Nader Sabawi Mrs. Benjamin IB HL English 11 May 26, 2024 Animal Farm: A Unique Portrayal of Corruption American socialist and labor leader Eugene V. Debs once said, “In every age, it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People.” George Orwell portrays these same ideas regarding tyranny in his novella Animal Farm. Originally published in 1945 immediately following World War II, Animal Farm depicts a farm that undergoes an animal revolution against their human oppressors in hopes of producing a society where animals rule freely and equally. However, these ideas of equality are slowly corrupted by those in power, eventually devolving …show more content…
Orwell begins his allegory with Old Major, an elder boar who initiates the revolution against humans with his ideas. He does so through various speeches and a song called “Beasts of England”. Through these methods, Old Major establishes the initial core belief that ignited the revolution against human oppression. Orwell uses Old Major’s leadership and influence over the animals to represent how revolutions initially started as a means for change. This is shown in the lyrics of the song “Beasts of England”, especially when Old Major sings it for the first time. Soon or late the day is coming, Tyrant Man shall be o’erthrown, And the fruitful fields of England shall be trod by beasts alone. (12) While these are only four lines of the 42-line song, they demonstrate the ideas that originated the revolution. Old Major presents ideas against tyranny in a way that promotes a utopian society in which animals can live. While ambitious and unlikely, the animal's belief in this utopia is unwavering. The naive animals easily accept this lofty belief of a utopian society, as they repeat Old Major’s ideas even after his