In "A Clockwork Orange," Anthony Burgess explores the theme of free will and the nature of sin. He posits that the true essence of a person's character lies in their ability to make choices. When a person is stripped of this capability, they lose a fundamental part of their humanity, as the power to choose defines what it means to be alive and morally accountable.

The quote emphasizes that essential intentions and the freedom to decide one's path are foundational to the human experience. Without the ability to choose, individuals become mere automatons, lacking the moral agency that constitutes being fully human. This idea serves as a critique of systems that attempt to control human behavior, suggesting that such control can lead to a loss of identity and ethical essence.