A Clockwork Orange

The motion picture A Clockwork Orange explores free will, morality, and the nature of evil.

I think the big mistake in schools is trying to teach children anything, and by using fear as the basic motivation. Fear of getting failing grades, fear of not staying with your class, etc. Interest can produce learning on a scale compared to fear as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker.
Stanley Kubrick

Foreword

The motion picture analyzed in this post may seem esoteric and unworthy of your and my precious time. However, like other Speaks essays, it will reveal messages in the film that will strike a “back to the future” chord.¹

The whole story content includes over-the-top violence and sexual themes. In this essay, I avoid using sexually explicit video clips. With my description of the plot and watching the short clips, you can get a complete sense of the movie in half an hour. For those who have already seen the movie, enjoy an entertaining rehash. Watching the full flick might give you a “Pain in the Gulliver.”

Introduction

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film directed by Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) and based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess (1917-1993). The film stars Malcolm McDowell as Alex, a charismatic and violent young man who leads a gang of thugs known as “Droogs” in a series of brutal crimes. The film is set in a dystopian future in England and explores themes of free will, morality, and the nature of evil.

The title A Clockwork Orange refers to the idea of a person under a control mechanism and forced to do good. It symbolizes the loss of free will and individuality. It is akin to an “orange” (a natural, organic entity) turned into a clockwork mechanism (artificial and controlled). This concept is central to the themes explored in the novel and film by Anthony Burgess.

A Clockwork Orange

The film begins with violent and disturbing scenes depicting Alex and his gang committing rape, assault, and murder. Despite his monstrous behavior, the plot shows Alex as a charismatic and likable character. Sound familiar?²

One of the strengths of A Clockwork Orange is the powerful performance by Malcolm McDowell as Alex. He captures the character’s intelligence and violent impulses. The plot makes it clear that Alex is not a simple villain but a complex and disturbed individual. The film’s cinematography, art direction, and music create a stylish and disturbing atmosphere.

The sexual and violent themes were extreme, especially in the 1970s. The film also deals with complex issues, including the nature of free will and the morality of “curing” someone of their violent tendencies. A Clockwork Orange raises the question of whether a person should be able to choose between evil or forced to do good. The film also touches on issues of government control. It challenges us to review the relationship between youth and authority and the consequences of violence.

Alex has a love for classical music but a penchant for ultraviolence. Things worsened with the arrest of Alex. He faces an experimental treatment meant to “cure” him of his violent tendencies. The therapy combines MK-Ulta drugging and Psychological Operations (Psy Ops). This treatment gives Alex a gag-like reflex when thinking about or looking at violence.

The film’s depiction of violence is also noteworthy, as it’s graphic and disturbing. The film’s brutal and violent scenes highlight the alarming nature of Alex’s actions. It also shows the dehumanizing effects of the government’s treatment he suffered.

The language spoken by the characters in the film is a blend of Russian and English words and a made-up slang called “Nadsat.” This fictional language was created by the author, Anthony Burgess, to add a unique aspect to the story and give insight into the characters’ culture.

The Plot

In an early outing of ultraviolence, the Droogs engage in a brawl with a competing gang in an abandoned theater. After “winning” that battle, the Droogs take a sports car on a wild ride and end up at a HOME for a “surprise visit.”

Next, the Droogs beak into the HOME of an influential writer. Besides paralyzing the writer, they rape his wife, who died because of the attack. Of note, as an essential element of the story, during this violent attack, Alex sang “Singing in the Rain.”

After “enjoying” the above disgusting outing, the Droogs go to a strange “Carova” bar for a nightcap. With the four Droogs settled in drinking white “Milk Plus,” a group of executives from a local T.V. station also enjoyed some drink. A lady from the T.V. group started to sing Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

One of Alex’s droogs belted an awful noise to cancel the singing. As a lover of Beethoven, Alex smacked the Droog with his walking stick and gave an apologetic look to the singer. After that, Alex’s fellow Droogs questioned his leadership role. Alex retaliated by injuring his Droogs during a skirmish.

In a half-mended relationship, the Droogs engage in another outing of ultraviolence. The Droogs set up Alex to murder a socialite at her mansion. Before the incident, the socialite heard some noise. As a cautionary measure, she called the police. The three Droogs remained outside the villa as guards, with Alex inside to commit the act. As Alex exits the mansion, his Droogs smash a glass bottle of milk across his face. With Alex blinded and fallen, the three Droogs escape. The police arrive and take Alex to the police station for “interrogation.”

Alex winds up in prison and works to be a model prisoner.

While in prison, Alex volunteered to enroll in an experimental rehabilitation program. Called the “Ludovico Technique,” this program would cure him of his violent tendencies by administering drugs and conditioning him. He would feel gag-like sickness at the thought of committing acts of violence. The “successful” treatment enabled Alex’s release back into society.

