Similarities Between 1984 And Animal Farm

When comparing two pieces of writing, they may seem broadly different but at a closer look, one may find they are fairly similar. In Animal Farm (1945), George Orwell shows Mr. Jones’ failure to run a farm; he drives his farm to the ultimate extreme. When the animals desire freedom and equality, Jones does not meet the wants and desires, so the animals start a rebellion. In comparison George Orwell’s 1984 (1949), Winston rebels against Big Brother. Through years of rebellion, Winston finds someone that feels the same as he does. As a result, Winston is turned into the Thought Police/Party and taken to Room 101. While only four years separate these two novels, both explore how rebellion can lead to change. Both 1984 and Animal Farm demonstrate

Animal Farm first demonstrates irony by incorporating the seven commandments enforced and obeyed by the animals: “Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. No animal shall wear clothes. No animal shall sleep in a bed. No animal shall drink alcohol. No animal shall kill any other animal. All animals are equal,” (43). This illustrates dramatic irony because the animals are naive to the fact that the commandments are being altered by the pigs because the other animals are illiterate. With this the pigs will slowly take advantage of the animals “blindness” and take control of the farm. Another example of dramatic irony is when Boxer has been injured and taken away by the horse slaughter house, while the other animals believe that he is going to a veterinary surgeon. “The animals crowded around the van ‘Good-bye, Boxer’” (Animal Farm 123). Although the other animals believe that he will soon return to the farm healthy, Benjamin brings to their attention the words on the side of the van telling where Boxer will actually be going and assuring them that he won’t be returning to the farm. “Fools! Fools! -- ‘Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied’” (Animal Farm 123). Indicating just how naive the animals truly are, the animals believe Squealer when he tells them that Boxer had died

Tone is also the overall impression one gets while reading a piece of literature. 1984 can be described with many different tone words such as dark, cold, frustrated, and pessimistic. The overall tone of 1984 is one of unrelieved darkness. The characters are limited to the way that they can express their individuality.There is very little room for self-expression, and they must follow a dull schedule each and every day because they are under constant surveillance by Big Brother. The tone of the first chapter can be described as suspicious, cautious, controlling, or invading. On a “cold day in April” (1) when “the clocks were striking thirteen” (1)..Orwell describes a society in decline by using a setting of “gritty dust,” “hallways smelling of boiled cabbage and old rag mats,” “elevators not working, and electrical current that is turned off during daylight hours” (1). Orwell illustrates suspicion in the prior examples because the reader would be suspicious to the reason why the elevators seldomly work. Orwell also illustrates a feeling of being controlled because the characters cannot use their electrical current during the daylight hours. The tone of 1984 reveals totalitarianism for what reality is - relentlessly dark and pessimistic. Even in Winston’s time of salvation with Julia, Orwell’s diction is still cold and of hopelessness. The feelings are of cold and hopelessness because