Animal Farm is a novella written by George Orwell that was first published in 1945. Many of the themes and ideas presented in this novella were influenced by politics during the first half of the 20th century.
Animal Farm tells the story of a group of animals living on the Manor farm under the rule of the cruel farmer Mr. Jones. Old Major, the wisest and oldest of the animals unites the farm against the humans. Driving the humans out, the animals begin their own society based upon democratic principles. Animals are expected to follow the seven tenets of Animalism and treat others equally. Life on the farm for the animals is physically demanding, but there is plenty of food and life is good. However, the pigs have complete control over Animal Farm’s government and this peace will be short lived. Power struggles ensue and life becomes hard. Overtime the seven tenets of Animalism are eroded. Animals lose their freedoms and are unable to challenge the pigs’ authority, who are backed by a vicious and fiercely loyal army of dogs. Slowly over time, the virtues upon which Animal Farm is founded lose their meaning and the pigs become indistinguishable from the human dictators that they overthrew. Is life any different now for the animals than it was before the rebellion?
George Orwell’s writing style in Animal Farm is allegorical in nature. Many recent events in world history are paralleled in Animal Farm, specifically WWI, The Russian Revolution, the rise of Communism in Eastern Europe, and WWII. The Russian Revolution of 1917 established communist in Russia. By the end of WWII, when Animal Farm was written, Communist Russia was immensely different from the principles upon which it was founded. Stalin had complete control over the Soviet Union and most of his political opponents such as Leon Trotsky had been exiled or killed. In Animal Farm, the animal revolution is an analogy for Bolshevik Russia. Certain characters represent historical people. Stalin is personified in Napoleon, the lead pig who completely controls Animal Farm. Napoleon kills off other pigs who oppose his rule or animals he considers disloyal. These are representations of Stalin’s purges that began before the second World War and continued into the 1950s. Throughout Animal Farm, the animals undergo negotiations with other farms to gain resources. At one point, Napoleon begins to purchase goods from a nearby farm known as Pinchfield. However, Mr. Frederick quickly turns against the Animal Farm, an analogy for Hitler and Russian involvement in the second World War.
George Orwell’s writing is short, simple, and to the point. He does not spend much time using figurative language or explaining a character’s feelings. He intentionally avoids using figurative language and chooses to use short words whenever possible.
Some characters in Animal Farm that represent historical figures include:
Old Major- Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin
Old Major's commandments of Animalism represent the communist theories created by Karl Marx (and Friedrich Engels) in his books The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Major also represents Lenin because he is the individual who ignites revolution.
Snowball- Leon Trotsky
Snowball is driven off the farm by Napoleon, similar to Stalin's rise to power when he exiles Trotsky to Mexico, thereby taking complete control of the Soviet Union.
Napoleon- Joseph Stalin
Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin because both take power as a dictator after revolution. Just like Stalin, Napoleon kills those he finds disloyal and bends the laws to suit his needs. George Orwell was strongly opposed to Stalin's regime and showed the corruption of the Russian Revolution through Napoleon.
Boxer- Proletariat working class
Boxer's immense work ethic and willingness to serve his fellow animals on the farm represent the working class of Russia. Boxer is manipulated by Napoleon and used for labor. He is lied to and controlled by the pigs, eventually being sold to a glue company who will slaughter him.
Farmer Jones- Czar Nicholas
Farmer Jones is an allegory for Czar Nichola the Second. Jones is overthrown by the farm animals, a representation of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Jones attempts to retake his farm later in the novella. This represents the subsequent civil war between the bolsheviks and supporters of the czar.
Squealer- Russian propaganda, specifically the state-controlled newspaper Pravada.
Squealer convinces the other animals to follow Napoleon and justifies the corrupt rule of the pigs. He represents how those who are in control manipulate others to keep their power.
Mr. Frederick- Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler
Frederick is a direct metaphor for Hitler. He enters into an uneasy peace with Animal Farm and the two cooperate briefly before he betrays them (As Hitler did to the USSR. Orwell's choice of a German name for him may also be a comparison.
Mr. Pilkington- Capitalist countries of the west such as the British Empire and the United States of America
Mr. Pilkington works together with Napoleon to stop his rival, Mr. Frederick. However he does not trust Animal Farm and fears that his animals will revolt as Mr. Jones' animals did.
There are many other authors who have explored themes represented in Animal Farm in their own novels. Perhaps the most similar novel is Orwell’s own 1984. Both of these novels deal with the idea of the government gaining increasing power. However, 1984 examines life under a government with complete and total control. Another similar novel is Lord of the Flies which shows how fast power can corrupt, even amongst good people. In Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies, many people in positions of power start off with good intentions, but become more corrupt over time. Any book that examines the political structure of the Second World War and the Soviet Union will have many similar themes.
