A Clockwork Orange Dystopian Book Analysis - 976 Words

The book A Clockwork Orange, written by Anthony Burgess, revolves around the main character named Alex, a fifteen year old criminal whom everyone is scared to be around. Alex and his droogies commit various crimes such as theft, rape, and murder. Alex is eventually caught and put into jail for two years. While in prison he learns of a way that he can get out. It is called Ludovico’s Technique, which means Alex can not commit any crimes or listen to his favorite type of music, classical. Ludovico’s Technique takes away his free will and he is eventually changed back by the totalitarian government. The totalitarian government reverses Ludovico’s Technique by using hypnopaedia. This book has many different aspects, therefore, it can be†¦show more content†¦Instead of turning either moral or immoral, Alex after the experiment is amoral, which means he is indifferent to right or wrong. He does not have a choice to do either. He makes his decisions around his instinct rather than thinking about it. After this, Alex experiences struggles with his past and he is not able to defend himself toward the beatings. When he meets F. Alexander, we learn that a totalitarian government is in place. This is the case for many dystopian novels. The world Alex lives in is not a place where most people would want to live. The second genre this book can be classified is a coming-of-age book. In the beginning of the book, Alex is criminally insane and says there are two ways he can go about his day, on the good side of the bed or on the bad side. When asked why he does what he does he responds saying he does what he does because he likes what he does. He later goes to jail for the crimes he has committed and undergoes Ludovico’s Technique. After Ludovico’s Technique, he realizes what it means to have free will. He can no longer do whatever he feels like because do to Ludovico’s Technique, the thought of violence makes him sick. This te chnique sapping the poetic justice out of criminal behavior for Alex. This is the beginning of Alex’s maturity process. Alex no longer wants to be known for what he has done in the past and wants a start new. Once he is cured of the cure, he is ableShow MoreRelatedDystopian Novels : A Dystopian Novel1943 Words   |  8 Pagesand conformity are often central themes in dystopian novels. The basic idea is that the world is not perfect and by controlling every aspect of society, it controls the terrible things that may take place. The purpose of a dystopian novel is to explore structures that we don’t think about, whether it be in a political or social sense. These types of readings focus on imaginary societies where individuals don’t have free will. This is what makes a dystopian and utopian different from one another. TodayRead MoreA Clockwork Orange1450 Words   |  6 PagesAnthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian novel set in an oppressive, futuristic state. Published in 1962, A Clockwork Orange is an extremely intense, graphic, and, at times, horrifying novel. A reader begins to question their own values as they become numb and desensitized to the violence at hand. Both behaviorism and free will is occurring throughout A Clockwork Orange. A Clockwork Orange brings up a question, how much control of our own free will do we actually have? Do we reallyRead More Clockwork Orange And The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction Essay2487 Words   |  10 Pages Clockwork Orange and the Age of Mechanical Reproduction nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; For Walter Benjamin, the defining characteristic of modernity was mass assembly and production of commodities, concomitant with this transformation of production is the destruction of tradition and the mode of experience which depends upon that tradition. While the destruction of tradition means the destruction of authenticity, of the originally, in that it also collapses the distance between art and the masses

