SSC Film Studies

During the finale, how are both Alex and the spectator rewarded?

It could be argued that both Alex and the spectator are rewarded due to the Male Gaze theory by Laura Mulvey. In the very last scene we get the imagination of Alex in a erotic scene, which gives both Alex and the spectator joy and enjoyment as it shows that Alex is back to normal and can go back to his original ways before the treatment without feeling sick. As we have aligned with Alex this is a positive and rewarding scene as it shows that he has returned and is again the violent murderer that we saw during the first part of the film, and we are no longer in the uncomfortable part of the film in which Alex is either being tortured or beaten up for his previous doings.

It provides a conclusion to the film that is enjoyable to the spectator as they find out Alex goes back to his original disgusting ways and instead feel happy for him instead of feeling disgusted, even though Alex is a rapist and murder and a threat to society as a whole.