Category: Animal Farm

The novel of Animal Farm shows the story of farm animals they worked to made rebel against their human farmer who treated them harshly, the aim of that rebel was to create an environment where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. The novel’s author is George Orwell , pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair(born June 25, 1903, India and died January 21, 1950, England) is English novelist and he was one of the world’s most influential writers and critic best known for his novels Animal Farm(1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four(1949). We will touch on the following paragraph on the major theme of this novel which is the Dream and Hope that animals get their freedom and live in society with no persecution.

The most slogan used by animals to represent their sense of Dream and Hope in their community without man is the following song: Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings of the golden future time. Soon or late the day is coming, Tyrant Man shall be overthrown, And the fruitful fields of England shall be trod by beasts alone. Rings shall vanish from our noses, And the harness from our back, Bit and spur shall rust forever, Cruel whips no more shall crack. Riches more than mind can picture, Wheat and barley, oats and hay, Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels shall be ours upon that day. Bright will shine the fields of England, Purer shall its waters be, Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes on the day that sets us free. For that day we all must labour, Though we die before it break cows and horses, geese and turkeys, All must toil for freedom’s sake. Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken well and spread my tidings of the golden future time (song end). The animal’s song objective can be found in the lyrics which the union among all beasts ‘of every land and clime,’ and a moment of a day when ‘Tyrant Man shall be overthrown’.

Also, the song tells their insistence on removing the tools of humiliation such as rings, harnesses, bits, spurs, and whips and no longer they will accept pain and hardship. The dream is clear in the song’s lyrics that they will be rich without the presence of man because they only need food and it is available. At the end of the song, the animals are charged with the hope that they have a golden future.

In conclusion, the song tells the Dream and Hope of the animals which a world without man that give mistreatment to them. The song came up with simple words that fit the natural of animal intelligence. This song was created to be an inspiration to achieve their dream and work hard to reach their goals, which is freedom and dignity.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel in which there is a character for whom we feel strong feelings of hatred. Animal farm is a story about rebel animals taking over the farm from their animal farmer but ends up being under the dictatorship of a pig called Napoleon. Napoleon is a character who is intelligent, contemptible, and cunning as the book ends with him achieving his end goal and making animal farms all his, all for his greedy little paws. This leads to a great deal of hatred towards napoleon.

One of the main reasons we have strong feelings for Napoleon is how he was corrupt by the power that he should not have had in the first place and how he took over the farm in one foul sweep. We think that Napoleon’s deceptive ways are how he took over the farm. The way that he used Squealer to manipulate the other animals to think that he is always right and to get the other animals to think that Snowball is the villain in the book was a smart move and an example of this was how he was able to get more food and luxuries than he should have got by using the other pigs to say that they needed it or else Mr. Jones would come back, which suggests that most of the other animals aren’t that smart. The luxuries are a symbol of corruption and how Napoleon is taking the most he can for himself and giving the bare minimum to the other animals. Orwell effectively uses this to develop the theme of corruption and deception.

As well as this, Napoleon uses the commandments to take over and accomplish his main goal of being the leader of the now almost dictatorship farm. But we have to give him something for his intellect, which is highlighted with the commandments and how he uses them to his advantage. Napoleon used the commandments to cover his and the other pigs’ tracks by changing them ever so slightly whenever he breaks a rule, which happened a lot. He broke a lot of small rules, which no one thought about, like sleeping in beds but he also broke a lot of bigger rules like “.”, yet the biggest issue is that the other animals are nowhere near as smart as Napoleon and the other pigs so they never managed to remember the commandments before they were changed and if the animals had as small as a suspicion that something was happening Squealer was always there to squash their theories.

Furthermore, the way Napoleon treats the animals is very cruel. We think that the way Napoleon uses the animals almost as slaves and makes the other pigs carry whips shows that he isn’t that much different than Mr. Jones was as “him and his 4 men were carrying whips.” Napoleon uses Mr. Jones as an excuse for the food issue, yet he is no better. He also treats the other animals as peasants as if he is in charge. Additionally, he forces the other animals to work and if they don’t they will get little to no food. An example of this is when he starves the chickens when they wouldn’t give up their eggs for money. We think that this makes him hypocritical as he barely does any work for the farm and only uses the farm for money, food, and whiskey. Napoleon acts like Mr jones did, in the way that he is using the animals for his personal greed and he doesn’t even take care of them.

