A Clockwork Orange

It is two years later, and Alex is now in Staja, the State Jail, where he was sentenced to serve 14 years. He is resigned to his sentence, though he calls the jail a “hellhole” and “human zoo” (88). His parents visit occasionally, and this is how Alex learns of Georgie’s death: He was killed by a homeowner during one of his robbery attempts. Pete and Dim escaped.

The one bright spot for Alex in prison is working for the chaplain, cuing up music for services. As long as the music contains some spiritual content, Alex is free to choose what he likes. He has become a favorite of the chaplain’s because he so clearly loves the music and has taken to reading the Bible. However, Alex is not religious; he simply enjoys the Bible’s smiting and sex. He thinks that the prisoners who believe the sermons are sheep.

Alex has developed a talent for snitching in prison, and shares both true information and stories he “made [. . .] up as I went along” (94). This ingratiates him with the Staja Governor (another term for Warden). Thus, Alex is offered the chance to participate in an experimental treatment, called Ludovico’s Technique, which would allow him an almost immediate release from prison.