Author: Finnbhar Mclaren With relatively safe lives and a pre-planned, mundane life ahead of them, it’s no wonder the youth of Northern England strive to obtain individuality, and bring purpose to their existence. Dispossessed of a major matter of contention, the pre-tens of A Clockwork Orange entertain themselves through ruthless violence and theft. They’re unhindered by their parents, “there being this law for everybody not a child nor with child nor ill to go out rabbiting,” (pg.28) which keeps them out of the house most of the day. Reform and consequence for their “ultra-violent” (pg.3) acts, such as “corrective school” (pg.29) or “the barry place,” (pg.30) create an even greater sense of individuality, and encourage delinquent activity. It also leads to a resentment of authority, which is apparent in Alex’s hate for his post-correctional officer, who he calls a “real gloopy mess,” or his continue fleeing from the millicents. In a totalitarian society, resentment for authority does not work. Ultimately, the delinquents of A Clockwork Orange want to lead a life other than the mundane existence their totalitarian government offers them.
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Author: Harris Powell Children do not just suddenly become disobedient, they grow to question society and the laws around them as they come of age, but if they don’t agree with the society around them, horrors will arise. In the novel Alex clearly doesn’t agree with the fact that when he grows up, he will be stuck at the same job for the rest of his life, without choice. Alex sees that if he wants to have fun, he needs to do it while he can. He skips school, kills some people and rapes women all for the fun of it. He makes his own gang so that he can do all of these horrible deeds with his buddies and so he can have backup for when others try to kill him. The gang is his on family, not being tied by blood, it is a group that he can rely on and be comfortable around. For most kids in our own world, they too need a family or a family like connection to others. This is the main reason for there being gangs. Without the social connection to others, individuals become desperate for this connection and can often find this in gangs. Gangs provide a place where people can feel like they belong and where they can be themselves, despite their usual horrible doings. Both Alex and other teenagers around the world strive for a family that they can belong in but find it in gangs. Author: Mac MacLaren “What I do I do because I like to do" (Ch. 4 P. 31). Alex, an infamous gang leader, only 15 years old, finds joy in the atrocities he and his “droogs” commit. However, enjoyment is not the sole reason one would join a gang. There are a multitude of risk factors that contribute to gang involvement. A recent advancement project by drugfree.org identified six risk factors that may result in gang participation: not enough jobs for youth, poverty, domestic violence, minimal parental guidance, negative friend groups and an absence in school attachment. Although these risk factors are for modern urban environments, many remain true even in the dystopian future of “A Clockwork Orange." Alex finds himself committing violent offences each day such as assault, rape, and murder. When he’s supposed to be attending school, he is out breaking the law which exemplifies a lack of attachment towards a formal education. In addition, without supervision from his parents, he is virtually unchecked as he commits “lashings of the ultra-violent” (Ch. 2 P. 17). Alex is unsupervised, uninspired, and dangerous. These factors, including the joy he finds in hurting others, results in his involvement in gangs. |
AuthorsMac MacLaren, Harris Powell and Finnbhar McLaren More blog posts are being written... |