Communism In George Orwell's Animal Farm

The beginning of the Twentieth Century saw the genesis of many new nations and governments. One of the most infamous was the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Its rise to power toppled the imperial rule of Czars in Russia and instituted the first Communist state. While the citizens originally welcomed the revolution, it soon became apparent they had simply traded one form of tyranny for another. As the USSR continued to develop, many European nations feared they would try to spread their dictatorial leadership. Following the aftermath of the Second World War, Russia used the period of rebuilding to do that very thing, creating multiple puppet states whose loyalty lay in Moscow. Many actions were taken to prevent further

Some are characters, like the greedy, immoral pigs. One, an aged boar named Old Major, first sparks the revolutionary movement eventually known as Animalism. Old Major declared, “Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labor would be our own.” Despite his founding role, Old Major did not get to witness his ideals come to fruition. This greatly parallels Karl Marx’s influence on Communism, as his doctrine inspired the U.S.S.R. over thirty years after his death. A new voice gave life to Marx’s teaching in the early 20th Century by way of Joseph Stalin, portrayed in the book by a pig named Napoleon. Napoleon appears at first to be a champion for the animal cause of equality. His true nature, however, is revealed as the story

through a farm allegory provided a new perspective to the world of the Cold War. Figures such as statistics and dates can be helpful for a hard, analytical viewpoint. However, abstract notions like greed, corruption, and simply evil cannot be quantified through such structures, though they are equally important when analyzing tyranny. Historical accounts are without question necessary to fully understand the context of events, but a different approach can illustrate the human qualities which fueled them. The setting of a British farm would be extremely potent for Orwell’s audience, as it was something they would all know well. It could be hard to imagine oneself in Communist Russia, but the old farm outside of town? Such a place could unequivocally drive the oppression home. It is this combination of a bare illustration of human nature with a familiar backdrop that makes Animal Farm so