MovieChat Forums > A Clockwork Orange (1972) Discussion > The ending

The ending

posted 10 years ago by arkayenether
7 replies | jump to latest

He was cured alright

No really, he was. Earlier in the movie, we see him listening to some Beethoven. While he "slooshies" he's fantasizing about women being hanged, explosions, himself as a vampire, violent stuff.

At the end, we see him doing his little slooshy thing again, and now he's fantasizing about consensual sex with a woman who seems to be enjoying herself, while a group of people watch and cheer the event.

He's not "normal" still, but his violent urges have ceased to be. Don't know if this is by his own maturity, or by the "doctors playing around with me guliver" but there we have it.

[–] falseprophet616 10 years ago

It's not consensual sex. I don't know how you and other viewers got that impression. It is another rape fantasy. The women is very obviously pulling away from Alex and trying to get away as he grabs and pulls at her.

Her being on top makes no difference, they could have landed that way after a violent tackle, rape can certainly occur with the victim on top.

She appears to smile slightly at one point which I believe is just a side effect of how awkward it must have been to film such a scene and indicates nothing other than maybe using a take that was not-quite-right.

Here's my understanding:
While reversing the previous treatment so they can play the 9th and seem like good guys in the new political climate, the government has restored him to his violent and sadistic ways inadvertently. Therefore, the 'system' has ultimately supported and nurtured violence right until the end of the film. Even the officials themselves mention how 'the oppression of the prison system, if anything, enforces the criminals violent predilections' (to which Alex agrees). They try to control a people's actions in a violent and non-consensual way (effectively rape itself). They employ horrible people into the police force who beat and torture those with whom they have personal bias towards. And finally, they help and support a hedonistic rapist and snap happy pictures with him as he imagines raping a woman while the upper class applauds.
Ultimately, showing the hypocrisy of the system and inability (or inhumanity) in correcting anti-social behavior through force.

[–] arkayenether 10 years ago

I think you're seeing rape where there is no rape. Looks very much like wild fun sex to me. Have you not had wild fun sex?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lola_mento 10 years ago

Lying? How did you come to that conclusion?

[–] BobbyDupea 10 years ago

Alex is being sarcastic. He was NOT cured, as the authorities reversed the effects of the treatment.

You have to keep in mind that the vision he has of sex at the end of the movie is very much a fantasy in Alex's mind - not a real depiction of what he is actually doing. He is back to being a thug, but now he has good job, connections, etc. That the authorities eventually come to boost and support him is very much in line with the ironies in the script.

My real name is Jeff

[–] singjohn 9 years ago

I actually laughed at the face Alex makes right before the final sex scene. It was all DERP!

[–] cartesianthought 9 years ago

Alex reverted back to his old ways after the coma. The PM knew this, but offered him a job as a PR for his administration insofar as he's able to keep his anti-social activities on the hush.