Foreshadowing Animal Farm

George Orwell wrote Animal Farm in 1945 as a fable about the Russian Revolution, illustrating how easily people can be manipulated by leaders who act with different interests. In a manner similar to that of the Russian Revolution, Napoleon capitalized on the idealism of the other animals to put themselves in control. Did the pigs successfully do everything Old Major warned against? As Old Major continues his speech, it’s obvious that his points are foreshadowing some form of checklist of crimes that will slowly be ticked off, if you will. can see this as he talks about things like drinking alcohol or sleeping in bed. The Old Major essentially lays out the storyline before the reader finishes the first chapter. This is made all the more easy

This is demonstrated multiple times, such as when Snowball, Squealer, and Napoleon demonstrate their literacy. “The pigs now revealed that during the past three months, they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book that had belonged to Mr. Jones’s children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap.” (23) By writing commandments, and using human objects, the pigs subtly undermine the animals by creating a sense of inferiority simply backed up by the idea that the pigs use it for good, not evil. Without suggesting to anyone else to do the same and learn to read and write, the pigs create another way to intimidate and overpower the animals through writing and reading. By taking advantage of the poor literacy among the populace, the pigs can frequently change the rules when deemed necessary. When changing the commandments on the barn wall, the pigs are very up-to-date and quick to adjust the rules to fit how they are acting/behaving that day. “Actually the commandment read: ‘No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.’” (109) The pigs are quick to change up the rules when and where it’s mentioned. For example, when they begin sleeping in beds and the animals bring this up, the commandment magically changes to “No animal shall sleep in beds with sheets”