Additionally, Napoleon develops those strong feelings of hatred and pushes our feelings of hatred towards him over the edge as he betrayed Boxer, the most hardworking and devoted member of the animal farm, and almost betraying the whole of the animal farm by chasing Snowball out and blaming Snowball for a lot of the damage caused by his lack of intelligence. He also says “do you know who is responsible for this? SNOWBALL” which shows us that he doesn’t like to admit he is wrong and doesn’t want to admit to the damage that was caused by his greed. Boxer spent a lot of time and work on the windmill but due to Napoleon’s lack of attention, he put the windmill at risk by almost challenging a neighboring farm to a battle, the battle of which ended up destroying the windmill, but Boxer doesn’t care as he trusts Napoleon. Boxer also puts a lot of trust into Napoleon when he says that “napoleon is always right”, and proves that he wants to almost impress him by saying “I will work harder”. He also emphasizes the fact that Napoleon is always right when he blames the animals and himself for the slaughter of animals and says that it must be down to “fault of themselves” and that “the solution as I see it is to work harder.” This was the biggest turning point in the book for us as this made us feel sympathy for Boxer and the rest of the farm and it also further developed strong feelings of hate towards Napoleon. Orwell successfully uses Boxer’s blind loyalty to create sympathy for the character.

George Orwell uses allegory to incorporate numerous symbols that represent elements and ideas of our world. Through his novella, Animal Farm, he sardonically mocks the Soviet Union and revolutions in general. Orwell demonstrates his view that control over the intellectually inferior combined with a government’s dismissal of its policies for personal interests can have drastically adverse impacts throughout the text. Firstly, he portrays the pigs’ command over the intellectually inferior enables them to do as they please without consequences attached, as well as conveying Orwell’s perspective on the importance of education. Furthermore, Orwell conveys that a government’s rejection of its principles leads to irreversible damage to them and the ones they exercise their ruthless authority over.

Firstly, Animal Farm’s recurring theme of the pigs’ control over the intellectually inferior allows an insight into George Orwell’s perspective on the importance of education. The theme of control in the text corresponds to Tsar Nicholas II and Joseph Stalin exercising their ruthless authority over the people, which led to disarray, as well as totalitarian governments as a whole. The greed of the Russian Elite, specifically Tsar Nicholas II, who continuously enslaved people to work for him, is demonstrated by Orwell’s use of repetition of rhetorical questions in Old Major’s speech “Man is the only creature that creates without producing.” Old Major places emphasis on how fruitless the animals’ work is, highlighting the sin and evil of man for the animals to join his dream of rebellion. George Orwell alludes to Joseph Stalin, using cumulative listing to satirise his attempts to create a divine image of himself in the paragraph “Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball… the whole farm was convinced Snowball had thrown it down the well.” Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat to relieve attention from his horrible deeds, therefore allowing him to execute some of the ‘traitors’ on the pretence he was ridding the farm of their enemies, further manipulating the animals. Orwell further mocks governments through the quote “Emphasising once again that the friendly feelings had subsisted, and ought to subsist, between Animal Farm and its neighbours.” He uses satire and irony to show that the original aim to get rid of the humans was forgotten, suggesting that all totalitarian governments are the same as they share the same goal- to maintain power by oppressing and exploiting individuals, especially those of the lower class.

Furthermore, the pigs’ governments’ dismissal of their policies leads to irreversible damage to them and the ones they exercise their ruthless authority over. This portrayal allowed Orwell to satirise the Soviet Union as a whole as well as revolutions in general. Through the lines “From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not, of course, for any commercial purpose but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary.”, It reflects Stalin’s hypocrisy and revisionism. Napoleon undermines animalism, of which the basis is humans are the enemy and are not to be trusted. This betrayal demonstrated that he did not seem to believe in the greater good for which he made his people work so tirelessly. Symbolically, it represented the start of the USSR trading with the west. Finally, the last quote of the book, “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible for them to say which was which” is satirised by George Orwell. He incorporates situational irony and analogy to portray his view that the majority of revolutions (such as the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917) end up failing because the leaders of them take power for themselves, manipulating the very people they promised to help. He comments that no society will be perfect because in any political system there is corruption. It describes how the pigs have become indistinguishable from a man after Old Major explicitly warns the animals not to become what they despise. They come to represent the animals greatest enemy, being seduced into the human traits of greed, control and deceit. In the end, they exchanged one tyrant for another- a bitter ending, but one that has played out many times over.

Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is a formulated allegory that explores marginalized groups during the Russian Revolution, through the use of language techniques and devices. The Russian Revolution severely affected the people of lower social classes as well as the relevance of classism, oppression, and segregation throughout the novel Animal Farm. Violation of human rights and systematic oppression towards the lower classes were not uncommon in Russia. The peasants and working-class of Russia were restricted from accessing basic necessities, such as food, water, and access to education. Forced slave labor and rationed food upon lower classes led to a rise in the Bolshevik Party, which popularised the ideas of communism in the Russian public. The period of major Russian political upheaval between 1917-1945 heavily influenced Orwell’s depiction of certain characters and groups throughout Animal Farm, as the transition to communism and the abolition of class systems created a major lifestyle change for all Russians.

The main marginalized group during the Russian Revolution was the Uneducated Working Class. Throughout Animal Farm, the character that most commonly depicted and effectively represented this social class was Boxer; a faithful, naive, and loyal horse. Boxer is the main laborer on Animal Farm and is the most susceptible to exploitation from authority figures, as a direct result of his blind faithfulness in Napoleon’s judgment. This becomes evident through Orwell’s incorporation of Boxer’s personal mottos such as “Napoleon is always right” (55). Repetitive and negative affirmation in Boxer’s mottos demonstrates the internalized mentality of self-blame and dependence of the Working Class. This is largely due to their lack of education and Orwell’s meticulous use of repetition, hyperbole, simple language, and irony builds on this dramatically. The focus on ‘Always’ exaggerates and adds an ironic element to the maxim, as it is blatantly incorrect – highlighting Boxer’s stupidity in the process. This use of hyperbole and repetition provides a better understanding of the environment and the relationship between Boxer and Napoleon, best described as a dictatorship. It becomes clear that Boxer is easily persuaded and controlled by Napoleon because of his gullibility. This was also true during the Russian Revolution, as the working class was subject to many vigorous anti-worker campaigns, but still remained faithful towards and dependent on Stalin to make effective decisions on their behalf. The marginalization of the working class during the Russian Revolution is heavily focused on their lack of education, which is particularly how Orwell depicts them in Animal Farm. Orwell consistently draws attention to Boxer’s “great muscles” (77) to show that he is a strong worker, but also to show that his mind is less developed. This representation brings a different understanding of this group and how they are considerably disadvantaged against the higher and educated social classes.

When Boxer is attacked by Napoleon’s dogs, instead of killing them, Boxer defers to Napoleon’s leadership. Regardless of the situation, Boxer is a loyal servant. Napoleon “sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go” and Boxer obeyed. Boxer’s obedience is a clear indication of Napoleon’s control over his actions, Orwell’s use of commandment and obedience in this passage helps to explore the extent to which higher power can manipulate minority groups into following orders, regardless of fatality. This reflects the lower social class during the Russian Revolution, as people were manipulated into ‘voluntarily’ placing themselves in life-threatening situations.

With one in every 5 Russians during the Revolution being peasants, this social class was the largest in Russia. Peasants owned less than nothing and regardless of making up over 20% of the population, peasants were considered less than human. Orwell’s representation of the peasants in Animal Farm was reflective of the social time during Russia. Hens are considered to be weak, pathetic, and stupid animals which is highly symbolic of the views towards peasants at that time. The Hens in Animal Farm are constantly ridiculed, controlled, and violated by those in power due to their helpless reputation. The hens are a class of animals whose labor can easily be commodified for humans.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a communist society? George Orwell wrote Animal Farm using the metaphor of animals on a farm to talk about communism. Animal Farm is based on the Russian Revolution and many of its characters are based on real people. Some examples of this are Napoleon representing Stalin, Snowball and Leon Trotsky, and the Old Major and Karl Marx (Sparknotes). The book starts off on a farm called Manor Farm. Jones, a cruel irresponsible farmer runs the farm. After the animals get fed up with Jones’ rule they rebel and kick him out. The animals then start living without human influence. Napoleon serves as the leader for the animals because of his superior intelligence. As time passes Napoleon and the other pigs begin to start ruling in their own favour and start changing the commandments to better suit them. Life gets worse and worse for the animals under Napoleon’s rule but the animals aren’t smart enough to realize what is happening. Finally, Napoleon and the pigs abandon the whole heart of the revolution and become just like humans. All these events show that Animal Farm is a good book because it has a good plot, interesting conflicts, and important themes.

