A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Review & Ponder

I've dug up the recent review and ponder I did on A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess so I’m going to share the attempt I made to express my feelings towards it (though I've spared you by not trying to write it in Nadsat...)

Review:

*Cue Beethoven’s 9th*

It’s a dystopian novel set in the not too distant future where the government can no longer control the gangs of teens that enjoy, as Alex (the main character and narrator) says, acts of ultra-violence (which is basically f*cking stuff up, rape and murder for their own sick entertainment). Alex winds up in prison (note the unintentional clockwork pun) and is chosen for an experimental corrective treatment that makes him incapable of committing acts of violence. Even though it was written in 1962, it is still feels relevant today due to the complicated ideas presented of government control, morality and free will.

Some copies of the book omitted the final chapter, without which it would imply he went back to his recalcitrant ways. The final chapter suggests change for the better and shows a more mature Alex yearning for a family, as Burgess introduces a hollow within Alex that cannot be filled with, as he sees it, the youthful violence his past self would have enjoyed. If removed, the impact left on the reader is greatly altered, however, I'm not sating all books have to leave a positive message and, having though about it, that final chapter was rather clichéd and optimistic.

The contents of both the book are at times awful but so fascinating <[insert all that orange stuff and milk metaphors]>. I'm sure discussing it would take forever, like; can good be imposed upon a person, and if it is, as they can no longer choose, are they still human, as they are incapable of free will? So, does that mean goodness has to intentionally come from within and so if a person chooses to be bad, is that it? Can they be ‘corrected’? Does choosing between the two establish us as human and so without this decision would we be merely ‘clockwork oranges’ (something that appears organic on the outside but is robotic within)? The question of what to do with badness is also raised (and as we have already established it cannot be forced out) and we shouldn't act on it, so should we repress it? Alternatively, like the book hints, do we eventually grow out of it to become good? Is it better for a man to be bad by his own choice than to be forced to be good? The choice between good and bad is a person’s right and if they choose to act on the badness, as it is their dominant trait, it should be allowed and dealt with accordingly… Hmm…I'm sure half of those sentences didn't make sense and weren't proper sentences and let’s stop with the rhetorical questions.

I’ll move onto the language. BURGESS MANAGES TO DO SO MUCH WITH LANGUAGE. I bet he thought ‘I'm dying of cancer - no time for Standard English. I’m gonna write ‘eight oh oh’ not eight o’ clock and lets have some crazy Russian, cockney and Shakespearian based made up nadsat slang for you to figure out’. However, once you get into it you begin to develop a new way of processing what you are reading and it begins to make sense, to the extent that you don’t really notice it. Its a wonderful way of bringing the whole idea brainwashing directly the reader.

This wasn't the main thing that made me go crazy though…it was the MIXED FEELINGS TOWARDS THE POWER OF BURGESS’ CHARACTER CREATION. So. Many. Feelings. As Alex is the narrator, the book is obviously bias and through his persuasive personality he overlooks and manipulates to tell the reader how he was tricked by his friends, deceived by the government and used by those opposing the government as a propaganda tool.

His character communicates with the small part (or big, if you are a murderer) of us that gets a kick when we rebel or thrill seek, whether that’s; water skiing, being a secret cannibal or breaking the speed limit. It’s possible to get a small jolt of excitement from reading about the sheer joy Alex experiences from the ‘starry ultra-violence’ - the writing is so powerful to the extent it’s unnerving. Even Burgess himself said ‘I was sickened by my own excitement at setting it down.’ A few times when I felt that feeling creeping up on me I yelled NO, threw the book aside and watched cat videos on YouTube to calm down and get in touch with my softer side again…

I hate Alex but Burgess makes you feel for him. He is a murderer, yet he can be confident, charming and carries a passionate and unfaltering love for classical music (he also says eggiwegs not eggs - no one who says that can be truly bad...right?) Through this, Alex persuades the reader to view him as cultured, and while this does not eliminate his sins (as he says himself), it puts him above the ‘normal thug’ while the contrast between Alex’ love for art and violence make him undeniably thought-provoking. Hmm, what is it with psychopaths and classical music? NBC Hannibal I'm looking at you.

I hate that Alex’ character makes me feel as I described, so does that make me like the book? Definitely, as there are only a few books that have made me feel anything other extreme hatred for such an awful character. I have also noticed the common thread of people taking a small amount of pity on Alex (yay! I am not the only one nor do I have a killer within…er…I think…). Regardless to whether it is healthy to feel this or not, many internal challenging moral conflicts are presented in the charismatic yet awful character of Alex. Therefore, if you want a book that makes you ponder for weeks after finishing, this is the one! I mean how is it possible that when words are constructed in a certain pattern they make you feel exactly how you do not want, and know you shouldn't, feel? Oh no, I'm still debating it now…MAYBE IT’S PART OF THE BRAIN WASHING I’M DYING SEND HELP AND PEOPLE IN A WHITE VAN WITH A STRAIGHT JACKET.

All that said, part of me still thinks WHAT? Are all the crazy words and extreme ideas just trying to attract attention by being sensationalist? Maybe, though personally, I think the psychological elements make the reader question and think by harnessing the sensationalism. Therefore, when the two stand together they have the ability to send you totally mad…or should I say bezoomny...

Favourite quote:

"Oh it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh. The trombones crunched redgold under my bed, and behind my gulliver the trumpets three-wise silverflamed, and there by the door the timps rolling through my guts and out again crunched like candy thunder. Oh, it was wonder of wonders. And then, a bird of like rarest spun heavenmetal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now, came the violin solo above all the other strings, and those strings were like a cage of silk round my bed. Then flute and oboe bored, like worms of like platinum, into the thick thick toffee gold and silver. I was in such bliss, my brothers."

Overall view:

I know I have broken down different aspects of the novel, but it is more than just captivating characters, profound ideas and crazy words. When combined it is strangely poetic and hilarious, unnerving and charming, it flows like music and left me with a sense of unnerved awe. I think A Clockwork Orange is a bit of a Marmite, love it or hate it, book. Nonetheless, I would recommend it to anyone of a stable disposition (haha says me). Much stars. Very recommend. I think I’ll round it up here then with shlapas off to Burgess and a bolshy moloko plus toast too.

*drinks milk*