Scan barcode
A review by books_n_bananas
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
3.0
Bizarre.
I still am confused by Burgess' choice to invent a new language for the protagonist based on an agist criteria. I just don't see how it added much to the overall point of the work except to keep the reader invested. Unfortunately, I haven't read anything else by Burgess so it's difficult for me to know whether this has more to do with writing style than the plot or point of the book.
Secondly, the characters are pretty damn difficult to identify with. I understand the thought process of these young characters being violent and angry in their youth, especially with the factor of an undisciplined family structure and unenforced school attendance policy of the entire society. The youth are in the power position of society so they're able to be foolishly violent and uncaring in relationship to others... and yet, it's just not realistic or relatable. However angsty we all become in our teen years, we still don't have the drive to rape, kill, maim, steal, and all the more-- enjoy it aaaaand on top of that, the entire society is made of up of these type of youth(s)? That's just not how we, as humans, operate.
At the same time, this young character is approximately 15 or 16 throughout the novel and yet doesn't seem to even be able to understand basic concepts and verbiage said to him by the police, doctors, or political groups. Again, he portrayed as a powerful young criminal and yet intelligence-wise, is a complete oaf.
Despite all this, the premise is still interesting and has an overarching philosophical theme-- that if one is forced to be good, and does not inherently choose to be good, is one actually a good person? It brings to light the ethics behind conditioning people to behave or be a certain way. We should all have the right to our choices and our freedoms.
Good ideas. Weird execution. Completely unrealistic characters.
I still am confused by Burgess' choice to invent a new language for the protagonist based on an agist criteria. I just don't see how it added much to the overall point of the work except to keep the reader invested. Unfortunately, I haven't read anything else by Burgess so it's difficult for me to know whether this has more to do with writing style than the plot or point of the book.
Secondly, the characters are pretty damn difficult to identify with. I understand the thought process of these young characters being violent and angry in their youth, especially with the factor of an undisciplined family structure and unenforced school attendance policy of the entire society. The youth are in the power position of society so they're able to be foolishly violent and uncaring in relationship to others... and yet, it's just not realistic or relatable. However angsty we all become in our teen years, we still don't have the drive to rape, kill, maim, steal, and all the more-- enjoy it aaaaand on top of that, the entire society is made of up of these type of youth(s)? That's just not how we, as humans, operate.
At the same time, this young character is approximately 15 or 16 throughout the novel and yet doesn't seem to even be able to understand basic concepts and verbiage said to him by the police, doctors, or political groups. Again, he portrayed as a powerful young criminal and yet intelligence-wise, is a complete oaf.
Despite all this, the premise is still interesting and has an overarching philosophical theme-- that if one is forced to be good, and does not inherently choose to be good, is one actually a good person? It brings to light the ethics behind conditioning people to behave or be a certain way. We should all have the right to our choices and our freedoms.
Good ideas. Weird execution. Completely unrealistic characters.