The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
It's nearly 12 and I am extremely tired. Back in September I read Animal Farm by George Orwell again. This book is one of the best ever and I was determined to do it for my English study even though it is not the most original choice. Three drafts later, all completely different I have cut down from the orignal 4500 to 1800, word limit.
Read if you want but I'd thought I'd share it. I know it's not brilliant :)
---------------------
For my Specialist Study I have chosen one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature ever written, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair had a short life in which he was born in India, lived on the streets and fought in the Spanish Civil War against the dictator Franco. He wrote many books but his two most famous pieces Animal Farm and 1984 achieved him reputation in the late 1940’s. Both of which attack totalitarianism, in particular the role played by the Soviet Union in world affairs under Stalin. Orwell died in January 1950, aged 46.
The story of Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England called ‘Manor Farm’, which a narrator in the third person tells. One evening the influential pig Old Major gives a powerful speech, inspiring the animals. The speech is of a revolution in which the animals would live better lives. Old Major dies days later and the animals revolt and overthrow the ‘evil’ owner Mr. Jones. The animals now control the farm with two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon leading the way. They work out the theory of “Animalism” and seven commandments, which must be obeyed by everyone on the farm. However, as time passes, Napoleon becomes a dictator on the farm and things become increasingly worse for the animals.
Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian Revolution of 1917, written in the form of a fable, therefore the animal characters are less important than whom they actually symbolise. Orwell is, in particular, satirising the Russian Revolution but also revolutionary regimes in general and Stalinism. I shall be analysing characters, incidents and objects and looking at what they symbolise focusing on Orwell’s meaning behind them.
The first major character described by Orwell is Old Major. He is not a main character in the story, but is in the satire. The wise pig is Orwell’s metaphor for Karl Marx who was a German philosopher who devised the theory of communism. His philosophies were of people being equal, wealth been shared, nobody different, the people owned the country instead of the state. He laid the foundations of the Russian revolution and gave the people of that country some hope of a better life under Communism:
“ Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill another animal. All animals are equal”
Old Major’s ideas of equality and brotherhood are shown above, emphasising the similarities of philosophies between himself and Marx. George Orwell was a socialist who had some sympathy with Marx’s views of communism. However, a main moral of Animal Farm is the fact that no society is perfect. No matter what politics the world has they will all be broken by human nature and end up in ruins. Although Old Mayor is a metaphor for Marx, Orwell uses him for another reason. He symbolises the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, which have been incorporated into many political ideologies since the time of the French Revolution. These ideals have also been cynically betrayed by many political leaders however, once they have attained power, including in the Soviet Union. Orwell is showing here the good prospects of a revolution but once again getting the moral across.
The two main characters in the story of Animal Farm and of the satire are of course Snowball and Napoleon. The two take lead control after the revolt on the farm, changing the whole concept of equality already. Snowball symbolises Leon Trotsky and Napoleon symbolises Joseph Stalin. Snowball and Napoleon seem very similar just after the revolution. However, what becomes clear in the developing relationship between the two is that each has their own interpretation of how the revolution should proceed:
“Snowball and Napoleon were by far more active in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted to oppose it”
Orwell shows how diverse these two were. The differences being that Snowball’s focus was to put some principles into practice, for example educating the animals to make them of equal intelligence:
“ Snowball had organised the Re-education Committee “
However, Napoleon is just a ruthless political operator whose only real goal is to attain absolute power and eliminate any potential rivals.
Eventually the differences came to an abrupt end. A pack of dogs trained from birth by Napoleon, burst in during a speech by Snowball and exiled him from the farm. After Lenin (first leader after Russian Revolution) died, Stalin and Trotsky were more than willing to take over. Both believed in Communism but had different views, as the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon shows. Trotsky was eventually exiled from Russia to Mexico, however Stalin still feared him and sent the Russian International (KGB), symbolised by the dogs to murder him. He was found dead with a pickaxe in his head at his villa in Mexico.