Duke Ellington Free Essays

DUKE ELLINGTON Duke Ellington, named Edward Kennedy Ellington at birth, was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington D. C. to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. We will write a custom essay sample on Duke Ellington or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both of Ellington’s parents were talented, musical individuals. Edward Kennedy was later nicknamed Duke by his childhood friend, Edgar McEntire and this name has stuck with him throughout his life and career. Duke Ellington was one of Jazz and Big Band’s most influential icons. He was known for famous recordings such as â€Å"Sophisticated Lady†, â€Å"Take the A Train,† â€Å"It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing,† and â€Å"Satin Doll,† Duke Ellington started taking piano lessons at age seven and became more serious about his piano lessons after hearing a pianist who worked at Frank Holiday’s poolroom. He was fourteen and had started sneaking into the poolroom. After listening to the poolroom’s pianist, something was ignited within and he fell in love with the piano. Ellington was known for his ability to choose members for his band who possessed very unusual talents while playing their instruments. These talents included Bubber Miley, who used a plunger to make the â€Å"wa-wa† sound, and Joe Nanton, who was known for his trombone â€Å"growl. † It was for this quality to find such unusual players and his ingenious ability to compose beautiful music that lead to Ellington’s huge success. Duke Ellington composed over 1,000 compositions right up until the day he died, May 24, 1974. Although Ellington was known as a huge figure in Jazz, his music spanned beyond the Jazz genre; it stretched into blues, gospel, popular, classical and film scores. Through his efforts and achievements, he has made Jazz more accepted as an art form and genre. Ellington had received 12 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000. These awards were granted in the categories of Jazz, Big Band and composing; three of the awards were posthumous. Ellington has several famous quotes such as, â€Å"There is nothing to keeping a band together. You simply have to have a gimmick, and the gimmick I use is to pay them money! â€Å"; â€Å"If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good! † and His autobiography, â€Å"Music is My Mistress† describes â€Å"the Duke’s â€Å" life in music. He ate, drank, walked and talked music. His music is known all over the world and when you think about Jazz and Big Band music greats, you would definitely think of Ellington. Duke Ellington has several memorials in New York, where lived for many years in a town house on the corner of Manhattan’s Riverside Drive and 106th Street ; in Washington D. C. , his birthplace and Los Angeles, California. Starting with Washington, D. C. , In 1974, the Calvert Street Bridge was renamed Duke Ellington Bridge; in 1989, a bronze plaque was attached to the newly named Duke Ellington Building at 2121 Ward Place and a mural by Aniekan Udofia was placed above his name; In 2010, the triangular park, across the street from Duke Ellington’s birth site, at the intersection of New Hampshire and M Streets, NW was named, Duke Ellington Park. In New York, West 106th Street was officially renamed Duke Ellington Boulevard. A large memorial to Ellington, created by sculptor Robert Graham, was dedicated in 1997 in New York’s Central Park, near Fifth Avenue and 110th Street, an intersection named Duke Ellington Circle. A nationally renowned annual competition called â€Å"The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival† started in 1996 at â€Å"Jazz at Lincoln Center† recognizes prestigious high school bands. In Los Angeles, California, a statue of Ellington at a piano is featured at the entrance to UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall. It was here that Duke Ellington arrived very late to a free concert due to a mix-up of venues. To make up for this mistake, Duke Ellington and his band played a four hour concert at Duke Hall. This ended up being the first-ever jazz performance in a concert venue. Duke Ellington was one of only four other Jazz musicians to appear on the cover of â€Å"Time Magazine†. He was also the only African American to appear by himself on a circulating US coin. He have been recognized by historians as being the first African American musician who created a significant Hollywood film score comprising of non-diegetic music. His works have been inducted into the â€Å"Grammy Hall of Fame† and many tributes were made in his honor. In 1954, Dave Brubeck dedicated â€Å"the Duke† which became a standard for other musicians. The album, â€Å"The Real Ambassadors† has a vocal version, â€Å"You Swing Baby (The Duke)† which is performed by Louis Armstrong and Carmen McRae and dedicated to Duke Ellington. Miles Davis created â€Å"He Loved Him Madly† as a tribute to Ellington one month after his death. Stevie Wonder wrote the song â€Å"Sir Duke† as a tribute to Ellington in 1976. A song by Judy Collins called â€Å"Sir Duke† was written in 1975 honoring and describing his funeral. Ellington appeared publicly up until a couple of months before he died from lung cancer and pneumonia on May 24, 1974. He was 75 year old. It is recorded that his last words were, â€Å"Music is how I live, why I live and how I will be remembered. † At his funeral, over 12,000 people attended which was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Ella Fitzgerald summed up the occasion by stating, â€Å"It’s a very sad day. A genius has passed. † Her words resonate in the hearts of many; for, through his efforts and contributions to the world, genius is truly evident. How to cite Duke Ellington, Essay examples Duke Ellington Free Essays Edward Kennedy â€Å"Duke† Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. Duke Ellington was thought to be one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. After his death in 1974, he became even more popular. We will write a custom essay sample on Duke Ellington or any similar topic only for you Order Now He even received a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board. Ellington called his music â€Å"American Music† rather than jazz. He liked to describe those who impressed him as â€Å"beyond category†. Those belonging to this group included many of the musicians who served with his orchestra. Some of his band members were among the giants of jazz and performed with Ellington’s orchestra for decades. It was Duke Ellington, however, who melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz. He often composed specifically for the style and skills of these individuals. Some of these songs included â€Å"Jeep’s Blues† for Johnny Hodges, â€Å"Concerto for Cootie† (â€Å"Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me†) for Cootie Williams and â€Å"The Mooche† for Tricky Sam Nanton. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol’s â€Å"Caravan† and â€Å"Perdido† which brought the â€Å"Spanish Tinge† to big-band jazz. After 1941, he began to collaborate with composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn. Ellington often referred to Billy Strayhorn as his â€Å"alter-ego†. Duke Ellington is considered one of the 20th century’s best-known artists. He also recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II. He led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974. His son, Mercer Ellington, continued touring with the band until his death from cancer in 1996. Paul Ellington, Mercer’s youngest son, took over the orchestra in 1996. After his mother’s passing, Paul Ellington took over the estate of Duke and Mercer Ellington. How to cite Duke Ellington, Essay examples Duke Ellington Free Essays

