Set in a dystopian future, the novel opens with the introduction of protagonist, fifteen-year-old Alex (the character’s surname is never revealed in the novel) who, with his gang members (known as “droogs”) Dim, Georgie and Pete, roam the streets at night, committing crimes for enjoyment.
Essentially, the first part of the novel is a character study of our protagonist. We learn that Alex is articulate and clever, enjoys classical music (that particularly of Beethoven) and finds amusement during the evenings in committing crimes and acts of sexual violence − justifying himself through his narrative voice. We learn that Alex and his “droogs” have their own language known as Nadsat, and their own hierarchy, in which Alex is the leader. There is a general disregard for the law or for older generations − creating an image of a youth movement which is taking control of this fictional future. (This of course being the exaggeration of the concern that came with the changing values of the 1960s, in which teenagers were becoming decidedly more unruly and rebellious.)
Part 1 involves Alex reflecting on his illegal activity (which involves the rape of two 10-year-old girls, and also the wife of writer F. Alexander) and describes the treachery of the droogs which results in Alex’s arrest and then later, prison sentence.
The use of lyrical language and Nadsat somewhat masks the horrible imagery of Alex’s actions, and, to some extent, Alex is able to draw empathy from the reader, through his friendly nature towards his audience (referring to them as his “only friends”, etc.)