Greene and Burgess create conflict within the characters of 'Brighton Rock' and 'A Clockwork Orange' to highlight their separation from/in society. Respond to this statement - commenting on language, structure and form. -Amy, Tasha and Georgie
Pinkie as a character is rife with internal struggle as he attempts to prevent the expression of his emotions. This can be seen as a reflection of his struggle to be accepted into society. A reflection of this is that Pinkie’s emotional outbreaks are brought on by music, an integrally social expression of emotion and feelings. This can be interpreted as society oppressing Pinkie, and his yearning to interact with music is a reflection of Pinkie’s secret want to escape from his mob and be integrated into society. This is reflected by “He shut his eyes to hold in his tears, but the music went on—it was like a vision of release of an imprisoned man”. The motif of music is used greatly throughout Brighton Rock allowing the reader to be presented with Pinkie’s emotions as being restrained and imprisoned within him like his want for his integration with society. This is structurally significant as the perforation of this motif and the development of it having a greater impact on him throughout the novel signifies Pinkie’s emotions, and society, destroying Pinkie from the inside. The use in this paragraph of imagery such as “steel bands” and “imprisoned” denotes imprisonment, signifying how Pinkie‘s emotions are trapped within himself. The fact that this paragraph is focalised through Pinkie allows the reader to experience Pinkie’s emotions with him and allows them to appreciate the significance of this piece within the contexts of the text. Alex’s internal struggle is shown when the state oppresses his mind and free will and he is unable to express his true desires. This is a way in which society causes the internal distress within Alex. Overall internal struggles are used within the protagonists in both novels to signify some sort of conflict between themselves and the empathy of society.
In A Clockwork Orange, Burgess highlights Alex’s separation from society through the use of the “sickness” that is brought on whenever he imagines doing what he considered normal on the streets with his gang of friends. This is evident in the quote “I got this picture in my mind’s glazzy of this insulting chelloveck howling for mercy with the red red krovvy all streaming out of his rot, and hot after this picture the sickness and dryness and pains were rushing to overtake”. The word “streaming” demonstrates the extent to which he wants to harm his tormentor as it implies a constant flow of blood and the word “howling” is an animalistic word that is associated with extreme pain so to be “howling for mercy” implies that he will be unable to help it as it is the only way to prevent any more pain from being inflicted on him. Also that he could picture it in his “mind’s glazzy” demonstrates how this reaction is natural to him as he is immediately able to view what he wants to do to him, demonstrating that his natural reaction is to cause large amounts of pain. However this image is immediately followed by “sickness and dryness and pains” which are associated with being ill and is a sensation that was forced onto him during his ‘treatment’ to prevent him from performing any harm to others by others in society, the government, so highlights the extent of the differences between him, or nadsats, and the rest of society who regard this as an abhorrent reaction that should be prevented at all costs. It is significant that simply imagining this causes a physical reaction that is strong enough to counter a lifetime of habits and actions that Alex has and again demonstrates the extent to which he differs from others in society when this reaction would be acceptable for other nadsats. The word “chelloveck” is significant as it is a generalised term that implies he doesn’t care who his tormentor is and still has no problem with imagining harming him to the point that he would begin “howling for mercy”, this demonstrates the extent to which his violent tendencies run and how it directly contrasts with how others would react in this situation. Overall this demonstrates how the rest of society regards his natural tendencies as abnormal and disgusting so force him to conform to their perspectives on what is right and natural by making him physically sick whenever he contemplates a violent action.
