Violence within Society: Violent Tendencies That Occur Due to Society’s Narrow-minded Expectations in Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange and Palahniuk’s Fi

1805 Words4 Pages

Society often pressures individuals within it to conform to different ideals and norms. This stems from the fact that individuals in a society are expected to act in a certain way. If a person or group of people do not satisfy society’s expectations, they are looked down upon by others. This can lead to individuals isolating themselves from others, or being isolated from others, because they are considered as outcasts. The emotional turmoil that can result from this, as well as the internal conflict of whether or not to conform, can transform an individual into a completely different person. This transformation can either be beneficial or harmful to the individual as well as those around them. The individual can become an improved version of himself or herself but conversely, they can become violent, rebellious and destructive. The novels Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess both explore the negative effects experienced by individuals living within the confines of society’s narrow-mindedness. In A Clockwork Orange, protagonist Alex was the leader of a small group of teenage criminals. He did not have a healthy relationship with either one of his parents or with others around him. Instead he spent most of his time alone during the day and at night roamed the streets in search of victims he could mug or rape. In Fight Club the unnamed protagonist was an outcast in his community. He chose to distance and isolate himself from others and as a result had no friends, with the exception of Tyler Durden and Marla Singer. Due to his isolation, he often participated in nightly fights that took place in Fight Club so that he could relieve his anxiety and stress. In this way, Alex and the unnamed protagoni... ... middle of paper ... ...to be more accepting towards others’ flaws, which will prevent these individuals from coping with their issues in a negative manner. Keeping an open-mind can reduce the possibility of violence within society preventing the individuals susceptible to violent outburst from doing so. This could be achieved by reducing the emphasis placed on conforming to an ideal that is seen in media. By showing society that not every person is the same, we can decrease the amount of people who feel neglected in society. Ultimately, if society were to reject the status quo, then there would be a significant decrease of violence in society by individuals subject to the detrimental degradation from those around them. Works Cited Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange. London: Penguin Group, 2000. Print. Palahniuk, Chuck. Fight Club. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2005. Print.

More about Violence within Society: Violent Tendencies That Occur Due to Society’s Narrow-minded Expectations in Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange and Palahniuk’s Fi

Open Document