Three Essential Questions Animal Farm seeks to answer:
A primary message conveyed by Orwell in Animal Farm is invariable social stratification in society. Despite the fact that the revolution begins purely and promises equality for all, these ideals are soon corrupted by desire for power. Orwell makes the statement that in any society a hierarchy will develop with the educated ruling over the intellectually inferior. He supports free thinking and education for all by showing the danger of a naive working class who are easily controlled. If the masses are uneducated, they can be controlled and a dictator such as Napoleon can rise to power.
In Animal Farm, the pigs gain power and strip other members of the farm of their rights. Most of the time animals are not as well educated or as smart as the pigs, and are powerless to stop this process. The masses are controlled using propaganda and those who question Napoleon's rule are outright killed. Gradually, over time, the pigs change the laws to fit their needs, until they have become just as oppressive as the humans farmers who were overthrown. It seems that Orwell's message is to point out the flaws with the Animal revolution (an analogy for the Russian revolution and communism). Napoleon and the pigs use oppressive and violent methods to maintain control as well as erode the rights of other animals. Members of society are powerless to do anything and most don't even realize what is happening due to pro-government propaganda and brainwashing.
Education can be used to manipulate and control the working class. If the masses are uneducated or illiterate, they will be unable to challenge the government’s abusive policies. In Animal Farm, the pigs bend the rules to fit their own needs and desires, without concern for the loyal workers. When animals become suspicious of these rule changes, the pig propagandist, Squealer, tells them that the rules have always been the same. No animals are smart enough to question the pig’s dominance. The pigs also use education to their advantage by spreading lies and favorable rumors. Young animals are taught to be loyal to the Animal Farm, and Napoleon is able to raise a ruthless army of dogs by teaching them “Four legs good two legs bad”.
I thoroughly enjoyed Animal Farm. I thought it was informative, interesting, and was a pretty easy read. Many themes and motifs found in Animal Farm are still relevant today and can be applied to the past as well as present. It doesn’t make my top 10 list because it is very short, but I definitely recommend it. Some other similar novels I can recommend are 1984, Lord of the Flies, and Brave New World.
Animal Farm tells the story of a group of animals living on the Manor farm under the rule of the cruel farmer Mr. Jones. Old Major, the wisest and oldest of the animals unites the farm against the humans. Driving the humans out, the animals begin their own society based upon democratic principles. Animals are expected to follow the seven tenets of Animalism and treat others equally. Life on the farm for the animals is physically demanding, but there is plenty of food and life is good. However, the pigs have complete control over Animal Farm’s government and this peace will be short lived. Power struggles ensue and life becomes hard. Overtime the seven tenets of Animalism are eroded. Animals lose their freedoms and are unable to challenge the pigs’ authority, who are backed by a vicious and fiercely loyal army of dogs. Slowly over time, the virtues upon which Animal Farm is founded lose their meaning and the pigs become indistinguishable from the human dictators that they overthrew. Is life any different now for the animals than it was before the rebellion?
George Orwell’s writing style in Animal Farm is allegorical in nature. Many recent events in world history are paralleled in Animal Farm, specifically WWI, The Russian Revolution, the rise of Communism in Eastern Europe, and WWII. The Russian Revolution of 1917 established communist in Russia. By the end of WWII, when Animal Farm was written, Communist Russia was immensely different from the principles upon which it was founded. Stalin had complete control over the Soviet Union and most of his political opponents such as Leon Trotsky had been exiled or killed. In Animal Farm, the animal revolution is an analogy for Bolshevik Russia. Certain characters represent historical people. Stalin is personified in Napoleon, the lead pig who completely controls Animal Farm. Napoleon kills off other pigs who oppose his rule or animals he considers disloyal. These are representations of Stalin’s purges that began before the second World War and continued into the 1950s. Throughout Animal Farm, the animals undergo negotiations with other farms to gain resources. At one point, Napoleon begins to purchase goods from a nearby farm known as Pinchfield. However, Mr. Frederick quickly turns against the Animal Farm, an analogy for Hitler and Russian involvement in the second World War.
George Orwell’s writing is short, simple, and to the point. He does not spend much time using figurative language or explaining a character’s feelings. He intentionally avoids using figurative language and chooses to use short words whenever possible.
Some characters in Animal Farm that represent historical figures include:
Old Major- Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin
Old Major's commandments of Animalism represent the communist theories created by Karl Marx (and Friedrich Engels) in his books The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Major also represents Lenin because he is the individual who ignites revolution.