In Brighton Rock Pinkie is subject to a detachment from society through no fault of his own, in his eyes. When describing his place of origin the omniscient narrator, although focalised through Pinkie, says "there was not much choice of direction... Only one door." the implication of this being only focalised through Pinkie, rather than said by him removes some of the possible bias that comes from dialogue, and reveals information closer to the truth, as a result of the impartial narrator. The idea that there was "not much choice in direction" does somewhat contradict the statement, however, because it does hint to there being things Pinkie could have changed, whether or not he himself would admit it, as shown by the word "much", despite the fact that this only lends itself to small changes, such changes would have taken effect early on in Pinkie's life, potentially creating a different person, in comparison with the shell of a boy that we see at the end of the novel. Furthermore, one aspect of Pinkie's detachment from society is his oddity, a boy of 17 being repulsed by all that society expects of him, he doesn't drink, he's disgusted by sexual intimacy, even music, he can't stand, all of these things are ordinary and play a part in the average 17 year old's life, to be separate from this due to his own mind, and the impact that these supposed joys have on him. Although reinforcing the idea that yes, Pinkie is detached and estranged from society, it also begs the reader to sympathise and understand why, whether they may make the decision to feel sorry for Pinkie, at leas the can be judged fairly.
Within Brighton Rock Greene presents the character of Pinkie as one whom almost constantly struggles with an internal conflict between his adult perspective of the world and his childlike perspective of the world. This idea is introduced almost immediately when the reader first meets Pinkie in the novel, “He had a fair smooth skin, the faintest down and his grey eyes and an effect of heartlessness like an old mans in which human feeling had died” This description of the boy is Almost oxymoronic due to the conflicting images of smooth skin of a child to the grey eyes of an old man. This imagery is reflective of a lot of Pinkies actions throughout the book, on some occasions he is full of pride and seems to act in a slightly twisted and childish manner whereas in other situations he keeps his cool and acts with the firm authority of an adult. This internal conflict that Pinkie seems to experience is clearly meant to be a prominent theme throughout the text as it is established very early on in the novel planting the theme in the readers mind to grow and develop throughout the story. This conflict highlights Pinkies separation from society as any normal child his age would not usually have to deal with any of the issues that Pinkie has due to his involvement in the mob. Similarly in A Clockwork Orange Burges presents Alex as having an internal conflict to show his separation from society as a member of the youth culture this highlights to the audience how the younger generations of a society are often ignored and not given credit by governments or political parties presenting flaws in the corrupt political system that Alex is under the power of.
In the novels Brighton Rock and A Clockwork Orange there is both external and internal conflict within the characters of Pinkie and Alex, which in the novel Brighton Rock, alienates Pinkie even more. However in A Clockwork Orange the disturbed things he carries out are more accepted by the ‘teen culture’ but is still seen to be a problem for the state, so the removal of his free will (undertaken by the state) separates him further. Through the character of Pinkie we see the internal conflict of experience vs innocence, he feels isolated from society as he lacks experiences associated with the more pleasurable sides of adulthood (drinking, sex). We see this in the quote “’you’ve got the doings haven’t you? Sylvie asked. With fear and horror he thought: next move, what is it?’” This shows Pinkies insecurities making him seem vulnerable and weak. The words ‘fear’ and ‘horror’ are not usual words we associate with Pinkie, which reminds the reader of Pinkies age, as he is only 17, making him seem further separate. Throughout the novel there is a sense of everything to Pinkie being about tactics, and a game which is a very sinister outlook on life, as it’s much more complex this is mirrored through ‘next move, what is it?’ This also brings out his age further, as it is all seen as a game to him. Also Pinkie has the external conflict with Rose; how he needs her but can’t stand being with her, due to Pinkies innate evil he cannot help but let this show in the ways he treats her. “’There is no honeymoon… We’re not married, don’t forget that.’” This shows Pinkies manipulation of religion and Rose, he uses both as a way of shielding himself from his more serious problems. The extent which Pinkie goes to, to ‘save’ himself in the obsessive search for something more, separate him further from society as he lacks understanding. ‘He couldn’t see through other people’s eyes or feel with their nerves.’ In this quote you see how removed Pinkie is from society, and also his acknowledgment of this, which suggests maybe this is how he wants it to be. The third person narrative further shows this as it doesn’t allow the reader to gain any emotional attachment, mirroring his isolation with everyone else. As well as this, throughout A Clockwork Orange we see the exclusion of Alex from society due to his internal conflict of how he enjoys the acts of mindless violence and misery that he inflicts on others in comparison to his realisation at the end of the novel of how maturing is a vital aspect of life and must be undertaken in order to have any hope of survival. This conflict is shown in the quote “and all it was was that I was young. But now as I end this story, brothers, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like growth up, oh yes.” This quote shows how Alex has almost seen the error in his young, ‘childish’ ways and how he has come to terms with the fact that his survival depends on his ability to mature. This is because whilst acting in such an immature fashion, he is completely alienated from society and therefore feels like he does not belong and therefore less willing to make the effort in order to do so.
