Introduction
A Clockwork Orange is a controversial film brought to the screen by Stanley Kubrick in 1971, based on Anthony Burgess’s eponymous novel. One of the apparent movie conflicts that can be observed is between the values of individual choice and society’s need for control, or, in simpler words, between an individual and a state. Alex, as the main protagonist of the film, is a proponent of the concept of ‘free will’; he behaves in accordance with his desires (Kubrick, 1971). Usually, he and his gang, the Droogs, commit different crimes under the influence of drugs: they rape women, fight, steal, and so on, motivated by pure joy. Being betrayed by his friends, Alex finds himself in detention, sentenced to fourteen years in prison, where he experiences Ludovico’s Technique. It leads to a fundamental shift in Alex’s perception of violence, and from now on, he cannot endure any images or even thoughts connected with violence. However, after attempting suicide because of Mr. Alexander’s revenge – one of the men he earlier assaulted – the society mobilizes against the government, blaming its experiments. Hence, doctors returned Alex to his normal condition.
A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick
The conflict between freedom of choice and order in society threads through the entire narrative, culminating in the detracting of Alex’s free will and replacing it with the prescribed good behavior. It leads to the complete loss of the character’s self-awareness, which is a usual phenomenon in prisons. According to Whetten & Cameron (2015), in communist prison camps during the Korean War, a prisoner was forced to change his identity, including beliefs and behavior, in order to avoid both physical and psychological destruction. In the provided case, it was achieved with the help of co-prisoners, who acted in a way to produce social alienation to make others feel that reevaluation is the only choice (Whetten & Cameron, 2015). In A Clockwork Orange, such a redefinition is achieved through direct methods, Ludovico’s Technique. Still, the essence is the same: the initial Alex’s values – violence, sex, or even Beethoven’s ninth symphony – are replaced with government-friendly ones that contribute to a more ordered society. Although indeed becoming less violent, he also becomes less human. Thus, the positive actions that he can perform are already not his real choice but his programmed behavior.
Other characters take their sides as well. For instance, Mr. Alexander supports the freedom of choice in its pure form and argues for the protection of individual liberty. At the same time, he drives Alex to suicide, not thinking about his life and freedom. Another character on this side is the prison chaplain. Although he is straightforward in his position in favor of the individual choices, he seems to be too naïve with the ignorance of its negative outcomes. For example, even the destructive Alex’s behavior is not perceived as something wrong. On the other hand, the minister of interior encourages order as the main priority of the government. Therefore, individual liberty, from his point of view, is rather negligible in comparison with the prosperity of the whole society. However, he is also not perfect in his motifs, as his misuse of power – for instance, the imprisonment of political opponents –contributes not to the order but to his own benefit.
Another concept that can be applied to this conflict is the concept of power. The most used influence strategy of the government in the movie is retribution: forcing others to behave accordingly to one’s will with the help of coercion and intimidation (Whetten & Cameron, 2015). Such a tendency usually implies overlooking not only the rights and freedoms of the citizens but also their needs. Thus, the seemingly defensive actions of the interior minister do not mean that he cares about his people or behaves according to some principles. He orders to conduct experiments on people for the sake of security. However, after the adverse reaction of society, he immediately changes his position and uses Alex for his purposes. The power of the minister in A Clockwork Orange stems not from the personal and charismatic features but their position in the government. Therefore, a common consequence of such performance is resentment, which can be observed in the behavior of Mr. Alexander and other members of the opposition party.
Conclusion
To conclude, A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick demonstrates one of the thorniest issues of these times – the confrontation of the governmentally imposed order with the freedom of individual choice. The characters of the film experience different situations which reveal their true positions. Several concepts can be applied to this conflict, including the loss of Alex’s self-awareness as a result of the experiment. Although he becomes less violent and less dangerous for society, it is not his choice and free will, which were the base of Alex’s identity. Another concept connected with conflict is the perception of the government’s power. It is based on the retribution influence strategy as it makes citizens behave appropriately under pressure. Hence, the movie demonstrates the different issues presented in society, which conceal even more profound problems.
References
Kubrick, S. (1971). A Clockwork Orange [Film]. Warner Bros.
Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2015). Developing Management Skills (9th ed.). Pearson.