had, though, were actually not that evil. They were just natural reactions: he was angry that he had been replaced by Joe in his own home, was disturbed at the thought of his helplessness, and was trying to defend himself against the old people in the library. I especially felt bad for him in this scene, when the old people ganged up on him. He was completely defenseless and then he was blamed for it anyway by his ex-droog and ex-enemy. Alex was so helpless at the end. His entire situation was turned around. Now that he is back in the world, he is no longer a leader of a gang that causes violence but a victim of the same violence he used to inflict upon others. The worst scene, in my opinion, was when Alex tried to listen to music, the one joy in his life, but felt violently ill as he tried to listen. The one part of Alex that was actually right and good is ruined forever. He is truly no longer human, even though he has a human body and human thoughts. If there is nothing truly good about a person (as with Alex's music), then that person is not truly human.
Even though human life is the essence of ephemerality, and things usually don't stay the same, I kind of wish things did in Alex's case. It was so pitiful to see that everything Alex once loved, enjoyed, and unhealthily took pleasure in, seems to have been erased and only serves as a past memory.
Furthermore, everything in his world seems to have been completely reversed, the world (Alex's perception of his surroundings) was now CLEAN, his family that seemed completely oblivious to his evil doings are now completely repulsed by him, and most imposrtantly, ALEX becomes the victim of CRUELTY & INJUSTICE in his world!
To comment on the beginning of part 3...
Joe is introduced and believes he has taken the place of Alex. Joe takes over Alex's room and taunts Alex when he returns. The shock that a stranger has replaced Alex in his own family contributes to his depressed state. Joe is impersonal and his thoughts portray the thoughts of the masses. I feel like what he says to Alex is similar to what a reader was thinking in part 1 of CO. Yet, having read through to part 3, these comments resemble those of a playground bully. The background knowledge that a reader is given results in sympathizing with Alex. Joe is merely another reason Alex feels so helpless and misguided in the world. For some reason I picture Joe as the fat mean older brother Harry Potter has when he is not at Hogwarts... not to imply the men and women Alex beat up were really trolls and evil sorcerers.
Barely even making to "HOME" due to the beating he received from his former friend and former enemy turned police officers, F. Alexander feels sorry for Alex and lets him inside. Alex is at the mercy of F. Alexander. The relationship that Alex forms with F. Alexander is one of the healthiest Alex has so far in the book. There are no motives behind it based on power, violence or sex and they bond over Alex being "a victim of the modern age". It is indeed ironic how Alex went from barging into this man's home and raping his wife to begging at his doorstep for help. A man cannot completely forgive his wife's rapist and killer at the drop of a hat. This leads to complications in the previously healthy relationship.
F. Alexander and his politically motivated associates lead Alex downtown and eventually trap Alex in a room with music blaring from next door. Alex cannot take the pain he feels and rashly decides to jump out the window in hopes of suicide. The thought that Alex would rather die than listen to classical music shows how extreme he has become.
In chapter 6, Alex is in and out of consciousness. He has visitors and the most significant would be the Minister of the Interior. The Minister attempts to shmooze Alex over and become his friend. According the the Minister, Alex has been "cured" and F. Alexander has been locked up for their own security. After the Minister and Alex's friendship has been made public, the Minister gives Alex a stereo. Alex decides to listen to Beethoven's Ninth and expresses his right to have free will. By the end of chapter 6, it appears that Alex is looking like a human again.
Although some people would view the ending of A Clockwork Orange as the author’s way of wrapping everything up in a lovely little bow, I really liked it. The last chapter shows Alex, our humble narrator, finally getting bored of all his ultra-violence and finally decided to become an actual part of society. The reason that I don’t view this as a Jane Austen ending is because Burgess is trying to make the point that human beings are capable of changing on their own. Human being’s don’t function like clockwork; we’re not constant and unvarying and, with passing time, people change and grow. To me, the change doesn’t feel abrupt. It’s foreshadowed in the novel by Pete’s apparent boredom at the Korova Milkbar at the beginning of the book and with Alex’s question about the whereabouts of Pete while Dim and Billyboy victimize him.
Dim remained violent and Pete took a different road and got married and gave up that old violence. They started the novel in the same place and committed the same heinous acts and then, as a testament to the value of human freewill, they went different directions. The final chapter shows Alex making his choice and choosing goodness without any government manipulations at all. Isn’t that the whole point of the book? I find it very annoying that the seventh chapter was left out of the American edition. Removing the final chapter turns the book into a thriller instead of a philosophical novel.