Orwell constructs and portrays his characters very well. One such example of this is of Squealer the pig. Squealer is one of the most intelligent animals and he is used to symbolise the media in Russia. Napoleon stops talking to the animals and Squealer takes the place to tell them of recent events. He always supports Napoleon and changes the information to defend him, as narrated by Orwell:
“ He could turn black into white”
Which shows him as a manipulator and a persuader. Just as the Russian newspapers did, especially one called Pravda. It was the main source of information to the people so Stalin seized power and manipulated the truth in his favour. The people believed the papers and had no reason to doubt them or their leader.
The most intelligent and loyal animal on the farm happens to be the benefit the least from the revolution. I am referring to Boxer the horse. Like many of the other animals Boxer was not too intelligent and very gullible. He would believe everyone he was told and obey all orders. However, Boxer becomes ill, the work productivity decreases. Napoleon tells the animals that Boxer is receiving treatment when in reality he was turned into glue.
Orwell uses him to symbolise the working class of Russia. Portraying how they made the country run and how they were too weak minded to realise what was really happening. Boxer would always say, “ I must work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right”. Showing the naivety of the animals and of a large percentage within the Soviet Union. There also were rumours that the older and not so useful generation were sent away to dreadful institutes by Stalin Marx’s philosophy of Communism was that the working class should benefit the most out the revolution. Once again Orwell getting across the idea that no society will ever work perfect and others will always change it for their own benefit.
One of the most intriguing characters I feel in Animal Farm is Moses the raven. It was the “especial pet” of Mr Jones; it doesn’t work and constantly spreads rumours of a place called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’ in which animals go were they die, and is a wonderful place. Orwell uses Moses to show the presence of the church in the Soviet Union. Communism is an atheist philosophy, and although the churches were not officially recognised they still managed to survive and many people supported religion. This is portrayed in the book as the pigs care at first as it interferes with the idea of the revolution but as time goes by, they see it gives some hope to the animals, this being a benefit for themselves as it makes the animals work more efficient. Orwell portrays religion very harsh and shows he was not just simply writing an anti-communist book.
Orwell does not just use characters as metaphors, he uses many more aspects. An example is the building of the windmill. It is used to symbolise the Russian Industrialisation, built up by the working class, such as Boxer. However, all the benefits go to Napoleon and his cronies. The destruction of the windmill symbolises the constant failure of the five-year plan, in which the government were trying to improve the economy values. This just after the destruction of the first windmill:
“Comrade, we could build another six windmills if we wanted”
On the farm there is timber, Napoleon plans on selling it to one of the other farms. Either Foxwood, which represents Britain during the Second World War or Pinchfield, which represents Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Napoleon meets with Fredericks (Hitler) and arranges for him to have lumber, but Fredricks pays in false money and the two go to war. Orwell uses this to show how Stalin had secret meetings with Hitler in which they were par with one another. However, once Hitler betrayed Stalin, Russia joined the Allies. This showing Orwell’s displeasure at Stalin been given praise for Russia’s help in the Second World War, when really he sided with Nazi Germany at start but did what was best for him, as always.
I feel the main turning point in the novel is shortly after the revolution. Apples are collected and there is the question of how they should be shared among the animals. This is when the whole concept of “equality” starts to fall apart. The animals assume they will be shared equally. However, the pigs including Snowball and Napoleon argue that they need all the apples for they are smarter and need more food:
“ Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples “
It seems classes have already begun and this is when it all goes downhill and soon enough Napoleon becomes a dictator and the idea of equality has been long forgotten.
The story concludes with the pigs and other farmers sitting at the table, which could be assumed to show the betrayal of the revolution. However, when Orwell was completing the book it coincided with the Teheran agreement, in which the leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met to decide the overthrow of Nazi Germany. This makes the ending effective as it shows the general situation of the pigs (Soviet leaders) and the farmers (Capitalist leaders), and also represents a very specific historical event. Coincidently the book was released in the same week America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in which the war was finally at an end.
Animal Farm is full of symbolism, I have analysed what I feel to be some of the most important points on the satire of the Russian Revolution and Orwell’s meaning behind them. In my opinion Animal Farm is one of the most influential books ever written by one of the greatest authors.
Read if you want but I'd thought I'd share it. I know it's not brilliant :)
---------------------
For my Specialist Study I have chosen one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature ever written, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair had a short life in which he was born in India, lived on the streets and fought in the Spanish Civil War against the dictator Franco. He wrote many books but his two most famous pieces Animal Farm and 1984 achieved him reputation in the late 1940’s. Both of which attack totalitarianism, in particular the role played by the Soviet Union in world affairs under Stalin. Orwell died in January 1950, aged 46.
