A Clockwork Orange: Part 2, Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

The next day, Alex is subjected to more violent films, and they cause him so much pain that he begs the doctors to turn them off. Even footage of less horrifying transgressions, like a violent robbery, is enough to make Alex feel throbbing pain and nausea. Dr. Brodsky is delighted to observe Alex’s reactions, and tells the boy that he only has one film left to watch that day.

The doctors show Alex a clip of Nazi war crimes, set to the last movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Alex is sickened and particularly outraged that Beethoven’s music would be used in such a reprehensible context. “It’s a sin,” he says, “…using Ludwig van like that. He did no harm to anyone. Beethoven just wrote music.” Alex vomits, and the doctors unstrap him from his chair. While Alex drinks water, Branom and Brodsky discuss their surprise at Alex’s reaction to the music. They conjecture that, by having associated Beethoven with nausea, they have punished Alex for his crimes by ruining something he loves. “The sweetest and most heavenly of activities partake in some measure of violence,” like music, Brodsky observes—this is why Alex may be aversively conditioned to music.

Brodsky then explains to Alex that his injections administered a substance that conditions him to associate violence with nausea. Alex protests furiously, then feigns repentance. Brodsky is not convinced, and Alex must finish out his fortnight in treatment. For days and days, he submits to the same battery of horrifying films. One day, when the nurse comes to administer the injection, Alex punches her, but a group of orderlies comes to restrain him.

Alex endures more of the sickening movies. One morning, he is not given an injection, and he is told that he can walk to the screening room on his own. He is forced to watch more films, and is baffled that he still reacts with tears and nausea. The Ludovico’s injection is now in his blood, and will continue to affect him indefinitely. That night, Alex decides that he must escape. He cries out as if in pain; after some time, a skeptical orderly comes into the room. Alex hides from him and plans to assault him, but the thought of hurting the man makes Alex cripplingly nauseous. The orderly taunts Alex and punches the boy in the face for his deception. Alex then goes to sleep in order to escape a fearful feeling that it may be better to receive a blow than to deal one. “If that veck had stayed I might even have like presented the other cheek,” he observes.