Language Features in A Clockwork Orange

The extract we are presented with shows us the scene in part one of 'A Clockwork Orange' when Alex and his 'droogs' rape an innocent young woman, referred to in the extract as a 'devotchka'. The extract elucidates the title of the novella as here the husband of the young woman is writing a story called 'A Clockwork Orange'.

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The manuscript of the story explains that the sweet, orange-ness of humans can be converted into the lifelessness of a manufactured clockwork machine.

The novella's evident dystopian form permits for the astonishing effect of the insubordination from the youth.

In the extract it is very prominent as Alex and his group go from committing crime to crime. The whole extract, although very short, has a lot of commotion in it. This allows for the dystopian elements to be more arresting and therefore has a greater build up to the main thesis of the entire novel. For example, when Alex and his group take turns to rape the young woman, giving her the old 'in out, in out' they are also beating up the husband of the woman and the author of 'A Clockwork Orange'.

The overall effect of this is that the boys forcing the man to watch the rape of his wife predicts, in a way, what will happen to Alex in Part Two. In both cases, the men are having their free will stripped off them to a certain degree and must encounter something very displeasing and uncomfortable to his nature.

The dystopian form also includes the way in which Alex and his droogs act. They keep the citizens isolated at night by keeping them inside their homes. In a certain sense, the boys aren't just lurking and roaming the streets at night, they are also patrolling them.

This shows that an evident dystopian theme because it shows that it's not just the government under control here, it's also the youth. The dystopian form permits for the effect of insubordination here because it is presented in a clustered but straight to the point way that really portrays the heart of the rebellion that the youth are going through here. The scenes are short but a lot goes on, like the random attack of the old man who rambles on about the putting men on the moon. Or the rape scene in itself was very short which made it more effective because the spotlight is, in a sense, put on it.

It really highlights the rebellion of Alex and his droogs and the atrocious acts that they commit, which they happen to think is acceptable simply because it gives them great pleasure to do it. The structure of the extract composes the scenario and allows us to see the eminently antisocial and appalling actions performed by the boys. Burgess orchestrates the extract in such a way that the scene unfolds in a natural manner which permits us to observe the scene in an almost uncomfortable light because it is seems so realistic due to the structure of the extract that Burgess has skilfully created.

For example, the way in which Burgess builds suspense by first introducing one horrifying act then another until we finally get to the big finale where the rape takes place. The structure here is very effective because Burgess presents one appalling and astonishing act immediately after the other so that there is no time to truly think about what is going on. The effect of this is that it is more unnerving and harrowing to read because of the disturbing nature of each action that keeps on being thrown at the reader.

The language used by Burgess shapes the meaning of the entire extract. It puts everything into context and defines the characters and the scenario given to us. One of the main features of the language and of the whole of 'A Clockwork Orange' is the nadsat talk. It is gives a completely unique insight into the minds of the youth of the novella and allows us to understand better the way they think and how they can act in such horrifying (to us) ways. The use of nadsat by Burgess creates the effect of an exclusive and exclusory group, one that only young adults understand.

It also creates a dark, satirical effect which invites an extreme reaction from the reader. For example, the nadsat talk creates a dark comical effect that devises a contrast between the intruders and the occupants. When Alex and his group first go in they constantly talk in a confusing and very different way to the occupants of the cottage that really defines the difference between their statuses, be it personal or in society. For example, Alex says "That's a fair gloopy title".

Then, in the manuscript written by the owner of the cottage who is significantly older than Alex, says "The attempt to impose upon man, a creature of growth and capable of sweetness... " The language used in the manuscript by the man is much more sophisticated and enunciated as opposed to the language used by Alex which is much more 'sloppy' and careless. The effect of this is that it provides a more detailed insight into the mind of Alex and therefore we can see more prominent dystopian elements because of the nature of Alex's thoughts and the way he reacts to things.

The language is also used in an interesting way when Alex uses it to adapt to certain members of society. For example, he changes his entire demeanour and tone when talking to the young woman in order to achieve what he wants. He says, "Pardon, madam, most sorry to disturb you... " which shows that he is more than capable of speaking in a civilized and 'normal' way, as in not in nadsat speak. This creates a more distinct tone in the scene that gives scope to the dystopian form that Burgess creates.

The choice of diction used to construe the sequence of events is significant because it shapes the entire context of the extract. For example, when Alex is destroying the 'A Clockwork Orange' manuscript, a lot of onomatopoeic words are used such as 'bezoomny' and 'moodge'. The way in which the words are used shapes the context of the extract because it then allows for distinctive imagery to be used in a manner that provides for the dystopian basis to be more conspicuous throughout he extract.

For example, when Burgess writes "and made for me with his zoobies clenched and showing yellow and his nails ready for me like claws". The overall effect of the form, structure and language that Burgess has expertly interwoven together is that it allows for more arresting and prominent features of the dystopian nature of the novella to be highlighted in a way that is uncomfortable and yet very comical way due to the nadsat talk of the boys and the way in which the scenes unfold.