Throughout the novel ‘Brighton Rock’ Greene presents the character of Rose as young girl swallowed up by society yet is unable to ‘fit in’ or be fully accepted within society due to her ignorance and inexperience to socially acceptable attitudes and practises such as sex. Rose’s blindness to society’s views is made apparent to the reader shortly after she marries Pinkie as she feels that marriage is epitome of adulthood within society. Shortly after, Greene presents Rose when “She smoothed it out and read a pencilled message: ‘Lock your door. Have a good time.’ She didn’t understand it: it might as well have been in code – she assumed it must have something to do with this foreign world where you sinned on a bed”. The quote conveys Rose’s internal conflict between her perception of and desire to conform to society and her naivety and simplicity within this “foreign world” which ultimately illustrates her separation in society. Rose’s use of the word “code” to describe the obvious prompt/hint about sex not only implies the complexity of the image to her, yet also her ignorance and disregard about society as she is unable to understand or ‘crack’ the “code”. Rose’s description of sex as a “sin” not only illustrates her religious attitudes restricting her in society but is also a direct comparison to at the very end of the novel where she is discussing her pregnancy in confidence with the religious man and shows pride in her child with Pinkie despite it being “damned”. The use of the 3rd person narrative perspective in this quote represents the rest of society’s higher status and perspective over Rose as a result of her inexperience. In contrast, within ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Burgess presents the character of Alex as a character who, despite his wider understanding of society, is not accepted or fully understood by society himself. Alex complex and elaborate understanding is shown when he states “But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self”, yet not even someone close to Alex such as his social worker is able to understand his motives for his corrupt actions as he asks Alex “is it some devil that crawls inside you?”. - Will Morley
Within Brighton Rock Greene uses the character of Pinkie to show conflict within society, Pinkie is a physcopath that is unable to fit into the new secularised world he finds himself in. This is due to his twisted viewpoint and his inability to adapt into society fully. This is empathised when he and Rose are unable to get a room in the Cosmopolitan, Pinkie replies with "i could kill you so easy" this shows his twisted mentality and his alienation in society. This conflict is also shown as an internal struggle with Pinkie whereby he is constantly questioning his actions such as marrying Rose. This alienation is seen from the very start of the book with the description of the boy described as having young ageless eyes, his rough upbringing and his inherent evil nature may be as a direct result of this. Rose is another means by which Greene presents the reader with conflict Rose is having an internal struggle with her questioning her own religious beliefs and her position within society with her love for pinkie blurring the lines between reality and real world.
In Brighton Rock, Greene presents the character of Pinkie to be hosting internal conflicts in a fight to repress feelings of emotions. This shows that Pinkie is both isolated from society but also embraces this level of separation and attempts to retain it. This is seen in the quote “He shut his eyes to hold in his tears, but the music went on—it was like a vision of release of an imprisoned man”. The use of the word release also shows this element of conflict as Pinkie is presented to be almost trapped in this state but is also evidenced to be forcing himself to remain like this in attempt to become objectively strong and powerful. The appearance that Greene gives to the Pinkie later in the novel encourages the reader to re-evaluate the character and also try to make them understand he is much more complex as they originally thought. This further develops the recurring theme of appearance vs reality. In the world that Greene has created, many aspects of Brighton appear simplistic and objective on the surface, but deeper down they often hold unprecedented complexity.