The story of Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England called ‘Manor Farm’, which a narrator in the third person tells. One evening the influential pig Old Major gives a powerful speech, inspiring the animals. The speech is of a revolution in which the animals would live better lives. Old Major dies days later and the animals revolt and overthrow the ‘evil’ owner Mr. Jones. The animals now control the farm with two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon leading the way. They work out the theory of “Animalism” and seven commandments, which must be obeyed by everyone on the farm. However, as time passes, Napoleon becomes a dictator on the farm and things become increasingly worse for the animals.
Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian Revolution of 1917, written in the form of a fable, therefore the animal characters are less important than whom they actually symbolise. Orwell is, in particular, satirising the Russian Revolution but also revolutionary regimes in general and Stalinism. I shall be analysing characters, incidents and objects and looking at what they symbolise focusing on Orwell’s meaning behind them.
The first major character described by Orwell is Old Major. He is not a main character in the story, but is in the satire. The wise pig is Orwell’s metaphor for Karl Marx who was a German philosopher who devised the theory of communism. His philosophies were of people being equal, wealth been shared, nobody different, the people owned the country instead of the state. He laid the foundations of the Russian revolution and gave the people of that country some hope of a better life under Communism:
“ Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill another animal. All animals are equal”
Old Major’s ideas of equality and brotherhood are shown above, emphasising the similarities of philosophies between himself and Marx. George Orwell was a socialist who had some sympathy with Marx’s views of communism. However, a main moral of Animal Farm is the fact that no society is perfect. No matter what politics the world has they will all be broken by human nature and end up in ruins. Although Old Mayor is a metaphor for Marx, Orwell uses him for another reason. He symbolises the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, which have been incorporated into many political ideologies since the time of the French Revolution. These ideals have also been cynically betrayed by many political leaders however, once they have attained power, including in the Soviet Union. Orwell is showing here the good prospects of a revolution but once again getting the moral across.
The two main characters in the story of Animal Farm and of the satire are of course Snowball and Napoleon. The two take lead control after the revolt on the farm, changing the whole concept of equality already. Snowball symbolises Leon Trotsky and Napoleon symbolises Joseph Stalin. Snowball and Napoleon seem very similar just after the revolution. However, what becomes clear in the developing relationship between the two is that each has their own interpretation of how the revolution should proceed:
“Snowball and Napoleon were by far more active in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted to oppose it”
Orwell shows how diverse these two were. The differences being that Snowball’s focus was to put some principles into practice, for example educating the animals to make them of equal intelligence:
“ Snowball had organised the Re-education Committee “
However, Napoleon is just a ruthless political operator whose only real goal is to attain absolute power and eliminate any potential rivals.
Eventually the differences came to an abrupt end. A pack of dogs trained from birth by Napoleon, burst in during a speech by Snowball and exiled him from the farm. After Lenin (first leader after Russian Revolution) died, Stalin and Trotsky were more than willing to take over. Both believed in Communism but had different views, as the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon shows. Trotsky was eventually exiled from Russia to Mexico, however Stalin still feared him and sent the Russian International (KGB), symbolised by the dogs to murder him. He was found dead with a pickaxe in his head at his villa in Mexico.
Orwell constructs and portrays his characters very well. One such example of this is of Squealer the pig. Squealer is one of the most intelligent animals and he is used to symbolise the media in Russia. Napoleon stops talking to the animals and Squealer takes the place to tell them of recent events. He always supports Napoleon and changes the information to defend him, as narrated by Orwell:
“ He could turn black into white”
Which shows him as a manipulator and a persuader. Just as the Russian newspapers did, especially one called Pravda. It was the main source of information to the people so Stalin seized power and manipulated the truth in his favour. The people believed the papers and had no reason to doubt them or their leader.
The most intelligent and loyal animal on the farm happens to be the benefit the least from the revolution. I am referring to Boxer the horse. Like many of the other animals Boxer was not too intelligent and very gullible. He would believe everyone he was told and obey all orders. However, Boxer becomes ill, the work productivity decreases. Napoleon tells the animals that Boxer is receiving treatment when in reality he was turned into glue.
