The Role Of Punishment In A Clockwork Orange

The question of what is right and what is wrong has been debated for a long time. It has evolved to what is observed in today's morals and ethics. These can be enforced through laws, incentives, or other methods. Not everyone follows these morals and ethics, which leads to them being punished. Punishment is another area of controversy. There are numerous ways to punish a criminal, some methods are more effective than others and in turn, some are more questionable than others. The best option is the most optimum and humane method of punishment. In the novel, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, the main character, Alex goes through this same conundrum. Alex is a juvenile delinquent who finally succumbs to the law and is subjected to a questionable …show more content…
It has been referenced in television shows such as The Simpsons, LOST, and Star Trek (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLudovicoTechnique). In the real world, this treatment is known as aversion therapy. The therapy does not require subliminal television messages. In other words, the objective is to expose a patient to a stimulus while also simultaneously being exposed to a form of discomfort. During the therapy, the patient usually engages in the behavior they enjoy while experiencing a dreadful taste, potent smell, or an electrical shock (http://psychology.about.com/od/typesofpsychotherapy/f/aversion-therapy.htm). Theoretically, when the patient associates discomfort with the stimulus, the patient will not desire to act upon the stimulus. This is exactly what the doctors try to accomplish with Alex in the …show more content…
This therapy can also be used to eliminate of unacceptable habits such as smoking, alcoholism, gambling, or any other addiction. Questionably, this technique has even been used to try and “cure” homosexuality. This alternative method is known as conversion therapy. Generally, the effectiveness of the therapy depends upon countless factors such as the type of method used or whether or not the patient goes through a relapse after the treatment. It is not unusual for the patient to return to their normal behaviors after not being exposed to the discomforts. One problem with aversion therapy is it lacks scientific evidence to confirm it's effectiveness. Not to mention how it can be wrong on an ethical level. It is not uncommon of for the patient undergo an increase in anxiety that ultimately interferes with the process. On top of this, patients have also experienced anger and hostility during therapy