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ReplyDeletePinkie as a character is rife with internal struggle as he attempts to prevent the expression of his emotions. This can be seen as a reflection of his struggle to be accepted into society. A reflection of this is that Pinkie’s emotional outbreaks are brought on by music, an integrally social expression of emotion and feelings. This can be interpreted as society oppressing Pinkie, and his yearning to interact with music is a reflection of Pinkie’s secret want to escape from his mob and be integrated into society. This is reflected by “He shut his eyes to hold in his tears, but the music went on—it was like a vision of release of an imprisoned man”. The motif of music is used greatly throughout Brighton Rock allowing the reader to be presented with Pinkie’s emotions as being restrained and imprisoned within him like his want for his integration with society. This is structurally significant as the perforation of this motif and the development of it having a greater impact on him throughout the novel signifies Pinkie’s emotions, and society, destroying Pinkie from the inside. The use in this paragraph of imagery such as “steel bands” and “imprisoned” denotes imprisonment, signifying how Pinkie‘s emotions are trapped within himself. The fact that this paragraph is focalised through Pinkie allows the reader to experience Pinkie’s emotions with him and allows them to appreciate the significance of this piece within the contexts of the text. Alex’s internal struggle is shown when the state oppresses his mind and free will and he is unable to express his true desires. This is a way in which society causes the internal distress within Alex. Overall internal struggles are used within the protagonists in both novels to signify some sort of conflict between themselves and the empathy of society.
ReplyDeleteIn A Clockwork Orange, Burgess highlights Alex’s separation from society through the use of the “sickness” that is brought on whenever he imagines doing what he considered normal on the streets with his gang of friends. This is evident in the quote “I got this picture in my mind’s glazzy of this insulting chelloveck howling for mercy with the red red krovvy all streaming out of his rot, and hot after this picture the sickness and dryness and pains were rushing to overtake”. The word “streaming” demonstrates the extent to which he wants to harm his tormentor as it implies a constant flow of blood and the word “howling” is an animalistic word that is associated with extreme pain so to be “howling for mercy” implies that he will be unable to help it as it is the only way to prevent any more pain from being inflicted on him. Also that he could picture it in his “mind’s glazzy” demonstrates how this reaction is natural to him as he is immediately able to view what he wants to do to him, demonstrating that his natural reaction is to cause large amounts of pain. However this image is immediately followed by “sickness and dryness and pains” which are associated with being ill and is a sensation that was forced onto him during his ‘treatment’ to prevent him from performing any harm to others by others in society, the government, so highlights the extent of the differences between him, or nadsats, and the rest of society who regard this as an abhorrent reaction that should be prevented at all costs. It is significant that simply imagining this causes a physical reaction that is strong enough to counter a lifetime of habits and actions that Alex has and again demonstrates the extent to which he differs from others in society when this reaction would be acceptable for other nadsats. The word “chelloveck” is significant as it is a generalised term that implies he doesn’t care who his tormentor is and still has no problem with imagining harming him to the point that he would begin “howling for mercy”, this demonstrates the extent to which his violent tendencies run and how it directly contrasts with how others would react in this situation. Overall this demonstrates how the rest of society regards his natural tendencies as abnormal and disgusting so force him to conform to their perspectives on what is right and natural by making him physically sick whenever he contemplates a violent action.
ReplyDeleteIn Brighton Rock Pinkie is subject to a detachment from society through no fault of his own, in his eyes. When describing his place of origin the omniscient narrator, although focalised through Pinkie, says "there was not much choice of direction... Only one door." the implication of this being only focalised through Pinkie, rather than said by him removes some of the possible bias that comes from dialogue, and reveals information closer to the truth, as a result of the impartial narrator. The idea that there was "not much choice in direction" does somewhat contradict the statement, however, because it does hint to there being things Pinkie could have changed, whether or not he himself would admit it, as shown by the word "much", despite the fact that this only lends itself to small changes, such changes would have taken effect early on in Pinkie's life, potentially creating a different person, in comparison with the shell of a boy that we see at the end of the novel. Furthermore, one aspect of Pinkie's detachment from society is his oddity, a boy of 17 being repulsed by all that society expects of him, he doesn't drink, he's disgusted by sexual intimacy, even music, he can't stand, all of these things are ordinary and play a part in the average 17 year old's life, to be separate from this due to his own mind, and the impact that these supposed joys have on him. Although reinforcing the idea that yes, Pinkie is detached and estranged from society, it also begs the reader to sympathise and understand why, whether they may make the decision to feel sorry for Pinkie, at leas the can be judged fairly.
