A Clockwork Orange is one of those books that I have been told is an 'essential' read for any teenager – and after reading it myself, I found that I completely agree with the general consensus.
Alex, the fifteen year old narrator, has an odd manner of speaking, and the use of "nadsat" (teenage slang) made the book extremely memorable. The language becomes a way for Alex to mark himself out from others, and creates a stark contrast between the different speech and mind-set of adults and Alex and his "droogs" (friends). There are some very violent descriptions of Alex's crimes, but originally I felt oddly detached from the atrocities being committed, as I was concentrating more on deciphering the language. However, as I gradually stopped having to focus on translating the words, the details of "krovvy" (blood) being spilt became more sickening and extreme.
I do warn anyone who is sensitive about violence against reading A Clockwork Orange due to its graphic nature. Although, having said that, I am somewhat squeamish myself and found it bearable, so anyone over the age of 14 or 15 would most likely be able to deal with it. What I thought was particularly disturbing about the violence was not the description, but the apathetic view of Alex and his friends towards it, including their lack of respect even for the age of their victims. Furthermore, it was unsettling to read of how their actions simply came from that common feeling of teenage boredom.
The most powerful issue in the book, for me, was the "Ludovico" technique imposed by the government to brainwash Alex into being a model citizen, physically sickened even by the thought of criminality. This effectively denies Alex the ability to be a 'moral agent' and freely choose between right and wrong. Thus Burgess opens the debate of freedom versus enforced obedience and 'goodness' as being the best for society. While A Clockwork Orange is extremely engaging in its description of Alex's journey towards adulthood, it also leaves the reader thinking of a number of important questions. These include the rights of a government to interfere with the individuality of its citizens for the 'greater good', and whether morality is intrinsic or can be taught.
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