Told in first person narrative, both the novel and movie forms of A Clockwork Orange are presented through the eyes of Alex. This choice to narrate in first person in contrast to omniscient and controlled third person narration styles lends to the plausibility of the story. Aimed toward a youthful audience (either those still in their youth, or those reminiscent of it) the narration of Alex, who himself is in his youth, gives the reader a sense of legitimacy because of his similarity to the reader . The reader, as suggested by Roth, is lulled into trusting and seduced into sharing Alexs world view through the rudimentary and infrequent sharing of his feelings thoughts and perceptions thus, appearing to tell his story economically and honestly, giving an air of reliability . This close audience identification and confidence in the story can be duly linked to the moral panic evident in society at the time of the release both the novel and the film. It is expected that thos e who helped sustain the moral panic of the time found this relationship between the target audience and the character of Alex, who is portrayed as rebellious and excessively violent, both disturbing and potentially harmful.
Portrayal of Alexs youthful identity steadily changes throughout the text. However, the character demonstrates a substantially more thorough developmental evolution in the novel; as the final chapter of the book was overlooked in the production of the film. Whats it going to be then, eh? is the question asked at the commencement of each of the three sections of the written text and quoted frequently in the film. First asked by Alex, then by the prison chaplain, then by Alex again in part three, this phrase leads into three distinct yet similar sections of the novel by encapsulating the confrontation depicted in each part. Alex physically confronts both his friends and a helpless old man in the first section. In the second and final sections it is A lex himself that is confronted, first by the choice of freedom from prison for the sacrifice of his destructive behavior through psychological conditioning; and in the final section the confrontation, akin to the first section, is physical, retribution takes place as Alex is confronted by those whom he demoralized in the first section.
Associated with the connection between the style of Alex and his droogs, and teenage subculture, is the way in which they rebel from the oppressive society they inhabit. Alexs droogs, Georgie, Dim and Pete, are not just oppressed by the state, but by their own peer, Alex. As is often seen in teenage subcultures, the droogs submit to mindless conformity dictated by their leader; they dress like Alex, talk like Alex, and follow his directions. Alex and his droogs think that they are rebelling, but infact they are submitting to the teenage subculture of the time. Although the violence may be more extreme than some of their peers (however, q uite similar to that of rival gang led by Billyboy), they share the same language nadsat (a teenage slang invented by the author which is a mixture of English and Russian) and hatred for authority.
Extremely ill if he so much thinks a violent thought. An unanticipated side effect occurs and Alex also becomes ill when exposed to the once loved sounds of Beethoven (used in the conditioning process). Now robbed of his individuality, personality and humanity by being transformed into a clockwork Orange, a compliant and mind-numbed citizen, Alex is released back into the world from once he came.
The attempt at suicide leads Alex down a new road toward freedom of choice once again. As a result of the suicide attempt and the negative light the government is placed in, the effect of Ludovicos Technique is reversed and Alex becomes a creature free to choose between good and evil once again. With this newfound freedom, Alex turns back to his old ways, and this is how the movie ends. However, the novel goes onto show Alex growing up, not taking responsibility for, but getting bored with his destructive ways, he yearns to settle down and have a family.
A Clockwork Orange demonstrates the destructive capabilities of both man and society. The youthful identities are constructed within the text as forces to be reckoned with in their pursuit of violence, thievery and rape. It is expected that it was almost solely the negativities of the actions of the youthful characters in the text that caused the height of moral panic, when the two versions of the A Clockwork Orange were released. However there is another side, the youthful identities, especially Alex, are also presented as victims of a repressive, manipulative society. Without tackling both positive and negative aspects of the construction of youth identities within the text, it is unfair to pass judgment. A Clockwork Orange pressures the audience to ask the question is the right to chose evil freely, preferable to submission to an enforced good. Alex grows through his violent escapades and distressing experiences (in the novel) into a person of higher moral integrity. After leaving his life of violence behind him, he finally grows up and chooses good over evil; it is the freedom to make this choice, not the outcome, which stresses the message: Goodness comes From Within!
Mary Anne Winslow is a member of Essay Writing Servicecounselling department team and a dissertation writing consultant. Contact her to get free counselling on custom essay writing.
Author:: Mary Anne Winslow
Keywords:: Orange, Kubrick
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