Orwell uses him to symbolise the working class of Russia. Portraying how they made the country run and how they were too weak minded to realise what was really happening. Boxer would always say, “ I must work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right”. Showing the naivety of the animals and of a large percentage within the Soviet Union. There also were rumours that the older and not so useful generation were sent away to dreadful institutes by Stalin Marx’s philosophy of Communism was that the working class should benefit the most out the revolution. Once again Orwell getting across the idea that no society will ever work perfect and others will always change it for their own benefit.
One of the most intriguing characters I feel in Animal Farm is Moses the raven. It was the “especial pet” of Mr Jones; it doesn’t work and constantly spreads rumours of a place called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’ in which animals go were they die, and is a wonderful place. Orwell uses Moses to show the presence of the church in the Soviet Union. Communism is an atheist philosophy, and although the churches were not officially recognised they still managed to survive and many people supported religion. This is portrayed in the book as the pigs care at first as it interferes with the idea of the revolution but as time goes by, they see it gives some hope to the animals, this being a benefit for themselves as it makes the animals work more efficient. Orwell portrays religion very harsh and shows he was not just simply writing an anti-communist book.
Orwell does not just use characters as metaphors, he uses many more aspects. An example is the building of the windmill. It is used to symbolise the Russian Industrialisation, built up by the working class, such as Boxer. However, all the benefits go to Napoleon and his cronies. The destruction of the windmill symbolises the constant failure of the five-year plan, in which the government were trying to improve the economy values. This just after the destruction of the first windmill:
“Comrade, we could build another six windmills if we wanted”
On the farm there is timber, Napoleon plans on selling it to one of the other farms. Either Foxwood, which represents Britain during the Second World War or Pinchfield, which represents Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Napoleon meets with Fredericks (Hitler) and arranges for him to have lumber, but Fredricks pays in false money and the two go to war. Orwell uses this to show how Stalin had secret meetings with Hitler in which they were par with one another. However, once Hitler betrayed Stalin, Russia joined the Allies. This showing Orwell’s displeasure at Stalin been given praise for Russia’s help in the Second World War, when really he sided with Nazi Germany at start but did what was best for him, as always.
I feel the main turning point in the novel is shortly after the revolution. Apples are collected and there is the question of how they should be shared among the animals. This is when the whole concept of “equality” starts to fall apart. The animals assume they will be shared equally. However, the pigs including Snowball and Napoleon argue that they need all the apples for they are smarter and need more food:
“ Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples “
It seems classes have already begun and this is when it all goes downhill and soon enough Napoleon becomes a dictator and the idea of equality has been long forgotten.
The story concludes with the pigs and other farmers sitting at the table, which could be assumed to show the betrayal of the revolution. However, when Orwell was completing the book it coincided with the Teheran agreement, in which the leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met to decide the overthrow of Nazi Germany. This makes the ending effective as it shows the general situation of the pigs (Soviet leaders) and the farmers (Capitalist leaders), and also represents a very specific historical event. Coincidently the book was released in the same week America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in which the war was finally at an end.
Animal Farm is full of symbolism, I have analysed what I feel to be some of the most important points on the satire of the Russian Revolution and Orwell’s meaning behind them. In my opinion Animal Farm is one of the most influential books ever written by one of the greatest authors.
Did you know?
That while writing 1984 Orwell was suffering from t.b and was recovering on a Scottish island.
He took a turn for the worse and was sent to the hospital just down the road from me where he wrote a lot of the novel.
I pass it nearly every day, I think that's cool.
That while writing 1984 Orwell was suffering from t.b and was recovering on a Scottish island.
He took a turn for the worse and was sent to the hospital just down the road from me where he wrote a lot of the novel.
I pass it nearly every day, I think that's cool.
Ha!
Yeah, think I'll read it again.
Yeah, think I'll read it again.
Fair enough. It's just my personal interpretation. Sod Orwell, I know his book better than him ;-)
It's an amazing book, but I still reckon 1984 is better.
It's an amazing book, but I still reckon 1984 is better.
