A Clockwork Review

So, what's it gonna be then?

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I finally made the time to pick up the critically acclaimed- and highly controversial- 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess. This book has been on my 'to-read list' for too long. Not only are dystopian narratives my favourite genre, but for the most part, I try to read a book before watching any film adaptations and as most people know Stanley Kubrick's infamously banned take on the book is a classic of pushing the boundaries filmography. But enough about films, let's get back to the book; thought-provoking and engaging with a witty, if morally bleak, narrator it's not hard to see how Anthony Burgess' book became so iconic.

A Clockwork Orange tells the story of Alex, a teenager in a dystopian world of ‘ultra-violence’. After revelling in the violence and illegal activities of his gang, Alex is betrayed, handed to the state and cured of his violent ways through psychological conditioning.  The story asks if, even in a violent and unjust society, is social conditioning ever justified? In the words of the characters, is a man without choice still a man?

The book is a must for any avid readers of dystopian fiction with a large portion dedicated to thorough world-building. Through the eyes of Alex, 'the most humble narrator', Burgess builds a cityscape plagued with violent gangs. Although there is a subtle backdrop of a moon colony, the city itself is nondescript and while I would argue it could be America, other critics refer to several different cities such as London, Prague or Berlin, or just leave it as an unnamed city. Coupled with no mention of strange or futuristic technology, apart from the moon colony, the dark streets are not a long stretch for any readers imagination.

Burgess, while not diving too deeply into most characters, gives just enough to create fleshed out humans with flaws and motivations. Alex, the protagonist anti-hero, controls the story as the main narrator. While he mainly focuses on himself his descriptions of others, while sometimes vague or biased, give enough detail to make strong impressions. As a troubled, probably sociopathic teen with a keen brain and a love of classical music, 'Our Humbled Narrator', as he calls himself, sticks out from the rest of cut-throat, violent teenagers. Alex, however, puts the audience in an interesting position. Despite his horrific acts, his honest narration opens himself up as a more complex character. Just like in Nabokov's Lolita, the reader is put in a position where, even if they don't agree with what the character has done, they cannot ignore the character as a whole. It would be interesting to see how other people feel about Alex by the end. While I cannot condone his actions I found him an enjoyable narrator but unsure on if he has paid his dues.

One viddy at the book highlights probably its biggest hurdle, the language. Burgess uses a combination of English and Russian to create an unusual slang. Unlike the restricted Newspeak of 1984, Nadsat is the language of the young. It signifies and shrouds the ultra-violence. Luckily, my copy of the book came with a handy glossary, although you can find plenty online if necessary. My only advice would be perseverance and longer reading sessions. This is not one of the books you can pick up and put down easily (although the shorter chapters are useful if you're a person that wants a book handy everywhere). But the more you read, and the longer you read for, the more familiar the Nadsat becomes. I can see how this could put people off, however, underneath the coarse and confusing language this unique writing style helps highlight some of the main themes of the book.

One of these themes, however, also provides some issue. The 'ultra-violence' depicted in the book is highly graphic and played off by the sociopathic protagonist as inconsequential (although this is later shown not to be the case). Books are often a better medium platform for addressing these issues, as the power is with the reader and their imaginations. The graphic violence is what lead Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation to be pulled from UK cinemas. However, I can understand why it may still be distressing to some readers, and therefore be warned. It does appear, however, to be important to both the world building, and Alex's character development (This is specifically the case with his attitude towards women). While the violence peters out towards the end, Burgess shocks us all by starting with some very brutal scenes of violence and rape. I would not condemn the book for this but would feel it relevant to mention to any readers not expecting such scenes.

For me, though, it is the plot which holds the most significance. Despite being written over 50 years ago, the fear of both crime and government control are still just as strong. Time and time again gang violence and prison overcrowding make the news. At first, Burgess appears to offer a viable and effective solution to such problems with the Ludovico method; a simple act of reconditioning that removes the urge to commit violence and thereby reducing reoffending rates. As the audience wonders if such a thing is possible, Burgess is able to subvert any expectations by looking at any potential repercussions to such a therapy. The debate then becomes one of government control or personal freedom. While Alex never becomes a sympathetic figure, the reader is left questioning how to feel about the once violent, now victimized narrator and reflect on our own society. In the same strain, it also hits on the free speech debate. As hate speech and rallies seem to be on the rise, the backlash has been to immediately shut down. Political correction has been restricting people's speech in the same way the Ludovico restricts people's actions. Just as in this book, the choice to act as one pleases is held sacred, we too must learn that imposing restrictions does not address any of the issues causing the behaviour, or speech in the first place. While the book provides a hopeful end for Alex, depending on your view of him, it does not attempt to answer any questions. They are for us to answer alone.

Overall, this book asks some very interesting questions of ourselves and our society. Alex labels the violence as cyclical, inevitably passed down from father to son. Burgess provides no answers to how we break this circle and we are left, by the end of the book, reflecting ourselves. Especially in these times, I think this is important that we take a look in the mirror every so often.
However, if you're not like me and do not read books to challenge your thinking but instead to enjoy the story, this dystopian fiction has an engaging narrator and a subversive plot all contained in a manageable sized book. It's definitely part of the collection for any fans of the genre.

Book: A Clockwork Orange- Anthony Burgess

Thought Provoking? - 4 / 5

Enjoyable? - 4 / 5

Easy to Read- 2 / 5 

Overall Rating- 3.5 / 5

Would I read this again? - Yes