After the publication of his major work, A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess commented on the function of literature in a changing society. There is little point in writing a novel unless you can show the possibility of moral transformation, or increase in wisdom, operating in your main character. (Burgess viii) Consequently, this focus on individual ethics becomes the most pervasive theme in A Clockwork Orange. The novel is set in an Orwellian and anti-utopian civilization in which the Western world and Eastern communist culture have married. Alex, the main character, speaks in a combination of English and a Russian slang called nadsat. The government, however, unmistakably alludes to the Iron Curtain of Russian communism. The novel chronicles the atrocities committed by Alex and his droogs and the resulting government supported Alex's brainwashing and supposed moral transformation. From the first page, the novel raises the question of free will. The title itself is significant in this context as A Clockwork Orange is a metaphor for someone who has lost the power of free will, someone who has the appearance of an organism (Orange) but is really just a clockwork toy to be wound up. God, the Devil or the omnipotent state. The relevance of the title is evident in the existentialist dilemma that is the essence of the novel; Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? (Morris 44) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The opening chapter of the novel paints a very dark picture of Alex; it is undoubtedly evil. Alex not only commits violent acts, but finds sadistic pleasure in them, and, my brothers, it was a real satisfaction for me to waltz and carve the brazen left and the brazen right, so that like two curtains of blood they seemed to pour at the same time, one on each side of his fat, oily snout. (Burgess 17) This passage shows Alex's complete disregard for humanity and the law. The use of the word waltz also illustrates a seemingly incongruous character trait of Alex's, his love of music, classical music in particular. This irony is further evident in a scene where Alex gives 2 preteen ptitsa the old in-out in-out to the tune of Beethoven's 9th, then I took out the beautiful 9th ​​and made the needle hiss on the last movement ... this time they did not think of anything funny and had to submit to the strange and strange desires of Alexander the Great. (Burgess 46) This poses the paradox of how a wild and vicious teenager can enjoy the cultured sophistication of European classical music. However, Alex sees classical music and violence not as incongruous, but complementary. As seen in his aforementioned waltz, violence, in Alex's eyes, is a form of creative self-expression. The sweetest and most heavenly of activities participates to some extent in violence. (Burgess 115) Alex operates on the hedonistic principle of self-indulgence. He satisfies his desires, be they violent impulses or passions for classical music. But the essential characteristic of Alex is that he is free to choose. Although he chooses evil, the ability to choose is the core of his existence. Alex's evils are undeniable, but Burgess also presents the less obvious evils perpetrated by a repressive government. The government in A Clockwork Orange controls all aspects of society, from the government-produced Statefilm television station to the government-issued housing in which Alex resides. Furthermore, Christianity has been outlawed as God has been reduced to an old swamp. This is the government control over individual liberty that Burgess despised.He believes that the government, in attempting to manipulate free thought, is guilty of a greater moral evil than those committed by Alex because it violates the essence of man, free will. Burgess attacks what he sees as the fundamental flaw of socialism, the belief that man is capable of being conditioned. (Kennard 66) This feeling is best expressed in the character of F. Alexander, a member of an anti-government faction, who attempts to impose on man, a growing creature capable of gentleness, laws and conditions suitable for a mechanical system. creation, against this I raise my sword pen. (Burgess 22) Although Burgess attacks state policies, he does not argue that they are solely responsible for Alex's actions. Burgess believes in free will, but he also believes in the natural consequences of actions. In the second part of the novel, the consequences of Alex's streak of extreme violence come to fruition when he is arrested after killing a woman during an attempted robbery. Alex is tried and sentenced to 14 years in the Staja (state prison). The government no longer recognizes Alex as a person, he is only referred to as 66555321, his prison number. The only one who still recognizes Alex's possibility of redemption is the less than admirable prison chaplain. He is well-intentioned and opposes many of the government's policies, but is too drunk to say what he knows is right and moral. Despite his frailties, he manages to convince Alex to read the Bible and also take responsibility for his actions. So I read all about the flagellation and the crowning with thorns and I guessed better that there was something in it. I closed my glasses and lent a hand as I assisted in the tolchock and nailing, dressed in a similar toga that was the height of Roman fashion. (Burgess 79) Clearly, Alex recognizes the sins he has committed and the pain he has caused. The reference to the nailing to the cross presents the Christian belief that Jesus died for the sins of all humanity and that humans, by nature, are imperfect. However, in this sin and imperfection, there is also the possibility of redemption, and Alex begins to realize this potential. Furthermore, the use of Christian imagery illustrates the Augustinian vision of humanity supported by the state. Traditional Augustinianism holds that human beings are intrinsically evil and can only be saved by divine grace. The crucifixion of the son of God by man confirms this theory of the tendency to evil. However, the state in A Clockwork Orange has distorted traditional Augustinian theory into a rationale for having a totalitarian government that exercises absolute authority over humans. (Aggeler 110) Burgess clearly opposes this political theory popularized by Thomas Hobbes. Alex continues to be a model prisoner and shows signs of improvement until one night he wakes up to find one of his cellmates staring at him and caressing him. Alex and the other cellmates end up beating this chelloveck to death, and Alex is held responsible. As a result, Alex becomes the guinea pig for the recently developed Ludovicos Technique. Alex is transferred to a new facility where the technique will be administered by Dr. Brodsky. Alex is given an injection that causes severe nausea and is then forced to watch films of rape, murder and other violent acts. Dr. Brodsky's favorites include films about Nazi concentration camps and Japanese torture methods during World War II. The theory behind the technique is association. Alex will associate feeling seriously ill with any act of violence. Therefore, he will no longer wish to commit violent acts. The prison chaplain summarizes the theory of the technique best: In a certain sense, 129)