The Edges Of Empathy By Anthony Burgess - 988 Words

Bryce Brown Mrs. Gawith English Comp IV 2 October 2017 The Edges of Empathy The human mind can be a delicate thing capable of extraordinary kindness, but it also has a skill for a high level of destruction and apathy. Within the dystopian novel, A Clockwork Orange, written by Anthony Burgess, the atrocities of an extremely violent subculture run by the futures youth is revealed. The novel is a satirical probe into the conscious of the troubled youth molded by a corrupt society, exploring the inability to be empathetic forming from corruption and the results of removing a person’s free will. The story follows Alex through a demented world full of violence, with a warped state government revealing its unethical methods in reforming society†¦show more content†¦Upon examination of Alex’s physiological state of mind, one could say he is missing a key piece that contributes to humanity. Alex has no ability to show genuine emotion for what he has done, nor pity for his victims. He is ruled by adrenaline and contempt for all those around him, feeding off of the fear and weaknesses others exhibit. In fact, while in prison, Alex pursues the Bible not for sanctuary of faith, but as an insight into more violence and sex, gaining a type of ally in the Prison Chaplain, who misunderstands his intentions with the Bible. As the proposition of a shorter sentence is given, the Chaplain questions the morality of the techniques going to be used.â€Å"Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses to be bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?† (Burgess 166). The Chaplain is imploring him to just take his sentence instead of sacrificing his free will to get out of prison sooner. He is foreshadowing that this could be a hellish result. Alex elects to have his free will stolen from him through the Ludovico Technique, an aversion theory that causes him to associate any kind of violent thought with sickness. After he is reformed into a non-violent ci tizen, he is released back into society with the inability to stomach the sights and sounds of his world, struggling to make any decision for himself. He questions life, andShow MoreRelatedpreschool Essay46149 Words   |  185 Pageshighquality programs, the California Department of Education collaborated with leading early childhood educators, researchers, advocates, and parents to develop Volume 2 of the preschool learning foundations. The foundations outline key knowl ­ edge and skills that most children can achieve when provided with the kinds of interactions, instruction, and environments shown by research to promote early learning and develop ­ ment. Volume 2 focuses on three domains: visual and performing artsRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesConflict-Handling Style? 446 Myth or Science? â€Å"Communicating Well Is More Important in Cross-Cultural Negotiations† 462 glOBalization! Anger and Conflict Across Cultures 467 Self-Assessment Library What’s My Negotiating Style? 467 An Ethical Choice Using Empathy to Negotiate More Ethically 468 Point/Counterpoint Player–Owner Disputes Are Unnecessary 471 Questions for Review 472 Experiential Exercise A Negotiation Role-Play 472 Ethical Dilemma The Lowball Applicant 473 Case Incident 1 Choosing Your Battles