A Clockwork Orange

A detailed Summary of A Clockwork Orange


A Clockwork Orange is one of the most controversial movies ever made. The movie is based around a thug named Alex, a teenager, who finds happiness in about any perverse action. Alex, who seems to find glory in rape, lust, and murder, tells the story from his point of view.

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


The satire on conditioning is fairly clear-cut: we are shown that society is actually based on power and dissembling; it follows that a man conditioned to be "good" in all circumstances is continuously vulnerable.

Alex is questioned by the police and then accused of murder and sent to prison. During his stay in prison he acts like an upstanding member of society, helping at group liturgy and reading the Bible regularly. Because of this Alex is chosen to take part in an experimental rehabilitation called the "ludovico treatment".

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.

After some time he is tested to see if he will regress into his former self. He is tested by having different people perform acts such as violence unto Alex, hoping to enrage him. After each test is completed Alex is set free.

For the treatment Alex is strapped to a chair and forced to watch horrific scenes of rape, murder,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Clockwork Orange, Alex Alex's, alex alex's, clockwork orange, acts violence, alex confronted, night alex,

Approximate Word count = 714
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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