Though I do not have my book with me right now and therefore can do no quoting, I would like to say how much I loved Alex’s realization that 18 really isn’t that young. That was a great passage.
Going off what Lizzy was saying about F. Alexander and Alex's relationship. I thought that the demise of their friendship (however brief it was) was really sad. This book isn't the type to have a romantic aspect, but this particular relationship plays the same role. It sounds weird, but F. Alexander is the first person to really care about Alex, and show him some humanity (I guess the Chaplin did to a degree, but this is by far the most caring bond we've seen in the book. F. Alexander takes Alex in when he is at his most vulnerable state, and feeds him, clothes him, and shows him compassion that Alex has never seen before. Then, F. (as I shall now be calling him) completely betrays Alex, by exploiting him, and turning him into some kind of twisted tool for gaining publicity and power. So, I guess whath I am trying to say, is F. is kind of like a bad lover, but he teaches Alex that he can't give his trust out so easily. Once again, life lesson learned the hard way. Poor kid.
Now to respond to Cathy:
While reading the first half of chapter 7, I was a little annoyed with how neatly everything was being wrapped up. But as the chapter digressed, it got better, as it showed how much Alex had grown, and really cements the book as a coming of age novel. I will agree with Catherine also when I say that leaving off that last chapter is essentially like discarding the point of the whole book. I can see why the publisher's did it though, for without Chapt. 7, the book would be a much more disturbing one.
I thought it was great when Alex was talking in Nadsat to his old droog, Pete, whose wife was laughing at the way he spoke. How many times have we had that moment when we realize, "Oh. I guess I am getting a little too old for this!"
Hey Ace! That's some nice blogging!
omg! when I read chapter 3/4 all I could think of is, the story has come full circle! I mean whoever thought, ALEX would be a limping, bleeding, banged up suffering victim and the person that comes to his aid is a person he had actually assaulted previously! It was the author guy that Alex had previously ripped up his manuscript and mercilessly raped his wife on their living room floor who kindly tends to his wounds and gives him warmth/food!
Also, my heart totally fell, when I realized that the guy's wife who got gang raped by Alex and his crew died from shock. Even more saddening, is how the guy remarks on his inability to do chores (& household duties often bestowed on women), since his wife died! ;(
But as usual! i was fooled! me and my hopes for happiness for all1 OOh the naiveté! Ok, WELL, i guess the author F. Alexander, is a very good actor, because he totally fooled me and alex, because he and his friends try to kill Alex. But i mean, you know, Karma, is Karma (what goes around comes around) yet, two wrongs don't make a right. Alex has deeply suffered, and i think has paid way beyond his sins. Perhaps, if F.Alexander hadn't meant to take revenge into his own hands and try to kill/hurt Alex, he wouldn't have been sent to jail. That really sucks for him though, because he loses both ways. 1) dead wife, and 2) he's in jail 3) thanks to his doings, Alex gets "the hook-up" or special friendship & protection with the minister.
Alex should never be pitied (period). His extreme violence is neither the product of the society nor embodiement of his dark past. It also is not the reaction to the world's absurdity itself. Alex and his crew's violence changes the fate of ordinary person walking down the street in a second due to their impulse; what is more devastating is that even a very peaceful family happily sitting in their "secure" house is not promised with security, they are hopelessly vulnerable in front of their primitive violence. In short, through the violence in this book, readers could finally see the ultimate nature of violence before it is mystified or covered with layers of colors--just the act of it is not acceptable nor understandable. Ways with which people try to justfiy it, is merely cowardice.
I think i really hate Alex. Even when he becomes "machinized" by the treatment and brainwashing so to speak, I still do not pity him at all!!! As i mentioned in class already, nobody is really allowed to express thier mental nakedness. The history of humanity has come a very long way. We had to succumb to a certain extent to build this world--the community and our lives eventually. Just as we all need each other's help in our lifetime, so we should meet other's necessities and give up our own free will at times if that is necessary. We are humans, we think and we can finally handle such sacrifice (that of universal one for everyone has to do it to be included in the society). So even though Alex was brainwashed--confisticating his freewill, it is not "that" pathetic. He was wrong in the first place for exercisinng his freewill without any limit because freewill doesn't define expression of naked emotions after all.