Delete- Ed Hobson
Within Brighton Rock Greene presents the character of Pinkie as one whom almost constantly struggles with an internal conflict between his adult perspective of the world and his childlike perspective of the world. This idea is introduced almost immediately when the reader first meets Pinkie in the novel, “He had a fair smooth skin, the faintest down and his grey eyes and an effect of heartlessness like an old mans in which human feeling had died” This description of the boy is Almost oxymoronic due to the conflicting images of smooth skin of a child to the grey eyes of an old man. This imagery is reflective of a lot of Pinkies actions throughout the book, on some occasions he is full of pride and seems to act in a slightly twisted and childish manner whereas in other situations he keeps his cool and acts with the firm authority of an adult. This internal conflict that Pinkie seems to experience is clearly meant to be a prominent theme throughout the text as it is established very early on in the novel planting the theme in the readers mind to grow and develop throughout the story. This conflict highlights Pinkies separation from society as any normal child his age would not usually have to deal with any of the issues that Pinkie has due to his involvement in the mob. Similarly in A Clockwork Orange Burges presents Alex as having an internal conflict to show his separation from society as a member of the youth culture this highlights to the audience how the younger generations of a society are often ignored and not given credit by governments or political parties presenting flaws in the corrupt political system that Alex is under the power of.
ReplyDeleteJack Wright
In the novels Brighton Rock and A Clockwork Orange there is both external and internal conflict within the characters of Pinkie and Alex, which in the novel Brighton Rock, alienates Pinkie even more. However in A Clockwork Orange the disturbed things he carries out are more accepted by the ‘teen culture’ but is still seen to be a problem for the state, so the removal of his free will (undertaken by the state) separates him further. Through the character of Pinkie we see the internal conflict of experience vs innocence, he feels isolated from society as he lacks experiences associated with the more pleasurable sides of adulthood (drinking, sex). We see this in the quote “’you’ve got the doings haven’t you? Sylvie asked. With fear and horror he thought: next move, what is it?’” This shows Pinkies insecurities making him seem vulnerable and weak. The words ‘fear’ and ‘horror’ are not usual words we associate with Pinkie, which reminds the reader of Pinkies age, as he is only 17, making him seem further separate. Throughout the novel there is a sense of everything to Pinkie being about tactics, and a game which is a very sinister outlook on life, as it’s much more complex this is mirrored through ‘next move, what is it?’ This also brings out his age further, as it is all seen as a game to him. Also Pinkie has the external conflict with Rose; how he needs her but can’t stand being with her, due to Pinkies innate evil he cannot help but let this show in the ways he treats her. “’There is no honeymoon… We’re not married, don’t forget that.’” This shows Pinkies manipulation of religion and Rose, he uses both as a way of shielding himself from his more serious problems. The extent which Pinkie goes to, to ‘save’ himself in the obsessive search for something more, separate him further from society as he lacks understanding. ‘He couldn’t see through other people’s eyes or feel with their nerves.’ In this quote you see how removed Pinkie is from society, and also his acknowledgment of this, which suggests maybe this is how he wants it to be. The third person narrative further shows this as it doesn’t allow the reader to gain any emotional attachment, mirroring his isolation with everyone else.
