The manipulative characteristic of “Nadsat” in “A Clockwork Orange”
The function of the language, “Nadsat”, in “A Clockwork Orange” is used to manipulate viewers from the cruel actions associated with criminals and their wicked purposes in their everyday lives. In the following essay the function of language in both the novel and the film, “A Clockwork Orange”, will be discussed. Firstly, how language is used to create a buffer will be argued. Secondly, how language is used to make the viewer complicit in the actions of the narrator will be examined. Lastly, how language is used to prevent the viewer from judging Alex as unintelligent, dull or crass will be elaborated upon.
Burgess and Kubrick’s use of “Nadsat” in “A Clockwork Orange” changes the connotation of words of “normal” English. The use of the fictional language shields the reader from Alex’s complete horror of violence by creating a buffer between the definite actions and what the viewer understands (Nixon, 2009:5). Alex takes pleasure in committing wicked acts of violence upon innocent people, but because there are “new-found” words in which the viewer …show more content…
Burgess uses the “Nadsat” phrase, “O my brothers”, throughout the novel in order for Alex to speak directly to the reader as if they were his friends, creating a sensation of complicity (Nixon, 2009:6). An actor, playing an anti-hero character, may materialize less repellent through the use of language. In “A Clockwork Orange”, Malcolm McDowell is portrayed as an anti-hero character, but Kubrick uses language – in a first person narrative – for the viewer to create a feeling of complicity towards Alex for he, throughout the film, conveys honesty as soon as he speaks directly to the viewer (Ciment, 1982). Additionally, the reader and the viewer of “A Clockwork Orange” feel part of Alex’s squad and subculture instead of judging him for his appalling acts of
The function of the language, “Nadsat”, in “A Clockwork Orange” is used to manipulate viewers from the cruel actions associated with criminals and their wicked purposes in their everyday lives. In the following essay the function of language in both the novel and the film, “A Clockwork Orange”, will be discussed. Firstly, how language is used to create a buffer will be argued. Secondly, how language is used to make the viewer complicit in the actions of the narrator will be examined. Lastly, how language is used to prevent the viewer from judging Alex as unintelligent, dull or crass will be elaborated upon.
Burgess and Kubrick’s use of “Nadsat” in “A Clockwork Orange” changes the connotation of words of “normal” English. The use of the fictional language shields the reader from Alex’s complete horror of violence by creating a buffer between the definite actions and what the viewer understands (Nixon, 2009:5). Alex takes pleasure in committing wicked acts of violence upon innocent people, but because there are “new-found” words in which the viewer …show more content…
Burgess uses the “Nadsat” phrase, “O my brothers”, throughout the novel in order for Alex to speak directly to the reader as if they were his friends, creating a sensation of complicity (Nixon, 2009:6). An actor, playing an anti-hero character, may materialize less repellent through the use of language. In “A Clockwork Orange”, Malcolm McDowell is portrayed as an anti-hero character, but Kubrick uses language – in a first person narrative – for the viewer to create a feeling of complicity towards Alex for he, throughout the film, conveys honesty as soon as he speaks directly to the viewer (Ciment, 1982). Additionally, the reader and the viewer of “A Clockwork Orange” feel part of Alex’s squad and subculture instead of judging him for his appalling acts of