After release, Alex soon discovers that the rest of the community is not ready to accept him. He becomes a target for retaliation from his past victims. Alex goes to his parent’s flat. There, he finds out his room is rented to a chap who is “… more like a son” to his parents.

After rejection by his parents, Alex wandered the streets. He encountered two of the former Droogs, now police officers. They took Alex for “a walk” in the woods and water-torture him.

After the torture, Alex hobbled up to the HOME where the Droogs had raped the writer’s wife. The writer, now disabled, has a caretaker and had him carry Alex into the house. Dazed by the torture, Alex did not recognize the HOME. At first, the writer could not remember the visitor because Alex wore a mask during the initial attack. While bathing in a hot tub in the house, he sang the tune “Singing in the Rain.” The writer recognized the tune as the same melody Alex sang when he assaulted him and his wife.

Upon realizing the identity of Alex, the writer spiked wine to incapacitate his “guest.” Meanwhile, the writer called two influencers who came and interviewed Alex. The purpose of the interview was to get information to discredit government interventions. Alex described the intervention and the use of Beethoven as part of his therapy. He then passed out from the drugging.

The writer and influencers transferred Alex to the second-floor room of an estate. Locked in the room, in the act of revenge for the writer, the group played a loud projection of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Unable to withstand the torture, Alex jumped out of the second-floor room window and attained severe injuries.

Alex became a new “hero” for exposing the operation to reprogram him. A government minister visited Alex in the hospital to apologize. The minister offered special treatment (bribe) if Alex would forgive the government. Furthermore, as a “government representative,” the minister lets Alex know he is safe from the writer (the man whom Alex crippled and raped his wife). The poor, disabled man has been “put away” for writing “subversive literature.” The victim is the villain, and the perpetrator is the hero! Back to the future, indeed. Welcome to the New World disOrder.

In a twist of fate, as a symbol of appreciation for Alex’s cooperation, the hospital staff rolled in a cart with a Hi-Fi stereo and tremendous speakers. It played Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Movement IV - Ode to Joy. I was cured alright!

Click here to listen to the entire music score from A Clockwork Orange.

Analysis

A Clockwork Orange explores free will, morality, and the nature of evil. Alex is both a villain and a victim, as he is both the perpetrator and the victim of violence. The rehabilitation program raises questions about the ethics of mind control. It also questions the limits of punishment in pursuing rehabilitation. The film also explores the idea that society is as violent and corrupt as the individual criminals it seeks to reform. Sound familiar?

Several countries banned A Clockwork Orange due to its graphic violence and sexual themes. Despite this, it is a masterpiece of filmmaking and an essential work of social commentary. The film’s striking visuals and disturbing subject matter make it a powerful and unforgettable experience. Under Kubrick’s signature style, it has stood the test of time.

Reflection

Will the incarcerated J6 people get the same end-game treatment as Alex? Of course not, the government will never admit to its Stalinist deeds of trumped-up charges, show trials, solitary confinement, and torture. Furthermore, we must not forget the families of the J6 people who were slain by the establishment and those who committed suicide because of the unjust treatment they faced from the authorities.

Where are the “good liberals” who seek justice for J6 people incarcerated improperly and facing inhumane treatment? Get with the program, social justice warriors; you have the legacy of Democratic Socialists of America member Ed Asner (1929-2021) to emulate. Click here and here for additional insight into his advocacy to free cop killers. And my social justice friends, how about getting on board the Colin Kaepernick train? Like Asner, he calls for the release of convicted Philly cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal from prison.

Crickets.

Conclusion

A Clockwork Orange is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores complex themes. It features a powerful performance by Malcolm McDowell as Alex. The film’s striking visual style and use of music set the stage.

The film’s disturbing depiction of violence creates an unsettling and unforgettable viewing experience. Despite its controversial nature, A Clockwork Orange was a commercial and critical success, and it has since become a classic of modern cinema. It’s a must-watch for any film enthusiast interested in exploring the darker side of human nature and a dystopian future (today!). It also fosters discussion about the moral dilemmas of criminal behavior and correction. It shows us the problems that arise when society tries to control and manipulate individual behavior. 📕

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Additional Suggested Reading

• An in-depth analysis of the use of classical music in A Clockwork Orange ~ andante.com

• A Clockwork Orange ~ Anthony Burges Foundation

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1. Also, enjoy O.B.I.T. Overlord, The Outcast, and Logan’s Lesson

2. A particular character from just a couple of years ago conjures up images of Alex (e.g., the establishment’s secular sainthood of a criminal). For safety’s sake, only use your imagination.