From the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Alex as
the main character and narrator. We follow him throughout the film forming an
allegiance as the audience see the events from his perspective and therefore
relate to how he is feeling. As Alex commits various crimes, which the majority
of the audience would most likely not have experienced, it makes it difficult
for the spectator to align with him. One crime he commits at the beginning, is
when he beats a homeless man, for no apparent reason. When this happens, the
man is shown at a low angle and Alex's gang at a high angle suggesting their
power, their power is what makes the audience form an allegiance against them
to begin with, as they sympathise with the weakest character. Another example
of this is when Alex and his 'gang', rape an innocent woman. While this is
happening he sings "Singin' in the rain". As the song is taken from a
happy film, it contrasts with what is occurring, giving the song a new meaning
and shows that the film is very controversial. Also showing the film is controversial, is the
amount of phalic and yonic symbols used to exaggerate the deranged mind of the
gang. In Alex's room we are shown his pet snake, another phalic symbol as well
as this there are four statues of Jesus, which symbolise how Alex views himself
and his gang.
Many of the camera shots used in Clockwork Orange are fast paced,
coinciding with the diagetic sound. As the film is from Alex's perspective, we
assume as the audience that this is how he sees the world and what music he
hears. Because of this it implies that he is not stable, which may question their
allegiance to Alex as it makes it hard to figure out what he is thinking and
therefore relate.
When Alex enters prison he is identified as a number,
suggesting the dehumanisation of people in prison. This is the scene where the
spectator may begin to feel sympathy for him. While in prison, Alex behaves
well which is also what effects the allegiance between the spectators and him,
as a result of his good behaviour he gets experimented on. The audience are
shown the experiments from a close up of Alex's face, creating more feeling
towards him as it clearer to see how he is feeling. Following the experiments, he is kicked out of
home, beaten and drowned by his old friends. As the spectator, we watch him
almost become a better person causing us to feel sympathy for him when this is
happening, he is also unable to defend himself due to the experiments
questioning whether these are morally right. This is why the film is also intellectually
demanding, because it questions societies mistakes and the government.
When
Alex tries committing suicide, we feel guilt and may align with him because we
have seen his journey. However this is again challenged at the end of the film,
where we see him revert to his original sexually orientated mind set. As the majority of people are then made to
question what his motives are and as a result can no longer relate to him.
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