A Clockwork Orange.?

Question

What does it mean?

Answer 1

'Clockwork' refers to something that operates by artificial means - levers, pulleys, cogs, and so on - to serve a function for someone. Obviously the term comes from clocks, which were the earliest common complex machines. An orange, of course, is a natural object whose entire structure, and value, is dependent on a nature not created by man.

A clockwork orange, then, is a metaphor for something artificially created and controlled in imitation of something natural, to serve someones purpose. Needless to say, it is not the orange whose purposes are being served. By the end of the book the main character (one can hardly call him a hero) has been manipulated by artificial means into becoming the imitation of what society wants him to be instead of what he really is. This is easily missed by the reader because he was really a scumbag, which is no better than the nancing priss he gets turned into.

The author apparently didn't think that either the natural or altered state of man could be very positive, which is why IMNSHO the book ultimately sucks @ss.

Answer 2

Dukefenton gave you a really good explanation for what a clockwork orange is, so I won't go over that again.

The whole point that Burgess was trying to make is that something can look natural on the outside, but have no personal will on the inside, and so is forced to just go through the motions that are programmed for it. His point is that a person who is a clockwork orange is unable to be either good or bad, because he has no free will.

It is very important to note that the American version of the book is incomplete, and so the version that most people have read is not the whole story. There was a 21st chapter in the English version, and it wasn't available in the US until sometime in the 1980s. Most people still read the old version. Apparently, American publishers thought the book would be better without the real resolution, which is, naturally, a silly idea.

I was very surprised to find when I finally read the WHOLE book that Alex grows out of his violent ways, and actually has a kind of awakening that brings him to his senses and makes him walk away from the violent lifestyle he has so far pursued. He comes to the conclusion that his behavior was just a part of growing up. The fact that this happens in the 21st chapter was done on purpose, as Burgess was trying to show that people grow out of their bad behaviors, and is symbolic because 21 was the age when someone was considered an adult in England when the book was written.

I know a lot of people have said the book is crap, and I also know it was one of Burgess' least favorite of his works, but I think it is a great book. Do be sure to read it, as it gives a lot of stuff to think about. One of the main things it made me think about is the way in which we treat teenagers as they are growing up. We tend to forget that they are not adults, and should not be expected to act like them. Of course, the ultra-violence of Alex and his friends is not acceptable, but each time I have read the book, I have wondered to myself if sometimes we don't go to far in trying to mold young people to suit our vision of what they should be. Do we, when people are young, turn them into clockwork oranges who DON'T grow out of it, and who continue to act with no free will for the rest of their lives, simply acting out the program society has deemed "appropriate behavior"?

Answer 3

Clockwork Orange is a book.

Answer 4

conflict to the loss of life? All 3 are good, and flicks unquestionably everyone ought to observe finally. Clockwork Orange, in simple terms as an previous well-known and Malcolm McDowell is mind-blowing, regardless of if it rather is have been given its flaws. Even lacking the top of the story that's interior the e book, however, it rather is nonetheless enticing and an excellent translation of a not hardship-free to action picture tale. crammed with droogs and ultraviolence and Beethoven. Then souvenir, rather exciting thought of a thank you to tell a narrative, however not so super on repeated viewings. nonetheless, it rather is one that needs 2 viewing to totally soak up. super appearing and that i enjoyed the black and white as against shade. Then American attractiveness. good action picture, yet there is in basic terms a lot i'm able to take, that's a sprint pushy. astounding tale, covers a lot floor, yet whilst it have been much less inventive and tasty it may be in simple terms approximately cleansing soap opera high quality of content. it rather is like a experienced poet wrote a screenplay in keeping with 5 after college specials.

Answer 5

No clue what it means, and I've even seen the movie. The movie was creepy, yuck! Maybe it's a way to slice and eat an orange, just a guess though.

Answer 6

it's the title of a brilliant movie directed by stanley kubrick that was adopted by a book by anthony burgess.

a helpful summary can be found here on imdb:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0066921/

Answer 7

It's also a club in Hollywood, CA where all the freaks hang out.

Answer 8

Go to www.wikipedia.com, and type "What does A Clockwork Orange mean?". You'll have your answer.

Answer 9

I'm not sure. I only know that I had a some kind of bitter feeling after I had read it. Somehow it conveys hopelessness.

Answer 10

Xeke,
It is a movie.
It is a classic.
Rent it, see it
and I bet you will love it!
Lots of food for thought
and good action scenes --
unforgettable ones....