Violence in Arabic and English Dystopian Narratives: The Novels Mercury and A Clockwork Orange as Models

Abstract

Among the myriad themes explored by dystopian literature, which delves into the pressing concerns of humanity’s future, violence stands out as a significant subject. This violence may manifest in two distinct forms: individual violence, which is overt and readily apparent, and institutional violence, which often remains insidious, cloaked in deceptive justifications. This study endeavors to illuminate the manifestations of violence within two dystopian narratives: Mercury by the esteemed Egyptian author Mohamed Rabie, and A Clockwork Orange by the renowned British writer Anthony Burgess. The research findings reveal that both narratives serve as cautionary tales against the perils of violence, asserting that it cannot provide a viable solution to societal issues. Each narrative compellingly argues that there exists no legitimate basis for the enactment of violence, and that hostile actions cannot be effectively countered with further aggression. In the English narrative, the narrator elucidates the role of narcotics in transforming individuals into beings stripped of consciousness and will. Conversely, in the Arabic narrative, the storyteller recounts the emergence of a disease that renders people both blind and deaf. In this context, both the drug and the disease serve as potent symbols of a shared affliction: a profound disconnection from reality and an unsettling acquiescence to the status quo imposed by governing authorities. The distinction between the two narratives lies in Mercury’s exploration of colonialism’s role in engendering violence or steering colonized societies toward it, while A Clockwork Orange portrays violence as a byproduct of World War II and the pervasive pessimism it engendered.