Yepp, I remember that from the book. I actually have two copies: one for me and one that my 15 year old son is currently reading. They probably could have stuck to the original story and kept the pedophilia in there, and implied sex without actually showing anything. But I think Kubrick correctly judged that such an act would render Alex completely irredeemable in the audience's eyes. And I think Kubrick was fascinated with the idea of getting the audience to identify with or at least empathize with Alex. As it stands you can just ... just cross the bridge to feel sorry for Alex in light of that which he went through after the misdeeds he committed. The calculus, so to speak, allows him just enough 'points' to make us feel that his punishments did not fit his crimes. That, and the charm of the actor playing him, Malcom MacDowell.
However, if it were implied that he picked up two ten year old girls and had sex with them, no amount of retribution would be enough in the eyes of the viewer. I don't remember if I felt much sympathy for the character in the novel, and that may have been because of the pedophilia. I'll have to reread the book and see if Anthony Burgess manages to persuade me notwithstanding that inclusion of that crime. Either way, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.
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