Numerous films over the years have been banned or protested against for their sexual or violent content. Many of these are considered cult classics now, such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I Spit on Your Grave, and The Exorcist. However, one of the most well-known and controversial films to be so controversial is Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange.
Filmed in 1971, A Clockwork Orange is an adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel of the same name. The story follows Alex, a young man who leads a group of delinquents called his “droogs” (one of the many uses of futuristic, colloquial slang called ‘Nadsat’ that Burgess created). The movie is notorious for its then-graphic depictions of violence, which sparked significant controversy when released.
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Despite the controversy, A Clockwork Orange is considered one of the greatest films ever made. It is a masterpiece of filmmaking, with Kubrick’s trademark style on full display. The acting is superb, and the film is visually stunning. It is also a thought-provoking story, with much to say about human nature, morality, and the government’s role in society. Let’s look at some deeper meanings and symbolism found in A Clockwork Orange.
A Deeper Look at Alex DeLarge
Warner Bros.
The protagonist in A Clockwork Orange, Alex, is a complex and fluid character. He is a violent, amoral individual who takes great pleasure in causing pain and suffering. However, he is also very intelligent and articulate, with a deep love of Beethoven’s music. Alex is a deeply contradictory character, which makes him both frightening and sympathetic at the same time. He is as evil as he is charming, and this ambiguity is one of the things that makes him so fascinating.
Alex embodies the struggle between good and evil that exists within all humans. He represents the dark side of human nature and the potential for violence that lurks within those around us. However, he is also a victim of his environment and society. He is a product of a violent culture, which could very well have shaped him into the person he is. In many ways, Alex is a victim of circumstance, and this makes him a sympathetic figure. This is one of the more revolutionary aspects of A Clockwork Orange — Kubrick forces identification with the main character, despite his sexual assaults and violence, long before the antihero protagonist became extremely fashionable. As Kubrick himself told Michael Ciment:
There are numerous differences between Alex in Burgess’ novel and Kubrick’s film. Though both leave questions as to the future of Alex, Kubrick’s film is more ambiguous. In some versions of the book, the Ludovico treatment leaves Alex uninterested in crime altogether, while in the film, Alex is merely a shell of his former self. This leaves the audience wondering whether Alex has truly changed or if he will return to his old ways.
Government and Society in A Clockwork Orange
Warner Bros.
With its depiction of a dystopian future, A Clockwork Orange is a criticism of the government and society of the time. The semi-totalitarianism of the government is depicted as a nightmarish, oppressive force that seeks to control every aspect of its citizens’ lives. Similar to George Orwell’s 1984, the government in A Clockwork Orange is corrupt and dependent upon propaganda, willing to sacrifice human rights and individual freedom for the survival of the state apparatus.
Alex and his droogs represent the troubled youth of the time, who were rebelling against the establishment. They are a product of a society that has failed them, and they respond by committing acts of violence. The film argues that the government and society are to blame for the delinquency of its citizens. Prescribing “good behavior” through the use of drugs and aversion therapy only serves to further dehumanize them. As Kubrick told Ciment:
Decades of Controversy: On-Screen Ultra-Violence
It didn’t take long after the film’s release for the controversy to start. One of the film’s first reviews appeared in a 1972 New Yorker article, in which film critic Pauline Kael described the film as an “abhorrent viewing experience,” and questioned whether audiences “are gradually being conditioned to accept violence as a sensual pleasure.”
Others mirrored Kael’s sentiments, leading to protests across the United Kingdom calling for the film to be banned, though it never technically was. After “reported “copycat” crimes allegedly inspired by the film” and protests which even took place outside the director’s home (along with many death threats), Kubrick himself withdrew A Clockwork Orange in Britain and edited the 1973 US release to meet an R rating. The film was not released again in the UK until after Kubrick’s death in 1999. As Kubrick himself said,
The film’s content and presentation cause many to question whether violence in cinema desensitizes viewers and leads them to accept real-world violence. Censorship is another common theme in the debate surrounding A Clockwork Orange. Opponents argue that the film’s graphic violence and sexual content make it unsuitable for public consumption, while supporters argue that censorship is a form of political and cultural control that takes away an individual’s right to choose what they watch and how to interpret it. Much like Alex’s treatment in the film, censorship can be seen as a way of taking away an individual’s free will.
Despite the controversy, A Clockwork Orange is a film filled with stunning visuals of a not-so-distant future and a score that creates such a looming uneasiness, it’s no wonder the film has been referenced in popular culture for decades. The film’s questions about free will, government control, and violence are just as relevant today as they were when the film was first released.