The story started and developed well and did not have a clichéd ending which allows readers to form their own opinions. There were many interesting events that added to the tension in the book and made it more engaging. One such event is when the Old Major said “Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come…but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet that sooner or later justice will be done” (Orwell 5). The Old major proposes a rebellion and all the animals agree that humans need to be overthrown. This is the inciting incident. Another part of the rising action was when Squealer said “Comrades!’ he cried. You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples”(Orwell 23). Squealer was using his superior intelligence to trick the rest of the animals into thinking that they ate all the apples and drank the milk so that their brains would continue to function while in reality they just wanted them for themselves. “He announced that, by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon, ‘Beasts of England’ had been abolished. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it” (Orwell 59). Squealer announced that Napoleon banned the song Beasts of England which was a song they all learned from Old Major before the rebellion. He banned it because he didn’t want them to realize the harshness of their lives and the song talks a lot about independence. (Animal Farm by) Because of all these events animal farm has a pleasantly interesting plot.

The book also had a good conclusion which was when the pigs started to have discussions with the other farmers on equal footing and the animals realize that the pigs are no different from the humans. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which” (Orwell 95). This interesting, cliffhanger of an ending was a good ending for the book

Orwell does a skillful job introducing and developing the conflicts in the story. One main conflict in Animal Farm is Man vs Society. An example of the man vs society conflict in the book is when the Old Major said, “Our labour tills the soil, our dung fertilizes it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin”(Orwell 4). The animals were upset that they were doing all the work but only humans reaped the benefits. Napoleon was a cruel dictator and did not tolerate any opposition to his views. When the hens tried to oppose him “Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. He ordered the hens’ rations be stopped, and decreed that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be punished by death” (Orwell 51). Even though all the animals were supposed to be equal Napoleon altered it so that it said: “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”(Orwell 90).

Another prominent conflict in the book was Man vs Nature. “It was a bitter winter” (Orwell 49). The animals were already working in unfavourable conditions with Napoleon for a leader and the weather made matters worse. “In January the food fell short. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps”(Orwell 49). This further added to the animals’ misery. Because of the harsh winter, the results of the animal’s hard work had also been destroyed. “November came, with raging south-west winds…They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal’s throat. A terrible sight had met their eyes. The windmill was in ruins” (Orwell 47). Napoleon blames Snowball for this event even though it wasn’t really Snowball who had destroyed the windmill (Orwell 47).

Animal Farm also has several important themes that positively add to the book.

One such theme is that: Things that start off good can easily turn bad.

Even though the rebellion had started off well, now the animals lived in fear and were being oppressed. “Instead-she did no know why they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. When fierce, growling dogs, roamed everywhere, when you had to watch tour comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes.” The author also says that Clover thought “If she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race.”

Another prevalent theme is that: Power easily leads to corruption.

The animals had“Muriel read the Commandment for her. It ran: ‘No animal shall kill any other animal WITHOUT CAUSE.’ Somehow or other, the last two words had slipped out of the animals’ memory”(Orwell 61). Another shock to the animals when they saw the pigs walking in a line “It was a pig walking on his hind legs.”(Orwell 89) Napoleon and the other pigs completely rebel against the Seven Commandments and start walking on two legs even though the summarized Commandment said four legs good, two legs bad. this was the climax of the book.

Another important theme is that: Hard work gains respect. As the animals worked every day they realized that “Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together”(Orwell 41). Boxer was the hardest working animal it filled the other animals with admiration. “To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch, his breath coming fast, the tips of his hoofs clawing at the ground and his great sides matted with sweat, filled everyone with admiration”(Orwell 41). Boxers valour was recognized by everyone in the Battle of the Cowshed and he was rewarded for it.“The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration, ‘Animal Hero, First Class’, which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer”(Orwell 28).

Conclusion

As explained in this essay, Animal farm is a well-written book that has a strong plot with many tension building incidents like when Napoleon started changing some of the commandments to better suit him. The book also has an interesting conclusion that lets readers come to their own conclusion instead of a happy cliche ending. It also has good conflicts such as man vs society and man vs nature. these conflicts make the reader feel bad for the protagonists as well as keeping them interested. Last but not least it has important themes that can be applied to many areas of life. Many people have strong views on communism including Billy Graham who claims that “Communism is a religion that is inspired, directed and motivated by the Devil himself who has declared war against Almighty God.”(Billy Graham Quotes) Consider your government and its leaders carefully lest you end up like the animals in the book.