Stryke wrote:
It's excellent, but I've always thought Old Major was symbolising Lenin, because it was Lenin who started the revolution. Marx was only a theorist.
Thanks. Yes I had a piece ina bout him also representing Lenin but took it out due to word count, and in Orwell's own notes it's more to do with Marx.
It's excellent, but I've always thought Old Major was symbolising Lenin, because it was Lenin who started the revolution. Marx was only a theorist.
Thanks. Yes I had a piece ina bout him also representing Lenin but took it out due to word count, and in Orwell's own notes it's more to do with Marx.
Oh dear you are doing the higher still higher, i done the traditional higher last year, the one you are doing is supposed to be much harder, and more boring.
It's excellent, but I've always thought Old Major was symbolising Lenin, because it was Lenin who started the revolution. Marx was only a theorist.
It's nearly 12 and I am extremely tired. Back in September I read Animal Farm by George Orwell again. This book is one of the best ever and I was determined to do it for my English study even though it is not the most original choice. Three drafts later, all completely different I have cut down from the orignal 4500 to 1800, word limit.
Read if you want but I'd thought I'd share it. I know it's not brilliant :)
---------------------
For my Specialist Study I have chosen one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature ever written, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair had a short life in which he was born in India, lived on the streets and fought in the Spanish Civil War against the dictator Franco. He wrote many books but his two most famous pieces Animal Farm and 1984 achieved him reputation in the late 1940’s. Both of which attack totalitarianism, in particular the role played by the Soviet Union in world affairs under Stalin. Orwell died in January 1950, aged 46.
The story of Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England called ‘Manor Farm’, which a narrator in the third person tells. One evening the influential pig Old Major gives a powerful speech, inspiring the animals. The speech is of a revolution in which the animals would live better lives. Old Major dies days later and the animals revolt and overthrow the ‘evil’ owner Mr. Jones. The animals now control the farm with two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon leading the way. They work out the theory of “Animalism” and seven commandments, which must be obeyed by everyone on the farm. However, as time passes, Napoleon becomes a dictator on the farm and things become increasingly worse for the animals.
Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian Revolution of 1917, written in the form of a fable, therefore the animal characters are less important than whom they actually symbolise. Orwell is, in particular, satirising the Russian Revolution but also revolutionary regimes in general and Stalinism. I shall be analysing characters, incidents and objects and looking at what they symbolise focusing on Orwell’s meaning behind them.
The first major character described by Orwell is Old Major. He is not a main character in the story, but is in the satire. The wise pig is Orwell’s metaphor for Karl Marx who was a German philosopher who devised the theory of communism. His philosophies were of people being equal, wealth been shared, nobody different, the people owned the country instead of the state. He laid the foundations of the Russian revolution and gave the people of that country some hope of a better life under Communism:
“ Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill another animal. All animals are equal”
Old Major’s ideas of equality and brotherhood are shown above, emphasising the similarities of philosophies between himself and Marx. George Orwell was a socialist who had some sympathy with Marx’s views of communism. However, a main moral of Animal Farm is the fact that no society is perfect. No matter what politics the world has they will all be broken by human nature and end up in ruins. Although Old Mayor is a metaphor for Marx, Orwell uses him for another reason. He symbolises the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, which have been incorporated into many political ideologies since the time of the French Revolution. These ideals have also been cynically betrayed by many political leaders however, once they have attained power, including in the Soviet Union. Orwell is showing here the good prospects of a revolution but once again getting the moral across.
The two main characters in the story of Animal Farm and of the satire are of course Snowball and Napoleon. The two take lead control after the revolt on the farm, changing the whole concept of equality already. Snowball symbolises Leon Trotsky and Napoleon symbolises Joseph Stalin. Snowball and Napoleon seem very similar just after the revolution. However, what becomes clear in the developing relationship between the two is that each has their own interpretation of how the revolution should proceed:
“Snowball and Napoleon were by far more active in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted to oppose it”
Orwell shows how diverse these two were. The differences being that Snowball’s focus was to put some principles into practice, for example educating the animals to make them of equal intelligence:
“ Snowball had organised the Re-education Committee “
However, Napoleon is just a ruthless political operator whose only real goal is to attain absolute power and eliminate any potential rivals.
