In Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange," the concept of free will is explored through the metaphor of a "clockwork orange." This phrase suggests that if a person can only act in a predetermined way, whether good or evil, they lack true agency. Instead of being a vibrant, living organism, they become like a mechanical toy, manipulated by external forces such as divinity or authoritarian control. This raises questions about moral responsibility and the nature of humanity.

The quote critiques the idea of individuals being stripped of their capacity to choose between right and wrong. It emphasizes that true existence involves the ability to make choices, which is essential for being genuinely alive and human. To be reduced to mere mechanisms is to lose one's essence, making a powerful statement on the implications of excessive control by higher powers, whether religious or governmental.