Only some animals can read and this can be taken advantage of. The pigs change the commandments over time based on what they want but the animals can’t remember or really read the difference. This helps the argument because the pigs are taking advantage of the animals by basically changing the rules to what they want based on the time without the animals knowing. Another example of when the pigs take advantage of the other animals inability to read, is when Squealer states that Snowball was in league with Mr. Jones based on these papers and he would show the animals the papers if they could read. This helps the argument because Squealer is using the fact that the animals can’t read to support his false claim. Along with that in this book the pigs take advantage of the animals inability to read by taking Boxer away to the “hospital”. The pigs thought they could get away with this easily because the Animals couldn’t read. Instead the pigs sent Boxer to a horse slaughter and only one person noticed while the rest cheered for Boxer going to the hospital. Shown in the book, Squealer in a speech against Snowball claims that there are papers that would show that Snowball is in league with Jones but can’t show them to the animals because they can’t read. “I could show you this in his own writing, if you were able to read it” (Orwell VII 24). This quotation is in the middle of one of Squealers speeches explaining how Snowball was in league with Mr. Jones and was fighting against the animals. At this point Squealer says there are papers showing the allegiance between Mr. Jones and Snowball and states that he would show them to the animals if they could read. This helps the argument because of the lack of ability to read, the animals are being taken advantage of by being persuaded with fake evidence because they can’t read. This helps Napoleon because it shows that Napoleon is a reliable leader and can find evidence against Snowball and also it “shows” that Snowball only had bad intentions.

Without basic knowledge of the world and work, the animals don’t know what is truly too much and an overuse of power. Throughout the book the animals don’t get any education and this causes them not to know what is right and what is wrong. In the book Napoleon is constantly ordering the animals around and forcing them to work all day every day. They don’t know that this is an overuse of power and they shouldn’t be forced around like this. This helps the argument because if they were educated on what a job is they would know that they should get paid, along with that they are only allowed to have a certain amount of time put in which would change everything on the farm, almost like a normal civilized society. Furthermore, the animals aren’t educated on the different types of government’s and how they should be run. Animal Farm was declared a Republic which should give the animals a lot more freedom along with voice in what is happening. This doesn’t happen in the book with Napoleon continuing to order the Animals around and not let them have an opinion. If the Animals were educated on different types of government then they should know that there has to be change. In a republic there is a leader but the leader makes decisions based on the people’s choices and opinions. Along with that they would most likely overthrow the pigs by knowing that it is a dictatorship. Finally the animals were not educated on anything. This makes it so the animals don’t have any ideas during meetings which basically means they don’t have any voice. This is important because the pigs can take complete advantage of the animals by suggesting what they want and somewhat forcing the idea because there is no overruling or competition between ideas. This quote is almost at the end of the book and was stated for a change of Animal Farm by turning the government system to a Republic.“In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon” (Orwell IX 35). This quote plays into two parts. This shows that there is no competition between ideas or people, as there is “no” other opinion for the election Napoleon becomes the President. This also shows the lack of overall education in Animal Farm. This shows this because, as stated earlier the animals if educated, would be able to know that this isn’t a Republic but rather a dictatorship. This would most likely horrify all the animals that they have been lied to the entire time.

The pigs who are educated, can take advantage of the other animals by using their knowledge to create lies, along with using the idea that they are smart to stay in power. In Animal Farm the pigs took over as the “leaders” and explained it by saying they are smart. At this point in the book the animals had just thrown out Mr. Jones and all of his workers. They then woke up and now had to start on the hay harvest. At this point the pigs took over and started commanding and telling everyone what to do. This is important because this is the start of the pigs getting very power hungry and making the farm corrupt. Along with that it is the start of the pigs taking advantage of the other animals.