Eventually the differences came to an abrupt end. A pack of dogs trained from birth by Napoleon, burst in during a speech by Snowball and exiled him from the farm. After Lenin (first leader after Russian Revolution) died, Stalin and Trotsky were more than willing to take over. Both believed in Communism but had different views, as the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon shows. Trotsky was eventually exiled from Russia to Mexico, however Stalin still feared him and sent the Russian International (KGB), symbolised by the dogs to murder him. He was found dead with a pickaxe in his head at his villa in Mexico.
Orwell constructs and portrays his characters very well. One such example of this is of Squealer the pig. Squealer is one of the most intelligent animals and he is used to symbolise the media in Russia. Napoleon stops talking to the animals and Squealer takes the place to tell them of recent events. He always supports Napoleon and changes the information to defend him, as narrated by Orwell:
“ He could turn black into white”
Which shows him as a manipulator and a persuader. Just as the Russian newspapers did, especially one called Pravda. It was the main source of information to the people so Stalin seized power and manipulated the truth in his favour. The people believed the papers and had no reason to doubt them or their leader.
The most intelligent and loyal animal on the farm happens to be the benefit the least from the revolution. I am referring to Boxer the horse. Like many of the other animals Boxer was not too intelligent and very gullible. He would believe everyone he was told and obey all orders. However, Boxer becomes ill, the work productivity decreases. Napoleon tells the animals that Boxer is receiving treatment when in reality he was turned into glue.
Orwell uses him to symbolise the working class of Russia. Portraying how they made the country run and how they were too weak minded to realise what was really happening. Boxer would always say, “ I must work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right”. Showing the naivety of the animals and of a large percentage within the Soviet Union. There also were rumours that the older and not so useful generation were sent away to dreadful institutes by Stalin Marx’s philosophy of Communism was that the working class should benefit the most out the revolution. Once again Orwell getting across the idea that no society will ever work perfect and others will always change it for their own benefit.
One of the most intriguing characters I feel in Animal Farm is Moses the raven. It was the “especial pet” of Mr Jones; it doesn’t work and constantly spreads rumours of a place called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’ in which animals go were they die, and is a wonderful place. Orwell uses Moses to show the presence of the church in the Soviet Union. Communism is an atheist philosophy, and although the churches were not officially recognised they still managed to survive and many people supported religion. This is portrayed in the book as the pigs care at first as it interferes with the idea of the revolution but as time goes by, they see it gives some hope to the animals, this being a benefit for themselves as it makes the animals work more efficient. Orwell portrays religion very harsh and shows he was not just simply writing an anti-communist book.
Orwell does not just use characters as metaphors, he uses many more aspects. An example is the building of the windmill. It is used to symbolise the Russian Industrialisation, built up by the working class, such as Boxer. However, all the benefits go to Napoleon and his cronies. The destruction of the windmill symbolises the constant failure of the five-year plan, in which the government were trying to improve the economy values. This just after the destruction of the first windmill:
“Comrade, we could build another six windmills if we wanted”
On the farm there is timber, Napoleon plans on selling it to one of the other farms. Either Foxwood, which represents Britain during the Second World War or Pinchfield, which represents Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Napoleon meets with Fredericks (Hitler) and arranges for him to have lumber, but Fredricks pays in false money and the two go to war. Orwell uses this to show how Stalin had secret meetings with Hitler in which they were par with one another. However, once Hitler betrayed Stalin, Russia joined the Allies. This showing Orwell’s displeasure at Stalin been given praise for Russia’s help in the Second World War, when really he sided with Nazi Germany at start but did what was best for him, as always.
I feel the main turning point in the novel is shortly after the revolution. Apples are collected and there is the question of how they should be shared among the animals. This is when the whole concept of “equality” starts to fall apart. The animals assume they will be shared equally. However, the pigs including Snowball and Napoleon argue that they need all the apples for they are smarter and need more food:
“ Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples “
It seems classes have already begun and this is when it all goes downhill and soon enough Napoleon becomes a dictator and the idea of equality has been long forgotten.
