Choice, liberty and repression in A Clockwork Orange

The English philosopher and political economist, John Stuart Mill, was one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century, and a major contributor to the concept of classical liberalism. In On Liberty, published in 1859, Mill provided a rational justification for the freedom of the individual in opposition to the claims of the state to impose unlimited control. In A Clockwork Orange, the state takes away the freedom of choice of the main protagonist, Alex, and replaces it with prescribed good behavior. A Clockwork Orange can be viewed as a dystopic forecast, a warning about the dangers of a totalitarian society, which prioritizes social control and efficiency over human nature. The overarching theme of A Clockwork Orange is the danger inherent in depriving individuals of free will, even the wickedest criminals. The setting of A Clockwork Orange takes place in a repressive, violent society.