Throughout the book the pigs create many lies to stay in power and be very persuasive with the animals to keep them on their side. One example of this is when there is a problem with the apples and milk. The pigs have been taking all the fresh apples and milk and consuming them rather than sharing them with the farm. This causes the animals to become a little unsettled by the pigs’ greed. Then Squealer hosts a speech explaining to the animals that they have to run the farm and milk and apples have proven to help pigs work with their brains because of this extreme task. This is important because this is just one lie that the pigs present to the animals to help stay in power, get their way, be persuasive, etc.Another example of the pigs lying to get their way or what they want is at the end of the story with food cuts given to each animal. As the animals are running low on food they have to buy food. Once they have a sufficient supply the animals start to question why they are still getting very small portions. Squealer then proceeds to give statistics of food increases rather than decreases or equal portions. This is a lie again by the pigs, trying to keep the animals content. This is important because it is another lie by the pigs to the animals showing that the pigs are doing everything they can to stay in power, keep their people content, and have the pigs live a luxurious life compared to the other animals. The animals believe that they are getting smaller portions of food at the end of the story. Squealer tries to convince the animals that they are getting increases through statistics and explanations.“and fed no better than they had done in Jones’s day…class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him…” (Orwell VIII 27).This quote shows that the animals were getting fed as they had been fed when Jones was around. Squealer then argued that they were being fed way more than they had before and were eating much more. This clearly is a lie based on the fact that the animals are being fed as much as they were when Jones was there. Also the randomness of increases in food also seems a little questionable with some days being 5 times as much food and some days 2 times as much food. This just shows that the pigs are again lying to keep the animals content and against rebellion and with the pigs.

In conclusion, the lack of education throughout all the animals caused many hardships for them through the power hungry pigs.The pigs took advantage of all the animals throughout the book to live a luxurious life. Along with that this society was running fairly well throughout the entire book.These pigs took advantage through the book in ways such as the animals not being able to read, not having any ideas from the lack of education, and the idea of the smarter you are the more power you get. This created many opportunities for the pigs throughout the book that they happily took advantage of. This could relate to the world in the government of a dictatorship. This could relate to a couple countries where in the eyes of someone from a different country, they see corruption.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell attempts to lay bare the hypocrisy, brutality, and moral corruption at the heart of the Soviet Union under Stalin.

At the time when Orwell wrote the book, a disturbingly high proportion of leftist intellectuals in Western Europe and the United States genuinely believed that the USSR was some kind of socialist utopia which provided an example for the nations of the capitalist West to emulate. Orwell aimed to challenge this distorted worldview by exposing the realities of life under one of history’s most notorious mass murderers.

As has been stated in a previous answer, Animal Farm is a political allegory. The farm depicted in the story is meant to represent the Soviet Union under Stalin, just as Stalin himself is represented by Napoleon, the dictator pig.

All of the events that happen in the story are based on things that occurred in the USSR in the 1930s, whether it’s the brutal murder of the regime’s enemies-both real and imagined-the constant regurgitation of mindless propaganda, or the use of famine as an instrument of repression.

Orwell, as a man of the Left, didn’t want to foreclose the possibility of radical political and economic change in society. However, in Animal Farm, as elsewhere in his writings, he highlights the potential dangers implicit in any form of radical ideology when it is applied to real-world conditions.

Orwell’s classic novella Animal Farm is a cautionary tale about the dangers of consolidating political power in a communist state and a warning against authoritarian regimes and dictators. Orwell’s novella allegorically represents the events that transpired before, during, and after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, when Joseph Stalin usurped power and oppressed the entire Soviet Union. Similarly, Napoleon usurps power in the novella shortly after the Battle of the Cowshed and develops into a tyrannical ruler, who oppresses his subjects by forcing them to work long hours while continually reducing their food rations. Orwell’s message warns readers about allowing shrewd, selfish politicians to consolidate power and gradually take away civil rights and liberties. He also warns readers about the various methods of manipulation and propaganda used by authoritarian regimes to oppress and control the populace. Squealer acts as Napoleon’s mouthpiece and cleverly manipulates the animals using various rhetorical devices and propaganda strategies to deceive the animals into believing and supporting Napoleon’s selfish, oppressive political agenda. Orwell’s novella also emphasizes the dangers of government corruption and illustrates how maniacal leaders and debased politicians can establish and create an oppressive, terrifying society, where the majority of the population lives in fear.

Orwell’s’ Animal Farm examines the insidious ways in which public officials can abuse their power, examined through severe corruption throughout Animal Farm. From the rebellion onward, the pigs of Animal Farm use violence and threats to gain control over the animals. As well as the attack dogs keeping the animals in line, physical intimidation doesn’t prevent some of the animals from questioning Napoleon’s poor, peculiar decisions. Napoleon and the feral Pigs’ empowerment leads to citizen inequality and citizen dissatisfaction. Corruption has many different shapes as well as many various effects, both on the economy and the society at large. Napoleon uses his dogs as a form of fear in the community of Animal Farm. Corruption of power occurs due to many questionable reasons. The first opinionating of Napoleon and the Pigs is perceived as a caring and dedicated political leader but later transformed due to greed. Corruption throughout society is used to objectify the citizens and act in the best interest of leaders and their acquaintances, without acting in the best interest of the community.

