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Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Part 1, Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Men on the Moon:
Complaining about the world's priorities in Part 1, Chapter 2, Dim alludes to a famous historical moment:
What sort of a world is it at all? Men on the moon and men spinning round the earth like it might be midges round a lamp, and there's not no attention paid to earthly law no more
Burgess published A Clockwork Orange amid the famous Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Space Race, an extension of the nuclear arms race between the two nations, was an effort for both parties to display their military prowess, technological innovation, and economic power. The Space Race was followed internationally, as millions tuned in for each launch.
People like Dim, however, are not so interested in the men on the moon; they think the world should probably fix itself before worrying about moving on. By comparing astronauts in orbit to "midges round a lamp," Dim suggests that the Space Race is a playful excursion that undermines the administration of "earthly law."
However, this excursion is also, in part, what allows Dim to live the hooligan lifestyle he so enjoys. If people are paying attention to what's above them, they are less likely to notice what is around them.