ReplyDeleteAs well as this, throughout A Clockwork Orange we see the exclusion of Alex from society due to his internal conflict of how he enjoys the acts of mindless violence and misery that he inflicts on others in comparison to his realisation at the end of the novel of how maturing is a vital aspect of life and must be undertaken in order to have any hope of survival. This conflict is shown in the quote “and all it was was that I was young. But now as I end this story, brothers, I am not young, not no longer, oh no. Alex like growth up, oh yes.” This quote shows how Alex has almost seen the error in his young, ‘childish’ ways and how he has come to terms with the fact that his survival depends on his ability to mature. This is because whilst acting in such an immature fashion, he is completely alienated from society and therefore feels like he does not belong and therefore less willing to make the effort in order to do so.
Eleanor and Tom
Throughout the novel ‘Brighton Rock’ Greene presents the character of Rose as young girl swallowed up by society yet is unable to ‘fit in’ or be fully accepted within society due to her ignorance and inexperience to socially acceptable attitudes and practises such as sex. Rose’s blindness to society’s views is made apparent to the reader shortly after she marries Pinkie as she feels that marriage is epitome of adulthood within society. Shortly after, Greene presents Rose when “She smoothed it out and read a pencilled message: ‘Lock your door. Have a good time.’ She didn’t understand it: it might as well have been in code – she assumed it must have something to do with this foreign world where you sinned on a bed”. The quote conveys Rose’s internal conflict between her perception of and desire to conform to society and her naivety and simplicity within this “foreign world” which ultimately illustrates her separation in society. Rose’s use of the word “code” to describe the obvious prompt/hint about sex not only implies the complexity of the image to her, yet also her ignorance and disregard about society as she is unable to understand or ‘crack’ the “code”. Rose’s description of sex as a “sin” not only illustrates her religious attitudes restricting her in society but is also a direct comparison to at the very end of the novel where she is discussing her pregnancy in confidence with the religious man and shows pride in her child with Pinkie despite it being “damned”. The use of the 3rd person narrative perspective in this quote represents the rest of society’s higher status and perspective over Rose as a result of her inexperience. In contrast, within ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Burgess presents the character of Alex as a character who, despite his wider understanding of society, is not accepted or fully understood by society himself. Alex complex and elaborate understanding is shown when he states “But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self”, yet not even someone close to Alex such as his social worker is able to understand his motives for his corrupt actions as he asks Alex “is it some devil that crawls inside you?”. - Will Morley
ReplyDeleteWithin Brighton Rock Greene uses the character of Pinkie to show conflict within society, Pinkie is a physcopath that is unable to fit into the new secularised world he finds himself in. This is due to his twisted viewpoint and his inability to adapt into society fully. This is empathised when he and Rose are unable to get a room in the Cosmopolitan, Pinkie replies with "i could kill you so easy" this shows his twisted mentality and his alienation in society. This conflict is also shown as an internal struggle with Pinkie whereby he is constantly questioning his actions such as marrying Rose. This alienation is seen from the very start of the book with the description of the boy described as having young ageless eyes, his rough upbringing and his inherent evil nature may be as a direct result of this. Rose is another means by which Greene presents the reader with conflict Rose is having an internal struggle with her questioning her own religious beliefs and her position within society with her love for pinkie blurring the lines between reality and real world.
ReplyDeleteIn Brighton Rock, Greene presents the character of Pinkie to be hosting internal conflicts in a fight to repress feelings of emotions. This shows that Pinkie is both isolated from society but also embraces this level of separation and attempts to retain it. This is seen in the quote “He shut his eyes to hold in his tears, but the music went on—it was like a vision of release of an imprisoned man”. The use of the word release also shows this element of conflict as Pinkie is presented to be almost trapped in this state but is also evidenced to be forcing himself to remain like this in attempt to become objectively strong and powerful. The appearance that Greene gives to the Pinkie later in the novel encourages the reader to re-evaluate the character and also try to make them understand he is much more complex as they originally thought. This further develops the recurring theme of appearance vs reality. In the world that Greene has created, many aspects of Brighton appear simplistic and objective on the surface, but deeper down they often hold unprecedented complexity.
ReplyDelete-Dylan
Delete