Snowball- Leon Trotsky
Snowball is driven off the farm by Napoleon, similar to Stalin's rise to power when he exiles Trotsky to Mexico, thereby taking complete control of the Soviet Union.
Napoleon- Joseph Stalin
Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin because both take power as a dictator after revolution. Just like Stalin, Napoleon kills those he finds disloyal and bends the laws to suit his needs. George Orwell was strongly opposed to Stalin's regime and showed the corruption of the Russian Revolution through Napoleon.
Boxer- Proletariat working class
Boxer's immense work ethic and willingness to serve his fellow animals on the farm represent the working class of Russia. Boxer is manipulated by Napoleon and used for labor. He is lied to and controlled by the pigs, eventually being sold to a glue company who will slaughter him.
Farmer Jones- Czar Nicholas
Farmer Jones is an allegory for Czar Nichola the Second. Jones is overthrown by the farm animals, a representation of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Jones attempts to retake his farm later in the novella. This represents the subsequent civil war between the bolsheviks and supporters of the czar.
Squealer- Russian propaganda, specifically the state-controlled newspaper Pravada.
Squealer convinces the other animals to follow Napoleon and justifies the corrupt rule of the pigs. He represents how those who are in control manipulate others to keep their power.
Mr. Frederick- Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler
Frederick is a direct metaphor for Hitler. He enters into an uneasy peace with Animal Farm and the two cooperate briefly before he betrays them (As Hitler did to the USSR. Orwell's choice of a German name for him may also be a comparison.
Mr. Pilkington- Capitalist countries of the west such as the British Empire and the United States of America
Mr. Pilkington works together with Napoleon to stop his rival, Mr. Frederick. However he does not trust Animal Farm and fears that his animals will revolt as Mr. Jones' animals did.
There are many other authors who have explored themes represented in Animal Farm in their own novels. Perhaps the most similar novel is Orwell’s own 1984. Both of these novels deal with the idea of the government gaining increasing power. However, 1984 examines life under a government with complete and total control. Another similar novel is Lord of the Flies which shows how fast power can corrupt, even amongst good people. In Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies, many people in positions of power start off with good intentions, but become more corrupt over time. Any book that examines the political structure of the Second World War and the Soviet Union will have many similar themes.
Three Essential Questions Animal Farm seeks to answer:
- Is it possible to have a completely equal society? Will there always be inequalities? Will society always be divided into different social classes?
- How are rights eroded over time? Why do members of society let it happen? If rights are erased gradually by the government, will people even notice? Do they care?
- What roles do education and knowledge play in the preservation of political freedom?
A primary message conveyed by Orwell in Animal Farm is invariable social stratification in society. Despite the fact that the revolution begins purely and promises equality for all, these ideals are soon corrupted by desire for power. Orwell makes the statement that in any society a hierarchy will develop with the educated ruling over the intellectually inferior. He supports free thinking and education for all by showing the danger of a naive working class who are easily controlled. If the masses are uneducated, they can be controlled and a dictator such as Napoleon can rise to power.
In Animal Farm, the pigs gain power and strip other members of the farm of their rights. Most of the time animals are not as well educated or as smart as the pigs, and are powerless to stop this process. The masses are controlled using propaganda and those who question Napoleon's rule are outright killed. Gradually, over time, the pigs change the laws to fit their needs, until they have become just as oppressive as the humans farmers who were overthrown. It seems that Orwell's message is to point out the flaws with the Animal revolution (an analogy for the Russian revolution and communism). Napoleon and the pigs use oppressive and violent methods to maintain control as well as erode the rights of other animals. Members of society are powerless to do anything and most don't even realize what is happening due to pro-government propaganda and brainwashing.
Education can be used to manipulate and control the working class. If the masses are uneducated or illiterate, they will be unable to challenge the government’s abusive policies. In Animal Farm, the pigs bend the rules to fit their own needs and desires, without concern for the loyal workers. When animals become suspicious of these rule changes, the pig propagandist, Squealer, tells them that the rules have always been the same. No animals are smart enough to question the pig’s dominance. The pigs also use education to their advantage by spreading lies and favorable rumors. Young animals are taught to be loyal to the Animal Farm, and Napoleon is able to raise a ruthless army of dogs by teaching them “Four legs good two legs bad”.
I thoroughly enjoyed Animal Farm. I thought it was informative, interesting, and was a pretty easy read. Many themes and motifs found in Animal Farm are still relevant today and can be applied to the past as well as present. It doesn’t make my top 10 list because it is very short, but I definitely recommend it. Some other similar novels I can recommend are 1984, Lord of the Flies, and Brave New World.