Alternate+Ending



When the novel was initially published in the United States, it was 20 chapters long. However, Anthony Burgess had written and planned on unleashing upon the public a full 21 chapters. That full version was published in Europe and has only recently been released in the United States. Although the two versions differ only in one chapter, that final chapter places an entirely different spin on the novel. Whereas the original American version ends with Alex being released back into the world with no more inhibitions due to the reversal of the Reclamation Treatment, the complete version adds closure. Alex forms a new gang of droogs and appears to go about business as usual, but he shows signs of annoyance and discomfort with his lifestyle. Upon running into his old droog Pete, who now has a wife and has settled down into small but satisfactory job, Alex realizes that his current life is not the one he wants to continue living. Instead, he chooses to follow Pete's path and give up the droog-lifestyle for a more "normal" arrangement. He understands that his children will one day grow up to be just like him, but he is okay with that notion. Youth are like wind-up toys that simply move in one direction, bouncing off of everything in their path, ending up in a new position by complete chance. Alex is prepared to guide his children through that process and he is prepared to subdue himself to achieve happiness. //"And all that cal."//