Oedipuss Crime Essay Example For Students

Oedipuss Crime Essay What Was Oedipuss Crime?Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, murdered his father and married his mother. Such acts are almost always deemed unnatural and criminal; they are not tolerated within traditional society. A person who has committed these illegal acts of murder and incest would be considered a criminal, yet Sophocless character, Oedipus, is not guilty of either crime. Prior to the birth of Oedipus, a prophecy was spoken over Laius and his wife Jocasta. They were told that their son would one day be his fathers killer and would then marry his mother. In fear, King Laius and Queen Jocasta sent the baby Oedipus off with a slave to be killed. He was never killed, but rather was given to a childless king and queen which lovingly raised him. Oedipus was never factually told about his lineage. Later in his life, Oedipus was confronted by several unknown men while traveling. Upon confrontation, Oedipus killed all but one of the men in self defense. Unknowingly, Oedipus had begun to fulfill the prophecy for one of the men had been his birth father, Laius. While still traveling, Oedipus had come to the city of Thebes. There, he saved the city from the wrath of the Sphinx by solving her riddle. Seen as a savior by the citizens of Thebes, Oedipus was made king and subsequently, the husband of Jocasta. Oedipus and his wife-mother ruled together and had four children while never knowing of the true relationship between each other. As the tragedy comes to a close, the truth is revealed to Oedipus concerning his lineage and unnatural actions. Although the truth had been spoken to him about these matters previously, Oedipus had chosen not to believe and understandably so. True revelation comes to Oedipus through the same slave that had been ordered to kill him as a baby. Since Oedipus had no knowledge of his birth parents, he cannot be accused of knowingly fulfilling the prophecy. He had no understanding of Laius as his birth father upon killing him. One might say that Oedipus is then guilty of murder regardless, but if he had killed in self defense, that cannot be true. Likewise, if Oedipus had no understanding of Jocasta as his birth mother, then he cannot be guilty of incest. Neither can he be guilty of defiling Laiuss marriage bed, as he did not know that Jocasta was the wife of the man he had murdered. Oedipus cannot be guilty of lying to the people of the city of Thebes since he did not know he was not speaking the truth. Unfortunately, Oedipus was the victim of destiny. The gods caused him to fall prey to fate and injustice. According to the norms of modern Criminal Justice, an individual cannot be guilty of a crime that he did not understandably commit; he cannot be guilty of a crime unless there is evidence of mens rea. A crime is defined as an act act punishable by law; a sin; a grave offense. Oedipus cannot be guilty of an act, sin or grave offense that he did not knowingly commit.Category: English