A Clockwork Orange Free Will Essay

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Influenced by the dissension of protests in the 1960s as well as the Cold War, Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange presents a startling, gritty dystopian world. In this satire, Burgess emphasizes the duality of human nature and the notion of “free will” through the actions of his apathetic, cruel protagonist, Alex. Throughout A Clockwork Orange, Burgess stresses the importance of free will. With the use of repetition, this sentence, “What’s it going to be eh?” is uttered at the beginning of each part of the book, demonstrating Alex’s control and at times lack thereof over his choices (3; 75; 129). In the first chapter of part one, Alex governs his actions. He and his droogs (gang) have planned another night of debauchery. Then, in part two, that sentence is directed at him while he is incarcerated, establishing his lack of restraint. Alex is unable to assert himself and is forced under the will of the government. Lastly, in part three of the novel, Alex repeats this sentence echoing …show more content…

This highlights another theme in this novel: the duality of wickedness and goodness with in human nature. When his probation officer, P.R. Deltoid, visits Alex, Deltoid laments over Alex’s unruly behavior. He, as well as others in society, do not fully understand why Alex commits these heinous crimes because he was raised in a good environment. Alex argues that if people enjoy being good, than in contrast, people also should be able to enjoy their own wickedness: “But, brothers, this biting of their toe-nails over what is the cause of badness is what turns me into a fine laughing malchick. They don’t go into what is the cause of goodness, so why of the other shop? If lewdies are good that’s because they like it, and I wouldn’t interfere with their pleasures, and so of the other shop.”

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