Animal farm is a book written by George Orwell. The book is a reflection of the events of the Russian Revolution and Joseph Stalin’s rise to power. Joseph Stalin is represented by Napoleon and the story follows the events that lead up to Napoleon’s rule over Animal Farm. During the novel, Napoleon uses both psychological and physical fear to control the animals. This is proved by Napoleon using Jones and Snowball as a Physiological fear, to prevent rebellion.
In this story of Animal Farm, it represents characters and situations that establish a certain time in the Russian Revolution. Also animal farm reflects the Russians and farmer Jones that it represents the Russians Czar. Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, and Snowball is Leon Trotsky. Boxer serves as an allegory for the Russian who help out to establish the Soviet Union. Animal Farm failed because not all animals are equal.
When first reading George Orwell’s Animal Farm, one might assume it to be a simple narrative about Farm Animals. However, through closer analysis, you begin to see the allegorical connections and satire of the work. By drawing parallels to certain major events and individuals from the Russian Revolution, Orwell is able to provide a political commentary about the harsh conditions caused by the Revolution. In George Orwell 's Animal Farm, he uses Napoleon, Snowball, and Mr. Jones to show the allegorical connections, as well as its satirical motives.
The political satire Animal Farm by George Orwell is a reference to the Soviet Union’s corruption. The quote in the book Animal Farm stated "There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran: ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” (Orwell 134). The lesson learned from this quote is that communism is not what it was meant to be. This means that communism looks good at first but always ends up being the complete opposite of the communist idea.
Power. It is the world’s most dangerous asset anyone can hold on to. It can be used for prosperity or for a complete destruction depending on the person. As the famous Lord Acton 's quote says, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Animal Farm stands for the best example that can display this matter in a clearer and funnier version.
Power. It is the world’s most dangerous asset anyone can hold on to. It can be used for prosperity or for a complete destruction depending on the person. As the famous Lord Acton 's quote says, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Animal Farm stands for the best example that can display this matter in a clearer and funnier version.
The Russian Revolution is a governmental overthrow of a ruling that took place in the early twentieth century. Prior to the revolution, Russia was ruled by Czar Nicholas II who was a part of the last reigning Russian monarch, the Tsar. The Tsar had complete power in Russia as he owned much of the land, commanded the army, and controlled the church. During the reign of the Tsar, the Russian citizens were treated badly and unfair. They experienced vigorous labor in dangerous conditions for little pay and were without food and money countless times.
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is a story to show how absolute power corrupts, just as Stalin’s power did during the Russian Revolution in 1917. In the allegory “Animal Farm” each character represents a political figure from the days around the Russian Revolution. For example, Joseph Stalin is represented by a pig named Napoleon, Squealer, another pig, represents Stalin’s propaganda department, and the dogs represent the Secret Police (KBG). Using the nine dogs that Napoleon raises (intimidation), Squealer (propaganda), and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon was able to gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon at all times are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so that they do not disobey Napoleon.
The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupt, then forgotten. This is all due to the lust for power that the pigs Napoleon and Snowball have that made them all selfish and corrupted. Animal farm in context to The Russian Revolution in terms of corrupting influence of power : Orwell 's goal was to portray the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union that resulted in a more oppressive and deadly government than the one it overthrew.
Power can be a wonderful thing, which leads to success. On the other hand, misusing it can lead to corruption, depending on who is handling it. George Orwell in his book Animal Farm uses animals to show that humans abuse their power. The most significant topic in the novel is the abuse of power that keeps happening again and again. When unconstructive human qualities take over what is really important and overcome one's ability to govern competently, power is corrupted.
Animal Farm’s intentions were to be an allegory of the Russian Revolution and both were uses of propaganda in similar ways. In the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks used propaganda to declare their laws and rules to the Russian population and their authority of the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, propaganda was mostly used by the pigs. The use of propaganda allowed Napoleon to persuade the animals that Snowball was the reason their hard work of the windmill was wasted and that he was the reason of all the negative aspects of their lives. Also, the use of propaganda also benefited the pigs into having to do less work at times or them gaining the most apples or milk.
The quote by Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” is a good example of what is happening in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. The pigs immediately gain control and leadership of the farm and eventually start to abuse the power. The pigs abuse their power by changing the commandments, living in luxury, and by treating the animals poorly. First and foremost, the pigs start changing the commandments to fit their acts and desires. In the beginning of the story, the animals decide on fair rules that everyone on the farm should abide by.
“The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them ( Karl Marx )”. Russia was under many decades of oppression, but that only happened due to the citizens. The lack of a good leader in the Russian Revolution led to many unnecessary situations and had terrible side effects on the nation such as poverty. George Orwell used Animal Farm to represent the important situations and people. The story was based on a farm which represented Russia during the Revolution.
In Animal Farm, we see the sinister theme of abuse of power and corruption displayed throughout the story. The epitome on how the pigs abused the power was how they manipulated the 7 commandments to their own benefit. The 7 commandments were inscribed on the wall and they would form “an unalterable law by which all animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after”. Ironically, the 7 commandments were changed one by one to suit the benefit of the pigs. For example, when the pigs discovered a case of whiskey and got drunk, they got attracted to the taste of alcohol.
It is important to remember that this period represented the recent past and present at the time of writing and that Orwell understands the significance of the story’s action to be immediate and ongoing rather than historical. Analytical Review Chapter 1 Although Orwell aims his satire at totalitarianism in all of its guises - communist, fascist, and capitalist - Animal Farm owes its structure largely to the events of the Russian Revolution as they unfolded between 1917 and 1944. Because of Animal Farm’s parallels with the Russian
