connections to our lives
Connections between A Clockwork Orange and Me
- Jacob LAthram
The book A Clockwork Orange relates to my life because of the violence in the novel. This violence is the same violence that can be found in my everyday life. The violence may not be toward me or directly affecting me but it is there. I see violence whenever I turn on the news or whenever I open the paper. The media puts numerous stories about violence into my everyday life. There is no escaping it. I see the violence that is being raged in the Middle East constantly where countless lives are being lost. I also see violence must closer to my home. Everyday there is at least one act of violence whether it is a robbery, a murder, or rape. There really is no escaping it. When I was reading this book I saw that many of the things that Alex and his gang did, in terms of the crimes they committed where the same things that I was seeing on the news. I saw that maybe the people and some of the things that go on in the book are fake but what they do in the terms of the violent crimes they commit are all factual things that happen everyday.
Cops: Fatal Shooting Latest in Feud between Evanston Families
- Jacob LAthram
On December 13, 2012 there was a fatal shooting that went on in Chicago. This shooting was said to be connected to violence between two families that dates back to 2005. These families both have members affiliated with gangs. They paper had said, “It's the third shooting and second fatality in two weeks connected to the families…” (Huston, John P.). This two families have been attacking each other for seven years because of what happened in a bar fight seven years back. The police though trying their best to find out all the details and who is responsible for the shootings have no been able to come up with anything because of lack of cooperation with witnesses. This article then goes on to say that there is a problem within the community not just with these two families. The community needs to come together and not give the youth the opportunity to commit these crimes, “This is not a family thing. This is a community thing"(Huston, John P.). The article then says that if nothing is done to stop it then, "it's going to be a very bloody town" (Huston, John P.).
Man raping and beating woman
- mitchell golas
The press release from the Nashua Police Department, on November 18, 2012, reports an act of domestic violence where a man strangled and raped a woman he knew. The release points out that the police were notified and an investigation performed prior to the arrest of the man Jamie Gerrard. This act of violence is seemingly more prevalent or perhaps it is more widely reported. Acts of violence occur on a daily basis, even in our “safe” community. Clearly people can reach a point where they do not act rationally. It is important to be aware of behavior changes that are threatening to you and to protect yourself by leaving the situation. In the novel, “A Clockwork Orange,” the acts of violence seemed to happen and there was a sense of lawlessness. The punishment that Alex was given was minimal and he was able to gain an early release. In the Nashua Police press release, there are several charges brought against this man. If he is found guilty on all accounts he will be punished with several years in jail. It is comforting that there are punishments that hopefully will deter some people from these violent crimes, and will protect victims from further abuse.
Press release:
"On November 18, 2012, members of the Nashua Police Department Domestic Violence Unit arrested a Nashua resident on a warrant for Domestic Violence, Second Degree Assault, Class B Felony. Jamie Gerrard, 39, of 68 Allds Street, Nashua, was arrested at his residence at approximately 1:50 a.m.
On November 17, 2012, at approximately 5:28 p.m. the Nashua Police Department received information regarding a domestic violence incident in which Gerrard had strangled and sexually assaulted a female who was known to him. The investigation was furthered by members of the Domestic Violence Unit. The subsequent investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Gerrard. After the completion of the investigation, Gerrard was charged with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault, Class A Felony; Domestic Violence, Second Degree Assault, Class B Felony; five counts of Domestic Violence, Simple Assault, Class A Misdemeanor; and two counts of Domestic Violence, Criminal Threatening, Class A Misdemeanor.
A Class A Felony is punishable by a minimum of seven years in New Hampshire State Prison, exclusive of fines. A Class B Felony is punishable by up to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison, exclusive of fines. Each Class A Misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail, exclusive of fines. Gerrard is being held at the Nashua Police Department with a bail of $75,000 cash pending his arraignment at the 9th Circuit-District Division-Nashua Court on November 19, 2012."
Press release:
"On November 18, 2012, members of the Nashua Police Department Domestic Violence Unit arrested a Nashua resident on a warrant for Domestic Violence, Second Degree Assault, Class B Felony. Jamie Gerrard, 39, of 68 Allds Street, Nashua, was arrested at his residence at approximately 1:50 a.m.