Animal Farm, where all should be equal with no dishonesty or fraud by those in power. Napoleon the animal leader dominated this privilege, Napoleon’s leadership became corrupt, power power-hungry, and collapsed the entire Animal Farm system. The use of corruption so deeply affected those guiltless animals under the control of Napoleon. Napoleon’s careless acts left those victims stripped of equality and citizen empowerment.

The Pigs’ slogans and catchphrases have been used to indoctrinate the community to the degree that even when the dogs bloodbath numerous amount of animals they don’t question Napoleon’s leadership.

Leaders’ actions cause the citizens to lack power within the community. This can be cured by Strengthening citizen’s demand for anti-corruption and empowering society to hold gruesome leaders accountable which is a sustainable approach that helps to build mutual trust between citizens.

Napoleon’s horrific corruption manipulates the hideous Dogs to commit appalling actions such as killing their kind. Before the corruption commenced 1 of the 7 commandments read “No animal shall kill another animal”. The farm’s full strength was revealed at this stage. When this commandment was written animals were free, happy, calm, and peaceful. This commandment was shortly altered by declaring “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause”. Napoleon and his ruthless team were killing any animal that would get in his way of gaining complete power.

Corruption hurts everyone. The impact of corruption goes beyond the corrupt individuals, the innocent colleagues who are implicated, or the reputation of the organizations they work for. Corruption destroys the trust we have in the public sector to act in our best interests. It also wastes our taxes and rates that have been earmarked for important community projects, declaring we have to tolerate inappropriate quality services and infrastructure, or we all miss out together. The Fiscal Monitor shows that countries with lower levels of perceived corruption have unquestionably less waste in community investment projects. It is reported that most countries that are corrupt emerging market economies waste nearly twice as much money as the countries that aren’t corrupt. Governments waste taxpayers’ money when they spend it on cost overruns due to kickbacks or bid rigging in public procurement. When countries aren’t corrupt they spend the money efficiently and fairly. Corruption unpreventably alters government priorities. Throughout low-income countries, the health and education budget is one-third lower than in more corrupt countries. It also impacts the effectiveness of social spending. An overwhelming statistic states that in more corrupt countries school-age students have lower test results. The use of corruption decreases the capability of students to maximize their schooling potential.

Fighting corruption requires political endeavors to create strong fiscal institutions that promote integrity and accountability throughout the public sector. Reforming institutions is just one way of reducing corruption within a country.

Introduction

George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ is a thought-provoking literary work that captivates readers with its allegorical portrayal of political and social dynamics. It presents a seemingly simple story of farm animals overthrowing their human oppressors, but beneath its surface lies a deeper and more profound message. This essay reflects on ‘Animal Farm’ as a fable, exploring its use of animals as symbols, its moral lessons, and its relevance in contemporary society.

Symbolism through Animal Characters

One of the striking aspects of ‘Animal Farm’ is the use of animals as characters to symbolize human traits and social classes. Each animal represents a specific group or individual, making the story relatable and easily understandable. For instance, Napoleon, the power-hungry pig, represents Joseph Stalin, while Snowball embodies Leon Trotsky. The other animals, such as Boxer, the hardworking horse, and Squealer, the propaganda-spewing pig, represent the working class and the manipulative elites, respectively.

By using animals as symbols, Orwell effectively simplifies complex political concepts and satirizes the corruption and abuse of power that often arise in political systems. This reflective approach enables readers to recognize and critique such dynamics in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Moral Lessons and Critique of Totalitarianism

‘Animal Farm’ serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of totalitarianism and the manipulation of language and information. The animals’ initial rebellion against the humans represents the desire for freedom and equality. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that power corrupts, and the pigs gradually transform the revolution into a totalitarian regime.

The essay encourages readers to reflect on the potential for leaders to exploit the ideals of revolution for personal gain and control. It highlights the importance of vigilance in defending democratic principles and the need to question authority and propaganda.