Lastly i would like to comment on the ending of the novel. Why did Burgess "fix" Alex into normality through Alex's own realization while the treatment merely gave him pains and vomits? haha it's quite simple enough!! Because he hates the idea of "producing" people. in the end, all that excessive violence that limit one's freewill, all that "carthartic and empowering" words of reverend, and that absurdly formulated treatment all are simply ineffective. Whatever nature a human is born with, it cannot be diminished nor transformed because one is innately born with it and nobody else can approach to it. In the end, Alex finally realizes the meaninglessness of his violent actions and quits--out of boredom. Even though Burgess' intention is quite apparent, we cannot conclude anything about the associations between the violence, morality, and freewill.
I guess the author not only enjoys violence, but also black humour. When Alex comes back home from the prison, he finds a random guy, Joe. He is staying with Alex's parents instead of him. I find it rather funny, because Alex's parents might have thought it was a great opportunity to unlearn him and get ready for a new life. Also the fact that everything that was in Alex's room was used to compensate the cats. It would have been a better excuse to lose his favorite musics if they were used to compensate the woman. I thought it was pretty funny.
When Alex cannot even listen to his favorite songs because of the sickness, I pitied him for the first time. And when he decides to kill himself, I started to hate people who made Alex such a powerless person. It is also quite ironic that Alex cannot even kill himself as he wishes. I dont think this is the solution to the teenage violence at all. I think those who are associated with the experiment are doing the same thing that Alex had done to the old man, only less bloody. This is the most violent thing that I see in this book. I guess the reason this book begins with such a violence is that the author wants the readers to compare those two different ways to commit violence.
After finishing the book, I think Alex shouldn't be pitied too much, overall. I mean, during the novel I pitied him, and empathized, but once finished, Alex ends up being a fairly regular guy (with a unique past, sure). And isn't this what growing up ultimitely (I can never spell that word...) is? Pain, humiliation, and learning about things the hard way? Alex's coming of age is way harder than many people's, I realize this, but still, A Clockwork Orange does a great job of magnifying these trials and tribulations, as it were. As soon as I finished the book, I was actually pretty proud of little Al. It was a tough road to get to that point (he puts you through a lot), but it is a happy ending place.
My final thoughts on this book are very positive. Overall, I think this is my favorite thing we have read this year. I think Burgess does an incredible job creating this world which disturbingly familiar (is that someone else's phrase? I can't remember if I read it on another blog. If it's yours-- sorry!) The creation of Nadsat was a vital component of the novel, and it was very well done. Nadsat adds to the ever present disconnect seen between the youth and the adults. I think what makes this book so popular is that it focuses and magnifies situations which every society goes through. All older generations always disagree with what the kids are doing, and in A Clockwork Orange, the reader sees the angle from both sides: One, these teenagers are totally out of control, but on the other side, the adults appear to be equally as crazy.
I said this earlier, but now that I finished the book, I feel it is even more relevent. Alex is a product of his generation, he is influenced by the ultraviolence that happens all around him, and indeed even by his own government. Things do change, though, and as the book draws to a close, a positive change is seen not only in the protagonist, but in his environment. Ultraviolence is dying out, his city has been cleaned up, and all of his old droogs have either settled down, or gotten real jobs.
By the end of the book, I get to like Alex a lot more. Even more than I thought I would like him. Although he finds his old self again and hangs out with another gang, he is certainly different now. He realizes how immature he was and stops his friends from harrasing an old man. Alex had been through too many situations that even a 100 year-old man might not have experienced yet. Those situations rarely happen to such young kids like Alex, but they really made him mature. When he finally realizes it, he does not need any artificial medications or pratices to hold back his desire to act violently. People cannot act based on whatever they feel like to do all the time. When they are young, they cannot really control themselves from doing so because they can easily be excused. However, when they finally realize they should sometimes hold back their desires, they become an adult.
I want to comment of the significance of the division of chapters within the novel. Each of these parts unfolds knowledge Alex gains. Although he is unruly for most of the first part, he is eventually arrested and put into jail, experiencing punishment for his crimes. The second part is set in the prison and Alex undergoes special treatment. In the final part of the novel, he is set back into the real world and his youth and prison treatment are put to the true test. By the end of part three it seems Alex has fully gained outlook on life. In this sense, A Clockwork Orange is a coming of age novel.
