A Clockwork Orange

The movie examines the usual cliches of "individual freedom". It seems as if Alex suffers from an attempt to exercise his own vitality within a social structure too severe to support it. The film is not only a social satire but also a "fairy tale of retribution" and a "psychological myth",(Kagan) all constructed around the truth of human nature.

Each night Alex and his companions commit stylized but meaningless acts of violence including rape, robbery, and mugging. One such night they find themselves out at a house far off in the country. The overly modernistic house has a sign lit in the front that says "home". The four boys slither to the front door where they act as if one of them is hurt. Once they are permitted to enter, Alex and his gang r

. . .

Alex is confronted with multiple situations from his past upon his release. He keeps a calm demeanor throughout the whole thing and denies all charges.

After some time he is tested to see if he will regress into his former self. They attempt to enter an older woman's house the same way they entered the previous night, the woman will not let them.

The next morning Alex is confronted by his probation officer because his officer thinks that he was involved in the previous night's wrongdoings. So Alex finds his way inside and once inside he struggles with the woman, who has already called the cops, and ends up clubbing her with an enormous phallic sculpture, killing her. The Milkbar is a place where spiked or laced drinks, called milk-plus, are served.

The basic paradox of the movie is free will, and the importance of a man's power to choose how he will act and what choices he wants to make; even if it is violence and destruction.

Alex is questioned by the police and then accused of murder and sent to prison. He is tested by having different people perform acts such as violence unto Alex, hoping to enrage him. He becomes the butt end of the events to close the movie, including: a hobo whom Alex beat up returns with his hobo friends to beat Alex up, Alex's own parents take in a renter at their house who kicks Alex out, Alex's droogs become policemen and turn on him, and finally the man who he left a cripple, at the beginning of the movie, tries to kill him like Alex killed his wife. Because of this Alex is chosen to take part in an experimental rehabilitation called the "ludovico treatment". When he goes back outside, his droogs turn against him and smash a milk bottle over his head, leaving him for the cops. ape the woman and leave the old man there a cripple. The constant viewing of the material makes him sick, and to even think about it makes him nauseated.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 714
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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