It's important to bear in mind that he's not entirely Burgess' stand-in.
Janet's husband Howard is a much less likable character. But violence and murder are only a means to an end, never an end in themselves.
She's only interested in having all the wonderful things people on TV have, and she doesn't care how she gets them. If she had her way she'd just be left to enjoy herself innocently in random sex, random spending, and random travel. She's not a sadist like Alex, far from it. The nature of the pleasures is interesting, too. Only little by little do you notice that she's not much interested in other people, only in her own pleasures. At first she seems sweet, fun, down to earth and kind. Janet Shirley is so much fun as a narrator, she's the perfect foil for Alex in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. If she had her way she'd just be left to enjoy herself innocently Wonderful book, like dark chocolate - so sweet yet bitter at the same time. Wonderful book, like dark chocolate - so sweet yet bitter at the same time. “One Hand Clapping” is just as dark as Burgess’ later work “A Clockwork Orange” and equally insightful. As Howard realises the superficial nature of the twentieth century, his mind becomes clouded with a dark endgame that will illuminate the disgust that he feels towards society.Īlthough this is a short book it is incredibly well-written and embodies the author’s personal disgust at the rise of the commercial age. Janet has experienced more through her television than through the sum of her life experience. She even views her relationship with Howard as a superficial thing to be compared with couples on television. Janet, on the other hand, represents the common consumer who is overly influenced by television and swayed by material things. Howard often feels disappointed that his actions merely provide entertainment instead of enlightenment. There is a definite anger directed towards the game-show industry which values money and entertainment over the subject matter that they base their questions on. This book displays Burgess’ opposition against the emphasis placed on wealth instead of knowledge. However, all is not well within Howard’s mind as he proves that money does not change the commonplace ignorance of everyday life. Howard’s acquisition of wealth serves as a catalyst that allows the couple to enjoy the finer things in life. Howard possesses the uncommon gift of a photographic memory which he uses to win a large sum of cash on a game show. Janet is beautiful, but her education leaves a lot to be desired. Janet and Howard are lower-middle-class residents of Bradcaster who have fallen into a familial marital routine of working, eating, and watching television. Howard’s acquisitio This novel is a social satire that warns against the effects of complacency and too much television. This novel is a social satire that warns against the effects of complacency and too much television. And what he sees as the logical conclusion to his success isn't something Janet can agree to.more She's quite happy working at the supermarket, cooking for her husband three times a day and watching quiz shows in the evening.īut once Howard unleashes his photographic brain on the world, the once modest used-car salesman can't seem to stop. Janet doesn't want their lives to change that much. And it's a wicked world."Īverage couple Janet and Howard's lives begin to unravel when Howard's photographic memory helps win him a gameshow fortune. Because there may not be any future to bother about, you know. And it's a wicked world." Average couple Janet and Howard's lives begin to unravel when Howard's photographic memory helps win him a gameshow "Sometimes when I'm at work and waiting for customers I think about the two of us living like kings and not bothering about the future. "Sometimes when I'm at work and waiting for customers I think about the two of us living like kings and not bothering about the future.