by Bridget N. Watts

Created on: January 25, 2010

A Clockwork Orange is a 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess that you might know better from the 1971 film adaptation by the same name. I read this book a few years ago and even though it wasn't really my kind of topic, I have to say it was really well written and tells a captivating story. Let me tell you what it's about.

The story takes place in a futuristic society where citizens are governed by a totalitarian super state and are totally blind to the violent youth culture that is getting more and more out of control. The novel consists of three different parts; Part 1 is entitled Alex’s World. We meet Alex, a 15-year-old boy who is the leader of a gang that roams the streets at night committing a variety of violent crimes just for the hell of it.

The crimes they commit include the usual gang fights and robberies, as well as the beating up of total strangers. They are also capable of my more horrible crimes like rape, and at one point they even rape two 10-year-old girls. Needless to say, things start getting more and more out of hand until Alex ends up going to prison for murder.

Part 2 of the novel is called the Ludovico Technique and describes Alex’s time in prison. He becomes a volunteer subject in a new experimental rehabilitation program called the Ludovico technique, which is a form of aversion therapy to get rid of someone’s violent urges.

Alex is given a drug while being forced to watch violent movies over the course of a few weeks. The drug is supposed to make him feel nauseous, so that from now on in his mind violence will be linked to feeling sick. This is supposed to make Alex stop being a threat to society. After passing several tests that show that he is no longer capable of giving into his violent urges or any other bad impulses, he is released from prison.  

In the third and final part of the novel named After Prison we follow Alex’s life after he is released from prison. Not surprisingly, every single one of his former victims is out for revenge, especially once they find out Alex is no longer capable of defending himself. Even his former gang buddies do not hesitate to beat the crap out of him.

He also falls victim to the husband whose wife he once raped. Feeling helpless and desperate, Alex ends up attempting to commit suicide by throwing himself out of the window. However, he is unsuccessful as he survives the fall.

Needless to say, this novel doesn't tell a very light story and it might not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you have a strong stomach and are interested in this kind of subject matter, it might be well worth a read.

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