It may not be nice to be good

I find the scene before Alex goes to the Ludovico's technique, where he talks to the prison charlie interesting. I think it is here that Burgess's main message in the book is stated most clearly. The main message, or what I gather anyways, is that a good act is only good if it is chosen. What he is implying by this message is that liberty is paramount, even if evil is committed because of it. This is all well and good, until one considers that in this world, there are many actors. In this world, you have to compromise things that you want in order to live. In this novel, I think Burgess does not consider the plight of those who suffer by Alex's hand. he also neglects to confront the fact that an act is only bad if the thing acted upon is a being. For example, If I burn my favorite book, that is not bad because I have not harmed anyone (except myself), in the process of doing it. Anyways, the Prison Charlie does not realize that in a way, they have already forced Alex down a path, at least for the most part. Prison has two purposes, one I agree with it, and one I do not. The first is to reform people so they do not pose a danger to those around them. The second is vengeance. Anyways, my point is that Alex's freedom has already been sacrificed for the majority. He has already been forced to not do evil. If one objects to this and says, oh but we should not limit the individual in order to safeguard society. Well, society is actually full of many individuals, and it would not be far to give some special allowances to be evil in order to give them the choice between good and evil.