Valentina Gomez

Written Task 2
English HL

Assignment on A Clockwork
Orange- By Anthony Burgess

How could the text be read and interpreted differently

by two different readers?
OUTLINE
The prescribed question: How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different
readers?
The title of the text for analysis: A Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess
Key Points: AUDIENCE: 1960’s vs 2016
1. Violent (Vandalism, rape, ultra violence) and cultural themes (conflict with the state, criminals
and capital punishment, redemption) were more morally abhorred in the 1960’s than in modern
times.
2. Nadsat had different receptions by American and Russian audiences when it was published
during the Cold War.
3. Psicological determinism was rejected in the 1960’s following BF Skinner theories.
4. The authors manipulation of the reader through the narration.
5. How can Alex’s different personalities be interpreted differently.

OFFICIAL OUTLINE:
1. How can Alex’s different personalities be interpreted differently.
2. Divided opinions by political perception.
3. How Violent (Vandalism, rape, ultra violence) and cultural themes (conflict with the state,
criminals and capital punishment, redemption) may be perceived as comical.
QUOTATIONS:
• ‘“Whoever you are God help you, you poor victim, come in and lets have a look at you” So i like staggered
in, and it was no big act i was putting on, brothers, i really felt done and finished” pg 372, Ebook edition.
• “Please help, I've been beaten by the police up by the police and just left to die on the road. Oh, please
give me a drink of something and sit by the fire, please sir” pg 371. Ebook edition.
• “A victim of the modern age” pg 324
• “I must not let on, though, for i need help and kindness now” 373
• “I felt sorry for the poor malchick who was gavotting about his sufferings and how the Government had
sapped his will, just like they did to me and how it was up to all lewdies not let such a rotten evil
Government rule them again” pg 393
• “Boy victim of criminal reform scheme and government as murderer” pg 417
• ‘“Shut your dirty big fat hole, you” feeling sick. Then i tried to be all reasonable and smiling for my healths
stake’ pg 335
• “And then my brothers, believe me or kiss my shares, I started to like cry, feeling very sorry for myself” pf
337
• “It is as inhuman to be totally good as it is to be totally evil.” pg 101.
 Valentina Gomez
Written Task 2
English HL
Two different interpretations of A Clockwork Orange
“It's funny how the colours of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on a
screen.”- A Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess 1

Perception is a fragile concept. When a novel as complex as A Clockwork Orange is analysed, we

can extract multiple ideas , moreover it's up to the reader to interpret the text according to their
own awareness. Firstly the novel publication in the 1960's during the cold war, allowed readers to
react differently than modern 2016 society, where innovation is ordinary. Besides, Burgess's anti-
hero Alex, allows the exploration of violence and psychology along with the idea of redemption that
give's the novel a whole new meaning of society's current acceptance.

Firstly the distinctions between the 1960's and 2016 lies with the public's opinion. During the cold
war, Government recent manipulations along the strong desire for peace caused public opinion
and trust to decline. Also it was the era of civil rights where change was contradictory to the State
making readers in those time gullible to the themes the novel portrays, inclining the general view of
Alex as a victim of Government's schemes. On the other hand, although open mindedness is a
trend in 2016's, people are fervent about order to control society, causing the violent themes to
shock and ultimately to be more bias declaring Alex a criminal for his bad deeds.

Above all, Alex's creates an illusion to the reader between a criminal or a victim personas. Both
modern and 1960's initially perceived Alex as an anti-hero, as public rejects crime. Nevertheless
it's much forward in the novel where Alex's tricks alters the readers perception. Phrases in the
novel plants doubt in the reader which sways its negative opinion; "It is as inhuman to be totally
good as it is to be totally evil."2 or when Alex describes himself as "your humble reader" with
potential effects on the most caring reader and the latter to create outrage for his deceit attempts.
However the narrator directs to the audience as "Oh my brothers" and thus presenting Alex as
charismatic but conservative people may find the term derogatory while others would praise the
casual writing. On the other hand Burgess leaves clues to Alex's true intentions; "I must not let on,
though, for i need help and kindness now".3 Or when its expressed several times that he
manipulates his family out of commodity but contrary to this interpretation, his family didn't show
any emotion whatsoever towards Alex which could is a psychology excuse for Alex as victimiser,
after all it appears he didn't receive much love growing up.

1 Pg 38 Ebook Edition

2 Pg 101 Ebook Edition

3 Pg 373 Ebook Edition

 Valentina Gomez
Written Task 2
English HL
Moreover he is a victim of the state after participating in the illegal psychological program; "Boy
victim of criminal reform scheme and Government as murderer"4 (Alex reads the newspaper).
People related to be puppeteers of the state, would outright relate to Alex's feelings. Also in the
1960's numerous great advances in psychology were possible by the experiments Alex was
subjected to, where consciousness on patients treatment was not a priority. On the other hand
there's the perception of him as a  murderer and praise for the Government to attempt changing
this type of people in order for them to be apt for society. Also there's Alex's issue with the police;
"please help, I've been beaten up by the police and just left to die on the road. Oh, please give me
a drink of something and sit by the fire, please sir"5. In the novel's society police brutality is
common, and frowned upon hence people helping Alex. Decades ago people were discreet,
considering the police infamous approaches to civilians, while in 2016 the force corps tread
carefully with criminals and such. Thirdly there's the difference of opinions in Alex's situation; one
will offer assistance while the other would close the door in his face.

In the novel ultra violence, conflict with the state, and criminal themes are heavily portrayed. Those
that share Alex's passions for violence, classical music and isolation could connect with his
philosophy of life while a person deemed alright by society would see Alex as a threat. Firstly Alex
avoids submission and thus his rocky relationship with the state that serves as a satire of "odd"
people. "I felt sorry for the poor malchick who was gavotting about his sufferings and how the
Government had sapped his will, just like they did to me and how it was up to all lewdies not let
such a rotten evil Government rule them again"6 . Some are surprised by Alex showing emotion
towards someone else while others concentrate on the state's victim situation with a touch of
humour. The novel's language perception in occasion as humorous; '"Shut your dirty big fat hole,
you"7 or Nadsat word like volosh or grassy or situations where Alex acts comically; when he makes
fun of crying by screaming "boohoo,boohoohoo" to his parents. This key points allow stress relief
from the heavier themes manipulating the way readers perceive the subjects especially when Alex
is committing a violent crime where Nadsat makes it difficult to understand.

In conclusion A Clockwork Orange perception differs depending on the society the reader currently
lives on. Some interpretations resemble the political stances or moral grounds while others are
manipulated by Burgess or by Alex himself. After all the author wanted for each reader to have a
unique experience, creating your own definition of goodness while reading his novel and avoid
being “a victim of the modern age”.

4 Pg 417 Ebook Edition

5 Pg 371 Ebook Edition

6 Pg 393 Ebook Edition

7 Pg 335 Ebook Edition

Valentina Gomez
Written Task 2
English HL
Valentina Gomez
Written Task 2
English HL