The story concludes with the pigs and other farmers sitting at the table, which could be assumed to show the betrayal of the revolution. However, when Orwell was completing the book it coincided with the Teheran agreement, in which the leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met to decide the overthrow of Nazi Germany. This makes the ending effective as it shows the general situation of the pigs (Soviet leaders) and the farmers (Capitalist leaders), and also represents a very specific historical event. Coincidently the book was released in the same week America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in which the war was finally at an end.
Animal Farm is full of symbolism, I have analysed what I feel to be some of the most important points on the satire of the Russian Revolution and Orwell’s meaning behind them. In my opinion Animal Farm is one of the most influential books ever written by one of the greatest authors.
Read if you want but I'd thought I'd share it. I know it's not brilliant :)
---------------------
For my Specialist Study I have chosen one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature ever written, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair had a short life in which he was born in India, lived on the streets and fought in the Spanish Civil War against the dictator Franco. He wrote many books but his two most famous pieces Animal Farm and 1984 achieved him reputation in the late 1940’s. Both of which attack totalitarianism, in particular the role played by the Soviet Union in world affairs under Stalin. Orwell died in January 1950, aged 46.
The story of Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England called ‘Manor Farm’, which a narrator in the third person tells. One evening the influential pig Old Major gives a powerful speech, inspiring the animals. The speech is of a revolution in which the animals would live better lives. Old Major dies days later and the animals revolt and overthrow the ‘evil’ owner Mr. Jones. The animals now control the farm with two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon leading the way. They work out the theory of “Animalism” and seven commandments, which must be obeyed by everyone on the farm. However, as time passes, Napoleon becomes a dictator on the farm and things become increasingly worse for the animals.
Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian Revolution of 1917, written in the form of a fable, therefore the animal characters are less important than whom they actually symbolise. Orwell is, in particular, satirising the Russian Revolution but also revolutionary regimes in general and Stalinism. I shall be analysing characters, incidents and objects and looking at what they symbolise focusing on Orwell’s meaning behind them.
The first major character described by Orwell is Old Major. He is not a main character in the story, but is in the satire. The wise pig is Orwell’s metaphor for Karl Marx who was a German philosopher who devised the theory of communism. His philosophies were of people being equal, wealth been shared, nobody different, the people owned the country instead of the state. He laid the foundations of the Russian revolution and gave the people of that country some hope of a better life under Communism:
“ Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill another animal. All animals are equal”
Old Major’s ideas of equality and brotherhood are shown above, emphasising the similarities of philosophies between himself and Marx. George Orwell was a socialist who had some sympathy with Marx’s views of communism. However, a main moral of Animal Farm is the fact that no society is perfect. No matter what politics the world has they will all be broken by human nature and end up in ruins. Although Old Mayor is a metaphor for Marx, Orwell uses him for another reason. He symbolises the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, which have been incorporated into many political ideologies since the time of the French Revolution. These ideals have also been cynically betrayed by many political leaders however, once they have attained power, including in the Soviet Union. Orwell is showing here the good prospects of a revolution but once again getting the moral across.
The two main characters in the story of Animal Farm and of the satire are of course Snowball and Napoleon. The two take lead control after the revolt on the farm, changing the whole concept of equality already. Snowball symbolises Leon Trotsky and Napoleon symbolises Joseph Stalin. Snowball and Napoleon seem very similar just after the revolution. However, what becomes clear in the developing relationship between the two is that each has their own interpretation of how the revolution should proceed:
“Snowball and Napoleon were by far more active in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted to oppose it”
Orwell shows how diverse these two were. The differences being that Snowball’s focus was to put some principles into practice, for example educating the animals to make them of equal intelligence:
“ Snowball had organised the Re-education Committee “
However, Napoleon is just a ruthless political operator whose only real goal is to attain absolute power and eliminate any potential rivals.
Eventually the differences came to an abrupt end. A pack of dogs trained from birth by Napoleon, burst in during a speech by Snowball and exiled him from the farm. After Lenin (first leader after Russian Revolution) died, Stalin and Trotsky were more than willing to take over. Both believed in Communism but had different views, as the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon shows. Trotsky was eventually exiled from Russia to Mexico, however Stalin still feared him and sent the Russian International (KGB), symbolised by the dogs to murder him. He was found dead with a pickaxe in his head at his villa in Mexico.
