Similarities Between Animal Farm And Joseph Stalin

The seeds of totalitarianism can be in even the most idealistic societies, and brutality can be found in the makeup of some of the most preeminent leaders. Throughout history, dictators have rose to command and ruled with an iron fist. Those driven by their insatiable hunger for absolute power employ oppressive tactics in order to consolidate power. A period in which totalitarian dictatorship was prominent was the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, an allegorical novel over the Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin is effectively portrayed by the character Napoleon as a ruthless dictator who wielded immense political power; the two leaders are distinguished for their oppressive political tyranny as well as their attempts to achieve social and

Jones is overthrown; in his reign, he employs tactics of fear and oppression. Napoleon assumes dictatorial command when he chases off his primary rival, Snowball, with the assistance of his dogs. After Snowball was banished from the farm, the dogs, who “wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones”, followed Napoleon as he “mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech” and took leadership (Orwell 54). With the presence of his attack force of nine dogs instilling fear in the animals, Napoleon forcibly assumes leadership through his cruel and treacherous methods. Similarly, Stalin utilized political manipulation and ordered his secret police force to slaughter his opponents to claim his title as leader. Furthermore, Napoleon advocates the building of a windmill to establish a self-sufficient economy for the farm. He had initially objected to Snowball’s idea of a windmill, which planned “to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power” (Orwell 48). However, when Napoleon drove Snowball out of the farm, he claims that he “‘had seemed to oppose the windmill’”, and without the presence of Snowball, “‘the plan could go forward without interference’”; in reality, he takes credit of the plan because he views this chance as an opportunity to strengthen his grip on the community and upgrade the farm under his

Napoleon parallels with Stalin as a political tyrant who was fueled by his paranoia to be an absolute autocrat. George Orwell effectively and accurately depicted Stalin and his actions and ideals in his allegorical novel. The portrayals of these figures provide insight on the Russian Revolution as a whole. Through its accurate representations, Orwell’s honest criticism of the totalitarian regime successfully explores the underlying morals and values of the complex societies and their