Relevance in Contemporary Society

Although ‘Animal Farm’ was written in the context of the Soviet Union and the rise of Stalinism, its themes and messages remain relevant in contemporary society. The story’s critique of propaganda, manipulation, and the abuse of power transcends time and place. It serves as a reminder to be wary of political leaders who exploit fear, use rhetoric to manipulate public opinion, and consolidate power at the expense of the masses.

Moreover, ‘Animal Farm’ prompts us to reflect on our own participation in societal structures and the responsibility of individuals to question and resist oppressive systems. It encourages critical thinking and emphasizes the need for an informed and engaged citizenry.

Personal Reflection and Lessons Learned

As a reader, ‘Animal Farm’ has had a profound impact on my understanding of power, politics, and human nature. The allegorical nature of the story allowed me to examine complex societal issues through a simplified lens, making it easier to grasp the underlying messages.

The novel’s reflection on the corrupting influence of power has made me more skeptical of authority and more aware of the importance of accountability and transparency in governance. It has taught me the significance of questioning narratives, analyzing information critically, and standing up for justice and equality.

Furthermore, ‘Animal Farm’ has reinforced my belief in the power of literature to provoke thought, inspire change, and shed light on societal injustices. It serves as a reminder that storytelling can be a potent tool for social commentary and critique.

Conclusion

‘Animal Farm’ stands as a timeless literary work that effectively uses the fable format to convey powerful messages about politics, power, and the human condition. By employing animals as symbols, Orwell simplifies complex political dynamics, enabling readers to reflect on the dangers of totalitarianism and the abuse of power.

The moral lessons of ‘Animal Farm’ continue to resonate, serving as a critique of propaganda, manipulation, and the erosion of democratic principles. It reminds us of the importance of vigilance, critical thinking, and active participation in shaping a just and equitable society.

Personally, ‘Animal Farm’ has deepened my understanding of power dynamics and instilled in me a sense of responsibility to question authority and advocate for fairness. It exemplifies the transformative power of literature to shape our perspectives and prompt us to engage critically with the world around us.

In a world where political systems and societal structures still wrestle with corruption and inequality, ‘Animal Farm’ serves as a poignant reminder of the need for constant vigilance and the pursuit of a more just and equitable society.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell attempts to lay bare the hypocrisy, brutality, and moral corruption at the heart of the Soviet Union under Stalin.

At the time when Orwell wrote the book, a disturbingly high proportion of leftist intellectuals in Western Europe and the United States genuinely believed that the USSR was some kind of socialist utopia which provided an example for the nations of the capitalist West to emulate. Orwell aimed to challenge this distorted worldview by exposing the realities of life under one of history’s most notorious mass murderers.

As has been stated in a previous answer, Animal Farm is a political allegory. The farm depicted in the story is meant to represent the Soviet Union under Stalin, just as Stalin himself is represented by Napoleon, the dictator pig.

All of the events that happen in the story are based on things that occurred in the USSR in the 1930s, whether it’s the brutal murder of the regime’s enemies-both real and imagined-the constant regurgitation of mindless propaganda, or the use of famine as an instrument of repression.

Orwell, as a man of the Left, didn’t want to foreclose the possibility of radical political and economic change in society. However, in Animal Farm, as elsewhere in his writings, he highlights the potential dangers implicit in any form of radical ideology when it is applied to real-world conditions.

Orwell’s classic novella Animal Farm is a cautionary tale about the dangers of consolidating political power in a communist state and a warning against authoritarian regimes and dictators. Orwell’s novella allegorically represents the events that transpired before, during, and after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, when Joseph Stalin usurped power and oppressed the entire Soviet Union. Similarly, Napoleon usurps power in the novella shortly after the Battle of the Cowshed and develops into a tyrannical ruler, who oppresses his subjects by forcing them to work long hours while continually reducing their food rations. Orwell’s message warns readers about allowing shrewd, selfish politicians to consolidate power and gradually take away civil rights and liberties. He also warns readers about the various methods of manipulation and propaganda used by authoritarian regimes to oppress and control the populace. Squealer acts as Napoleon’s mouthpiece and cleverly manipulates the animals using various rhetorical devices and propaganda strategies to deceive the animals into believing and supporting Napoleon’s selfish, oppressive political agenda. Orwell’s novella also emphasizes the dangers of government corruption and illustrates how maniacal leaders and debased politicians can establish and create an oppressive, terrifying society, where the majority of the population lives in fear.