This paper examines Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange as a lens for exploring major theories of juvenile delinquency. Drawing on Champion's tripartite classification of biological, psychological, and sociological theories, the paper evaluates how each framework applies to the behavior of protagonist Alex DeLarge. Biological theories are found largely inapplicable, while the psychoanalytic concept of ego-driven instant gratification offers a compelling explanation for Alex's violence. Merton's strain theory illuminates both Alex's rebellion against society and the troubling consequences of his involuntary conditioning through the Lodovico technique. The paper also considers the film's use of specific deterrence as a delinquency-control strategy, situating all analysis within the movie's dystopian social context.
A Clockwork Orange is one of the cult films of the 1970s — one where satire mixes with philosophy and where the director frequently appeals to psychological theories to support the film's action. The plot is relatively complex, especially in how the personality of the main character is developed throughout, and in how behavioral theories add to the narrative.
Alex DeLarge leads a group of "droogs" in a life of violence and crime that includes the rape of Mr. Alexander's wife, stealing a car, and the battering of a woman in the house they break into. Alex is caught by the police at the scene of the crime and is charged with murder, since the woman later dies in hospital from her injuries. Following the trial, he is convicted to 14 years in prison.
In prison, Alex volunteers for the Lodovico technique, which he identifies as a potential means of leaving prison early. The Lodovico technique is, however, an invasive psychological procedure that involves Alex being restrained in a straitjacket and forced to watch violent scenes on a screen while simultaneously receiving drugs that induce an acute aversion to what he is viewing. Complementary to this, Beethoven is played in the background, which causes Alex to develop an aversion to that music as well — despite it having been his favorite. Once the treatment is completed, he is no longer able to fight or manifest violence, even in self-defense.
As he leaves prison, he is severely beaten on several occasions because of his incapacity to respond to violent acts — including by some of his former droogs, now turned policemen. Wandering aimlessly, he arrives at Mr. Alexander's house. Mr. Alexander does not recognize him but offers him shelter upon learning that Alex has undergone the Lodovico treatment. He eventually discovers who Alex is and forcibly plays Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to him. Alex, overwhelmed, attempts suicide by throwing himself from a window. Upon recovering, Alex realizes he no longer has an adverse reaction to music or violence, and concludes that he is "cured" — meaning he intends to resume his former existence.
In order to analyze the film from the perspective of juvenile behavior and delinquency theories, one can use the generally acknowledged classification for such theories. According to Champion, these can be divided into three categories: biological, psychological, and sociological theories.
According to biological theories, juvenile delinquency is related to genealogical background — specifically, the idea that delinquent tendencies are associated with certain biological factors inherited from parents or close relatives. Building on Lombroso's theories, these biologically inherited traits were also thought to manifest in certain physical features that distinguish juvenile delinquents from other individuals.
This category of theories does not appear to be reflected in A Clockwork Orange. Alex's parents — the only relatives shown throughout the film — appear only briefly and display nothing to indicate they are violent or inclined toward criminal acts. In fact, they are portrayed as normal individuals living a normal family life. Other potential biological theories, such as the idea that delinquent characteristics might be induced by chromosomal abnormalities, cannot be sufficiently tested within the film's narrative.
The category of psychological theories contains juvenile delinquency frameworks that are more appropriate for understanding the film's events. Chief among these is the psychoanalytic theory, which draws on Freud's hierarchical model of the mind — id, ego, and superego — to explain criminal behavior as arising from the pursuit of instant ego gratification.
Following the succession of violent acts in the film's opening, this theory does indeed offer the most compelling explanation for Alex's delinquency. Alex and his gang appear to be driven by nothing other than the instant gratification of feeling powerful in relation to their victims. This is most evident in the rape of Mr. Alexander's wife and in many of the beatings they commit during that phase of the film. Alex's physical assault on his own droogs is certainly a way of reasserting his authority within the group, but it is equally an expression of individual ego gratification — dominance over his followers confirms the power he feels, just as domination over outside victims does.
The one moment when a violent act goes wrong is also the moment when Alex's ego suffers: he is nearly subdued by his victim, and her resistance ultimately prevents him from leaving the scene, leading to his arrest. The close connection between individual ego and the characters' delinquency is thus reinforced at this pivotal turning point in the narrative.
"Merton's strain theory applied to Alex's rebellion and conditioning"
"Lodovico technique as extreme specific deterrence"
Overall, all juvenile delinquency theories and related control strategies must be understood within the context of the film, which depicts a dystopian and inherently absurd society. As a result, the theories cannot carry the same weight they would in a real-world application, because Kubrick is ultimately more interested in the artistic and moral evolution of his character than in validating any particular criminological framework. Nevertheless, it is clear that Alex's trajectory can be meaningfully connected to delinquency theories — most powerfully from the psychological and psychoanalytic perspectives — making A Clockwork Orange a rich, if unconventional, case study in the study of juvenile delinquency.
Champion, D. J. The Juvenile Justice System: Delinquency, Processing, and the Law (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Merton, R. K. Merton's strain theory. Retrieved November 10, 2005, from
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