Anthony Burgess and Flannery O’ Connor: The Beauty of Evil and Its Purpose

The Beauty of Evil and Its Purpose

The essence of evil is a prominent force that is present in human nature so strongly, it controls the ways many choose to act. The sole idea of evil is one that most people feel afraid of, or something that they feel inclined to stay away from. However, most people do not pay attention to the ways in which evil is a necessity, one which balances itself out with the essence of goodness. While violence may be an idea that is for the most part frowned upon, it can be a power that helps to bring consciousness to the flaws that society would face if evil were to be completely nonexistent. Anthony Burgess and Flannery O’ Connor both utilize the idea that evil is a necessary fragment of human nature, as is goodness, by creating characters whose wickedness is needed in order for there to be a proper balance to the world.

In many cases, the evil acts one may commit cannot be explained by the person who commits them or by anyone else. Sometimes there is a compulsion to be violent and those who give into the impulses they feel are then free to act out as they please. In the novel A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, Alex is a character who most would consider to be a dreadful and unlikable person due to the constant evil deeds he feels the urge to commit. His acts of violence seem mostly unwarranted, as he simply breaks into homes and beats random people, even a homeless man. The beauty behind his violent actions is the fact that they were all done by choice, something that all other people seem to not have. After having the Ludovico’s Technique get rid of his tendencies for evil, he becomes almost sub-human like the rest of the society. He says, “But the not-self cannot have the bad, meanin...

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...resent in today’s society and provides a meaningful purpose.

The entire idea of evilness is a force that cannot be taken away from the nature of humans, it is a part of who we are and helps to define us. It is generally something that most will try to avoid due to the nature of it, but it has been ingrained into society in a way that helps to balance its functionality. It is not a power that is to be ignored or destroyed, but one that is looked at as a form of individuality that helps to call out the reality of a society in which evil is nonexistent. Anthony Burgess and Flannery O’Connor both utilize the theme of the necessity of evil by creating and using characters whose evil acts were necessary in order for them to display the unrealistic idea of having a perfect society or being the perfect person, bringing a powerful balance to their respective societies.