Review: A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn't care for this book; however, I cannot deny that it has merit. The language in the book takes some getting used to, as it is written in a very strange slang. I almost gave up after the first few chapters as I wasn't sure I was going to be able to even understand it, but once I got used to the narrator's language, I was able to get the gist and finish the book.

Alex, the main character and narrator, is an awful person who revels in violence. The book, itself, is full of long descriptions of violent acts perpetrated by Alex and his friends. As a dystopian novel, it seems to me to be a commentary on the government and the idea of free will. Alex, who's free will seems to be bent towards destruction, routinely seeks out acts of violence which he finds exciting. He continues to engage in these acts until he is finally caught after murdering an old woman and sent to prison. The government then attempts to cure Alex of his violence by brainwashing him and essentially removing his free will by causing him to become sick whenever he thinks about committing an act of violence. This eventually leads Alex to attempt to kill himself, presumably because a life without free will isn't a life worth living. Alex doesn't die but the injuries from his suicide attempt reverse the effects of the government's brainwashing and Alex once again returns to a life of crime and violence. Until one day, when Alex wakes up and realizes that the violence no longer causes the excitement it once did. He has in essence, gotten too old to act that way.

Alex is not a redeemable character. He doesn't stop his violent ways out of remorse, but rather because he feels like he is too old to engage in these violent acts and they no longer bring him the sense of excitement that they once did. While I fully believe that the government needs to set rules for society, I do not agree that the government should be brainwashing people and taking away their free will, even if it means preventing violence. Our free will is what makes us human and separates us from other animals who are ruled by instinct. However, I will never understand the need to be violent just to be violent. I was not excited like Alex was when reading about his heinous crimes, I was horrified, even more so when he expressed no hesitation or remorse.

I think Burgess is an intriguing writer and the book has literary merit, but it's not a book that I want to read over and over. I'm glad I read it and I found it interesting but twisted, but it won't go down on my lists of must-reads or favorite titles.

2016 Reading Challenge: A satirical book

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