On November 17, 2012, at approximately 5:28 p.m. the Nashua Police Department received information regarding a domestic violence incident in which Gerrard had strangled and sexually assaulted a female who was known to him. The investigation was furthered by members of the Domestic Violence Unit. The subsequent investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Gerrard. After the completion of the investigation, Gerrard was charged with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault, Class A Felony; Domestic Violence, Second Degree Assault, Class B Felony; five counts of Domestic Violence, Simple Assault, Class A Misdemeanor; and two counts of Domestic Violence, Criminal Threatening, Class A Misdemeanor.
A Class A Felony is punishable by a minimum of seven years in New Hampshire State Prison, exclusive of fines. A Class B Felony is punishable by up to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison, exclusive of fines. Each Class A Misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail, exclusive of fines. Gerrard is being held at the Nashua Police Department with a bail of $75,000 cash pending his arraignment at the 9th Circuit-District Division-Nashua Court on November 19, 2012."
My life and a clockwork orange
- Mitchell Golas
In the novel A Clockwork Orange, the protagonist is a teenage male who has a gang that he hangs out with. While I am not in a gang, I do have a group of friends that I spend time with. My life is not like the life portrayed by Alex. My friends and I spend time skiing, fishing, or other similar activities. In the book, the teen gangs are involved in ultra-violence, and they seem to have no regard for anyone but themselves. I might agree that as a teen my life is my focus and I may not always consider others in the decisions I make. This selfishness is not to the extreme and not intended to cause harm, unlike the selfish acts Alex and his gang perform in the book. It is difficult to see how my life relates to the book, but knowing people who have been victims in acts of violence makes me sympathize with the victims in the story and view Alex as a thug, or criminal.
connections between my community and a clockwork orange
- Jared scanlon
The novel, A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess, relates to my life due to its violent content. This is because, like in the novel, the world around me is full of criminal acts. People are arrested every day for crimes such as theft, murder, or other felonies. Within my home town, there are many drug deals that have taken place, one being right down the street from my house. When I read about Alex and his gang, I think of the criminals that are out there committing similar crimes. I wonder what the real criminals are thinking while reading what Alex is thinking as he commits crimes throughout the novel. It makes me fearful because some criminals think as Alex does, and Alex is a psychopath. This book represents a specific thought process; unfortunately, it has been put into play many times by many different people.
Body dump
-Jared Scanlon
Back in February of 2012, a man walking his dog found a pile of human remains. This was located a wooded area of eastern Long Island, where it has been confirmed that the area around there has been a popular dumping ground for bodies. There have been over ten different bodily remains from murder victims there over the years, and authorities have not yet found the killer. This reminds me of A Clockwork Orange, mainly because Alex, the protagonist, gets away with almost everything he does. Through the beginning of the story, he had beaten up multiple people and robbed a store, yet he was not caught. Though he was arrested for breaking into an old women’s house, he was still released in a short period of time. This reminds me of all of the criminals who have gotten away with so much. Even if they do get caught, some of them are released much earlier than expected. I am scared to think that murderers can easily get away with such crimes.
The connections between my life and a clockwork orange.
- ryan ierardi
The biggest connection to my life is the violence because of what has been happening around me. With the recent school shooting in Connecticut, to the every day mugging on the streets of America, violence surrounds us and engulfs us; we have become so accustom to hearing all of the tragedy. But, looking past the violence, the message of the story brings out the largest connection to my life; it is the message of growing up. We, as humans, all grow up. Burgess displays this in his novel wonderfully. He dramatizes it to large proportions though, to show a much more large 'realization' of Alex. When i finished this book, i felt better on the inside; not because of reading about the violence, but because i accepted the fact that childhood has come and gone. I am now a senior in high school, and have been accepted to colleges; no matter what way you want to tell the story ( Burgess's novel or my life) the message is the same. To me, i connect the most to this novel in that manner. With the first half of the book connecting with the second half of the book the way it did, I can truly say that i understood the message loud and clear; with a feeling of happiness and completion. It is one of those books where you have to read between the lines, and look at the big picture to make connections and draw conclusions to what is happening. Other people may have interpreted the book differently, but this is what i had connected with.