I have now finished the final pages of A Clockwork Orange. Having the novel split into three different sections gives a good standpoint on the novel. Each section seems to have a different theme and different literary attributes that add to the development of the novel. The entire novel is narrated by Alex, who is also the main character, and although his opinions and views drastically change throughout the book the reader’s opinions of Alex remain fairly steady.
In the last pages of the book, Alex was released after his treatment to find that he no longer had a home. He was also beaten by his old friends who were also a part of his gang. So much had changed in Alex’s life from the beginning of then novel to the end. He was being used as a toy to fight the government for what they had done to Alex. Alex did not want to be used as a pawn for these men so he jumped out of a window in an attempt to end his life but he did not prevail. The outcome of this jump did however cure him of his treatment. He could think of violence and the nasty things he used to do without feeling sick, which was the main reason for accepting treatment.
After the treatment had worn off he realized that he no longer wanted to commit ultra-violence like he used to. In the concluding section of this novel the reader’s witness Alex’s growth as he overcomes his youthful mischief. He didn’t need the government to fix him or other people to show him right from wrong. Alex realized on his own and decided to move forward with his life, this to me was the most important part of the book; it also made the biggest impression on me. This was stated in the last two paragraphs of the classic novel.
"Thats what it’s going to be then, brothers, as I come to the like end of this tale. You have been everywhere with your little droog Alex, suffering with him, and you have viddied some of the most grahnzy bratchnies old Bog ever made, all onto your old droog Alex. And all that it was that I was young. but now I end this story, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like groweth up, oh yes.” (pg. 141)
The beginning of this paragraph answers the most reoccurring question in the novel “What’s it going to be then, eh?” which comes up at the beginning of each section and several times throughout. This question is never fully answered until the end of the book. My interpretation of this question is “what is going to be next?” Alex didn’t know what to do with himself, or he didn’t know where he was going or what he was doing next. But finally he decides that he’s going to grow up because he can no longer lead a life of youthful violence. Alex doesn’t blame anybody but himself, he knew what he did wrong. Although his treatment wore off he is still capable of making a real and moral choice; he can still see the difference between good and bad. In the end he chooses the right path, the superior path.
He compares himself to great people in history that reached incredible feats at a young age for example Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn both whom composed music. Alex also compares himself to Arthur Rimbaud who wrote his greatest poetry in his teenage years. These comparisons lead Alex to the conclusion that it is time to grow up because if his idols did such amazing things at a young age he also is capable of great accomplishments. He is eighteen at this point, so he realizes that he can no longer accomplish anything in his teen years anymore, but he can however try to do something with the rest of his life.
The conflict in the ending section is interpersonal and intrapersonal. Alex fights against his new treatment and his sickness by trying to end his life. Conflict arises between Alex and the government as he blames the government for making him the way he is. There is also conflict between the people fighting alongside Alex and the government for using him as a bargaining tool. The third conflict that takes place is between Alex and his parents; he resents them for no longer allowing him a place to live.
Overall, this book has made quite an impression on me. It has certainly altered my perspective on several issues. I also think of the government in a slightly different way as well as institutions and society today.
In the last pages of the book, Alex was released after his treatment to find that he no longer had a home. He was also beaten by his old friends who were also a part of his gang. So much had changed in Alex’s life from the beginning of then novel to the end. He was being used as a toy to fight the government for what they had done to Alex. Alex did not want to be used as a pawn for these men so he jumped out of a window in an attempt to end his life but he did not prevail. The outcome of this jump did however cure him of his treatment. He could think of violence and the nasty things he used to do without feeling sick, which was the main reason for accepting treatment.
After the treatment had worn off he realized that he no longer wanted to commit ultra-violence like he used to. In the concluding section of this novel the reader’s witness Alex’s growth as he overcomes his youthful mischief. He didn’t need the government to fix him or other people to show him right from wrong. Alex realized on his own and decided to move forward with his life, this to me was the most important part of the book; it also made the biggest impression on me. This was stated in the last two paragraphs of the classic novel.
"Thats what it’s going to be then, brothers, as I come to the like end of this tale. You have been everywhere with your little droog Alex, suffering with him, and you have viddied some of the most grahnzy bratchnies old Bog ever made, all onto your old droog Alex. And all that it was that I was young. but now I end this story, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like groweth up, oh yes.” (pg. 141)
The beginning of this paragraph answers the most reoccurring question in the novel “What’s it going to be then, eh?” which comes up at the beginning of each section and several times throughout. This question is never fully answered until the end of the book. My interpretation of this question is “what is going to be next?” Alex didn’t know what to do with himself, or he didn’t know where he was going or what he was doing next. But finally he decides that he’s going to grow up because he can no longer lead a life of youthful violence. Alex doesn’t blame anybody but himself, he knew what he did wrong. Although his treatment wore off he is still capable of making a real and moral choice; he can still see the difference between good and bad. In the end he chooses the right path, the superior path.
He compares himself to great people in history that reached incredible feats at a young age for example Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn both whom composed music. Alex also compares himself to Arthur Rimbaud who wrote his greatest poetry in his teenage years. These comparisons lead Alex to the conclusion that it is time to grow up because if his idols did such amazing things at a young age he also is capable of great accomplishments. He is eighteen at this point, so he realizes that he can no longer accomplish anything in his teen years anymore, but he can however try to do something with the rest of his life.
The conflict in the ending section is interpersonal and intrapersonal. Alex fights against his new treatment and his sickness by trying to end his life. Conflict arises between Alex and the government as he blames the government for making him the way he is. There is also conflict between the people fighting alongside Alex and the government for using him as a bargaining tool. The third conflict that takes place is between Alex and his parents; he resents them for no longer allowing him a place to live.
Overall, this book has made quite an impression on me. It has certainly altered my perspective on several issues. I also think of the government in a slightly different way as well as institutions and society today.
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