The revelation that Alex has occurs in the last chapter of the novel. Without this last chapter, the novel would just be a pathetic story of a troubled teen that get screwed over by the government and has nothing to show for it. The last chapter brings hope and draws parallels from the beginning of the novel. Why take away a happy ending?
I agree with Teels in that this has been my favorite read this year. The connection between youth and older generations is a universal theme. Everyone goes through the struggles of being misunderstood and I think Burgess does a wonderful job of making Alex relatable. Alex is extreme at times, but it catches the attention of readers. Alex represents youth and free will. When this is taken away from him, he becomes less human. Burgess shows that by taking away a part of humanity (even if it keeps people safe), the outcome is useless. You can't force someone to behave in a certain way without the person not understanding why they must behave this way... that was confusing. Basically, the government forcing Alex to make the "right" decisions led to an even more disturbed Alex. The understanding of "right" from "wrong" must come naturally. Luckily, Alex begins to grasp this concept by the end of the novel.
I thought the end was quite interesting... Alex goes back to his old style of life with new droogs, except he now has money he earned from a job, instead of paying with stolen money for the usual drugged-up milkshakes they buy. I guess its a bit of a revelation for alex because he realizes he's no longer young at the end, but in my opinion i don't think being 18 is THAT old either. He still has the oppertunity to do great things with his life... the question is, will he ever stop being lazy and immature, and strive for something better?
I am not a romantic, but I do like how Burgess shows the acts of growing up and marrying as natural desires rather than as acts of conforming to “the establishment” in an effort to make life easier. This perspective is quite different from most of the stories our class has read this year. Unlike Austen’s Emma, Burgess ends his novel with the bold conclusion that marriages and relationships based on love can be good things and bring much happiness to life. A Clockwork Orange would surely be a tragedy without the last chapter for it is in Chapter 21 that the reader is given a new hope for Alex, who is finally transformed into a dynamic character. His development at the end is the foundation of Burgess’s message that people can, and do, change over time. The stage of Youth will, and must, pass. Alex realizes that “being like one of these malenky machines,” or a clockwork orange, get old and is the source of his loneliness. In essence, Youth must be present in one’s life so that it may be lived through and, shortly after arriving, put to rest for Maturity to arise.
Where does this immediate submission come from? The Governor himself warns Alex that he will lose his free will, yet for some reason he welcomes the “vitamin” injection and is willing to blindly trust the white coats. To Alex’s surprise, the hands into which he is transferred (the doctor’s) are more dangerous to him than any of the prisoners who he has been passing the days with. It’s interesting that someone who is so against society forfeits his body so readily.
The author carefully splashes color in very specific parts of the novel. White is one of the only colors besides blood red mentioned in the story. Instead of representing purity, the white is blinding to Alex, and those dressed in the white coats are deceptive. The use of this color is to show the reader the utter backwardness to the doctor’s experiments. Regarding the red, it is arguable that the shades of blood described in the novel reflect the violent youth who are trying their hardest to stick out from the mundane society. In the title, what sticks out most is “Orange” because one typically pictures mechanical pieces as cooperative and rusty, not as colorful and problematic.
I agree with teels – Alex deserves very little pity because besides the odd society he is born into, the trouble he gets into is all a result of his own insensitive actions. In fact, looking back on the sympathy I did feel for him, I now question what exactly Burgess added to his words to encourage me, the reader, to feel sympathy for a ruthless criminal. Off the top of my head, I would say that part of this technique involves Burgess’ romanticizing Alex’s brutal lifestyle and creating an environment in which some readers may be understand what its like to have moments without a strong conscience pulling at them.
One of the parts that upset me most was when Alex was first being presented to the Minister of the Interior as a reckless droog who has just been unknowingly sacrificed by the state to the partially sadistic Dr. Brodsky. This is the time when Alex does deserve sympathy, which he gets plenty of from the prison chaplain before his departure. It is in part 2, chapter 3 that one of the ultimate questions of the books is asked: “Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?” To this I answer: of course it is better for one to be bad than to forcibly act good for the “good” is fake and simply covering the true self. It is better to be honest with one’s self than to try and hide behind a smile.
In Dr. Brodsky’s experiment, Alex may be set up to be “good” and respectful, but he will not be happy. No, it will not be Alex as a human being living with his own choices, but the conditioned Alex simply performing the motions of life. And how sad, for what is an individual but a body driven by choices? “A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man.”
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