An examination of how effectively the theme of violence is illustrated through the development of the protagonist Alex.
In Anthony Burgess highly controversial novel 'A Clockwork Orange' the theme of violence is portrayed through the development of the protagonist Alex to capture the reader’s interest. 'A Clockwork Orange' is set in a disturbing future created by the author. The story follows the life of the troubled boy Alex and his development into adulthood.
At the start of the novel Alex is a very disturbed character. Alex and his ‘droogs’ see a sport in rape, theft and violence. An example of this is when Alex enjoys using an extravagant weapon relating to his bizarre use of language; using the word "tolchocked" instead of punched.
"Well, then she had to be tolchocked proper with one of the weights for the scales, and then a fair tap with a crowbar they had for opening cases, and that brought the red out like an old friend."
The "red" he is referring to is the woman's blood and he appears glad to see it. The use of the simile "like an old friend" reinforces this as it suggests the idea that he has some fascination with blood and loves to make people bleed just so he can see it. It also stresses that it’s not the first time he has seen it and he has developed a strong relationship with it. There are further references to blood as his friend;
"...then out comes the blood, my brothers, real beautiful"
This amplifies his love for making people bleed which illustrates how much of a perturbed individual he is. The lustful tone gives Alex a maniac-like quality which is evident throughout. The only explanation for his violent manner is that he enjoys the experience of it. He finds violence without meaning, disgusting and is angered when his friends commit acts which are uncharacteristic. This is his way of finding a moral excuse for the brutal acts which he commits. The reader holds no sympathy for Alex during this part of the novel as he commits unprecedented attacks even though he feels they have a purpose.
Being the leader of the gang, Alex holds a certain authority over his friends which he has to hold by going the extra step in their violent acts. He is the person to decide whether they beat someone; or where they will go to look for trouble.
"I eased up and put the brake on, the other three were giggling like bezoomy...I got out of the auto, ordering my droogs to shush their giggles and act like serious,"
This demonstrates how serious Alex takes these matters and underlines that he is the most mature of the four boys, although it is in a perverse way. The use of the word "ordering" reinforces his natural leadership qualities and the authoritative tone stresses his directive aspects. Alex enjoys having the last blow in a fight or being against the leader of another gang. This shows his authority as he will finish off the person and will be remembered for what he did. He delights in fighting Billyboy who is the leader of the rival gang.
"It was stinking fat Billyboy I wanted now, and there I was dancing around with my britva like I might be a barber on board a shop on a very rough sea...it was real satisfaction to me to waltz - left two three, right two three - and carve left cheeky and right cheeky, so that like two curtains of blood seemed to pour out at the same time"
This powerful image expresses how mad and inclined to be a megalomaniac Alex is, that he has to be the leader. "it was real satisfaction" reveals how much he enjoys attacking the controller of the other gang. The bizarre waltz he participates in conveys his sense of artistic pride and again shows he believes violence is and art form. His fascination with blood is again expressed here as he is ecstatic at the image "curtains of blood". It is used effectively as the curtains are coming down his face which conveys the idea that it is the end and Alex has won.
The key incident which halted Alex's feats was when he was caught by the police killing a lady.
Alex is sentenced to fourteen years in prison for his crime but only completes two. In prison, Alex is subjected to advances from homosexuals and attacks from brutal wardens. This marks a change in his character as now he is the victim of violence.
"being in this grahzny hellhole and like human zoo for two years, being kicked and tolchocked by brutal bully warders and meeting vonny like criminals, some of them real perverts and ready to dribble all over a luscious malchick like your story-teller."
The use of the phrase “human zoo” conveys the idea that the prison is more of an asylum as people are being treated like animals. “hellhole” adds to this as it gives it demonic-like qualities. Alex seeks refuge in the prison chapel where he confines in the bible. He enjoys reading about the sex and violence of the old testament but finds the new testament boring. The prison chaplain enjoys Alex's company and lets him pick the music for the services. After two years Alex is given the chance to be free in return for being the first subject for the Ludovico Technique. This will involve him being brain-washed so he can no longer commit any acts of violence, rape or theft. Alex appears more obedient at this point as he is prepared to go along with anything that will get him out. The reader is suspicious at this point at to why the technique is practised on a boy instead of a more suitable, adaptive subject.
The process is successful and Alex can no longer even think of doing anything wrong or he will be sick. The reader feels sympathy towards Alex at this point as he is totally out of control of his actions which is a thought that the reader can relate to as being very uncomfortable. Alex is now very vulnerable and suffers an attack from a group of old men.
"He and his friends beat me and kicked me and thumped me. They stripped me and tore out my teeth. They laughed at my blood and my moans. They kicked me off home, dazed and naked."
This allows the reader to see Alex and his reactions at the receiving end of violence and we can see he is very unhappy about it. We sympathise with Alex here as he realises he has down wrong in the past and wants to take it all back and become a better person. At the end of the book when Alex has been cured and has grown-up, he wishes to settle down like a normal person who is no longer fuelled by violence or any other aspect of his previous brutal persona.
"And all it was was that I was young. But not now as I end this story, brothers, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like groweth up, oh yes."
To conclude, through the development of Alex's character where he has been both a victim of it, and the cause of it, the writer has maintained a persistent theme of violence. This is portrayed effectively through Alex, as the reader experience's feelings of disgust then sympathy for him. Justice has been reached in the end - although at a hard price - to show the writer believes in forgiveness and that people can change. Alex has been a perfect example of this.
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