Free Will vs Determinism in A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony...

In Anthony Burgess’ 1962 dystopian novella, A Clockwork Orange, teenage gangs and hoodlums run rampid in a futuristic society, inflicting mayhem and brutality among its totalitarian governed state. Alex, our protagonist/anti-hero, is among the most infamous in this violent youth culture. A psychotic, yet devilishly intelligent boy of fifteen, our â€Å"humble narrator† beats up on old folk, rapes underaged girls, pillages, and leads his group of â€Å"droogs† (friends) on a chaotic path of â€Å"ultra-violence.† With this society of citizens completely oblivious to the acts of such culture, the government offers to step in with a solution. After being jailed for the most heinous crime of murder, Alex volunteers for a procedure - offered by the government†¦show more content†¦In turn, he uses this justification to senselessly beat a man up for simply not liking him. This could be supported by a quote from an article about the study of free will vs determinism, which states, â€Å"freedom to choose fits comfortably with the assumption that people deserve what they get† (Carey 133). Alex could agree that someone of his own violent nature deserves this moment, or that the man deserved the beating. However, in a critical essay by Rubin Rabinovitz, it is argued that this expression of â€Å"do what you want† attitude is just as mechanically determined. By dictating a lifestyle based around this preconceived mentality, Alex is already subjecting himself to a controlled fate by following this youth culture (Rabinovitz). â€Å"What’s it going to be then,† starts the 2nd part of the novella, focussing on Alex’s incarceration and eventual treatment (77). Here, he is given a choice to remain the same and rot in prison, or find a way to change himself to ensure his freedom. The irony in this decision is when he opts to the latter option, Alex is - unknowingly - surrendering his freedom for an even grea ter state of determinism. Enter the Ludovico Treatment - a process which forces Alex to view a series of films while strapped down, eyelids peeled open, as he’s given a special sedative. The films, consisting of violent