Setting: The story takes place in a British/ London Futuristic environment. But, because the time A Clockwork Orange was written , many of the nightmarish "visions" of the future seem somewhat silly as the author tries to express his fear of a future where criminals take over in the night hours ~ but, still the story has a theme that is for any generation.
This is a story about a fifteen year old boy, Alex, who is a hooligan, and calls himself and his homies "droogs." They go to "milk bars" for drinks of milk mixed with synthetic drugs and as they sit with milk mustaches they plot and plan the evenings events of lawlessness and crime.
After a long portrayal of crime and arrests he finally ends up in a detention center (in a jail) under the care of a "mad scientist" kind of guy that is seeking to change the behavior of this gangster through a series of barbaric treatments and mind control propeganda. He uses everything from toothpicks holding open the eye lids for days, to strobe lights and no food to rehabilitate Alex.
After a LONG beginning of setting the stage of how criminal and horrible this guy is ... and another LONG episode of going through "reconditioning"...
The now rehabilitated "gentleman" is set free in the world again. He meets up with those he has done harm to in the past, and gets his butt kicked a few times. Still he refuses to resort back to his "old self". But, after time, and as the influence wears off... he eventually BLOWS IT, and gives in to the character that he really is. Why? Because the change occured on the surface and nothing occured inside...but for a short time.
The moral of the story is: You cannot change anyone. You cannot change the heart of another. And if you do, it is only momentarily. They are influenced by you for the time you are there, and even maybe for a short time after you are gone is your influence still on them. Your true colors will come out, in the end, regardless. You will hang around those who are like you and those who reinforce what you choose to be. Be careful who your friends are. |
