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Machinations Of Power And Corruption In George Orwell's Animal Farm

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Animal Farm is known for its analogies of real people and groups in communist Russia. Although Animal Farm is a story suited for any age, the layers of meaning exhibit many things about the characters and who they are meant to represent. George Orwell’s depictions of the various species of farm animal attempt to explain the machinations of power and corruption. Orwell reveals the tyranny of the ruling elite in Animal Farm, using said rulers’ own language within the narrative. Orwell uses various “anthems” as metaphors for the state of Animal Farm; the hopeful and idyllic "Beasts of England", the ironic “Animal Farm” and finally the utterly worshipful “Comrade Napoleon”. “Beasts of England" is introduced by Old Major as he describes his dream of a world where animals are free. The lyrics describe a “Golden future time" devoid of humans, where animals prosper. Each verse adds details to the idyllic image being created, for example “fruitful fields”, “Cruel whips no more shall crack”, “Riches more than mind can picture”. This does reflect the mindset and hopes of the animals in the early days of the rebellion, and even the state of the farm itself, before Snowball gets driven away and they realise that the power­hungry pigs are taking over. In addition, “Beasts of England” is ironically prophetic, in all of the above examples turn out in the opposite way than they were meant to. Minimus’ “Animal Farm” is not revealed in it’s entirety, but that is not needed for Orwell to make
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