Is Alex a Clockwork Orange himself or is he the anti-hero because he's not a clockwork orange?

Question

The idea behind a "clockwork orange" is that they are organisms seemingly filled with color and juice, however they are merely toys of god or the devil to be wound up. I'm referring to the book more so than the movie with this question.

Answer 1

You miss the point - clockwork and orange are two different things. Clockwork is mechanical - society. Orange is juicy - rebellious. Alex is orange - for sure. However through the Ludovico Treatment, they try to make him into a Clockwork Orange, but it is basically impossible to combine the two.



Alex is an anti hero in many ways. He is a victim of a system that fails him - including a counselor who is supposed to help him but molests him instead. He is also a victim of parents who don't give a rat's behind about him.



He retreats into his own little world - complete with his own language and his own set of peers. The violence he has spent his life watching on TV and in movies becomes reality to him. Call it "cartoon mentality". In cartoons - people always get blown up and two seconds later they are fine. Alex is not able to discern fact from fiction any longer. He has a total break from reality. Read some material about operant conditioning. The military uses the same video games to teach people to kill that kids have at home. Marine Doom being the most popular. There is a great book out there called Teaching Kids to Kill by Major David Grossman - ex US Military Psychology officer - about "Killology" - how video games and TV teach some - repeat some - kids to kill. Alex is a prime example. (If you have to write a paper - use that book as research!!!)



He is an anti hero in that the treatment they give him does more than it is supposed to do. It not only takes away his sexual and violent urges, it takes away the one real love he has - music specifically Beethoven. And because it takes away his violent urges, it leaves him vulnerable to society who seeks MORE punishment from him than the legal system has to offer -- they become vigilantes and Alex is helpless to defend himself.



Be orange baby - always stay orange. Never allow them to make you clockwork. Pax-C

Answer 2

Alex Clockwork

Answer 3

He's an anti-hero because he is a complete and utter bastard, that you can't help rooting for.



Yes, Alex is a clockwork orange, a boy who should be naturally sweet and full of juice, rendered worthless by the modern society (clockwork) that he has grown up in.

Answer 4

Persi's explanation of this book is the best and simplest I've ever read. Wish I could give more than one thumbs up.

Answer 5

i'd say he's an anti hero



he doesnt fit in with 'the masses' and what happens to him? he goes through pain conditioning stuff to 'wind him up' as he should be.