Orwell constructs and portrays his characters very well. One such example of this is of Squealer the pig. Squealer is one of the most intelligent animals and he is used to symbolise the media in Russia. Napoleon stops talking to the animals and Squealer takes the place to tell them of recent events. He always supports Napoleon and changes the information to defend him, as narrated by Orwell:
“ He could turn black into white”
Which shows him as a manipulator and a persuader. Just as the Russian newspapers did, especially one called Pravda. It was the main source of information to the people so Stalin seized power and manipulated the truth in his favour. The people believed the papers and had no reason to doubt them or their leader.
The most intelligent and loyal animal on the farm happens to be the benefit the least from the revolution. I am referring to Boxer the horse. Like many of the other animals Boxer was not too intelligent and very gullible. He would believe everyone he was told and obey all orders. However, Boxer becomes ill, the work productivity decreases. Napoleon tells the animals that Boxer is receiving treatment when in reality he was turned into glue.
Orwell uses him to symbolise the working class of Russia. Portraying how they made the country run and how they were too weak minded to realise what was really happening. Boxer would always say, “ I must work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right”. Showing the naivety of the animals and of a large percentage within the Soviet Union. There also were rumours that the older and not so useful generation were sent away to dreadful institutes by Stalin Marx’s philosophy of Communism was that the working class should benefit the most out the revolution. Once again Orwell getting across the idea that no society will ever work perfect and others will always change it for their own benefit.
One of the most intriguing characters I feel in Animal Farm is Moses the raven. It was the “especial pet” of Mr Jones; it doesn’t work and constantly spreads rumours of a place called ‘Sugarcandy Mountain’ in which animals go were they die, and is a wonderful place. Orwell uses Moses to show the presence of the church in the Soviet Union. Communism is an atheist philosophy, and although the churches were not officially recognised they still managed to survive and many people supported religion. This is portrayed in the book as the pigs care at first as it interferes with the idea of the revolution but as time goes by, they see it gives some hope to the animals, this being a benefit for themselves as it makes the animals work more efficient. Orwell portrays religion very harsh and shows he was not just simply writing an anti-communist book.
Orwell does not just use characters as metaphors, he uses many more aspects. An example is the building of the windmill. It is used to symbolise the Russian Industrialisation, built up by the working class, such as Boxer. However, all the benefits go to Napoleon and his cronies. The destruction of the windmill symbolises the constant failure of the five-year plan, in which the government were trying to improve the economy values. This just after the destruction of the first windmill:
“Comrade, we could build another six windmills if we wanted”
On the farm there is timber, Napoleon plans on selling it to one of the other farms. Either Foxwood, which represents Britain during the Second World War or Pinchfield, which represents Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Napoleon meets with Fredericks (Hitler) and arranges for him to have lumber, but Fredricks pays in false money and the two go to war. Orwell uses this to show how Stalin had secret meetings with Hitler in which they were par with one another. However, once Hitler betrayed Stalin, Russia joined the Allies. This showing Orwell’s displeasure at Stalin been given praise for Russia’s help in the Second World War, when really he sided with Nazi Germany at start but did what was best for him, as always.
I feel the main turning point in the novel is shortly after the revolution. Apples are collected and there is the question of how they should be shared among the animals. This is when the whole concept of “equality” starts to fall apart. The animals assume they will be shared equally. However, the pigs including Snowball and Napoleon argue that they need all the apples for they are smarter and need more food:
“ Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. Many of us actually dislike milk and apples “
It seems classes have already begun and this is when it all goes downhill and soon enough Napoleon becomes a dictator and the idea of equality has been long forgotten.
The story concludes with the pigs and other farmers sitting at the table, which could be assumed to show the betrayal of the revolution. However, when Orwell was completing the book it coincided with the Teheran agreement, in which the leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met to decide the overthrow of Nazi Germany. This makes the ending effective as it shows the general situation of the pigs (Soviet leaders) and the farmers (Capitalist leaders), and also represents a very specific historical event. Coincidently the book was released in the same week America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in which the war was finally at an end.
Animal Farm is full of symbolism, I have analysed what I feel to be some of the most important points on the satire of the Russian Revolution and Orwell’s meaning behind them. In my opinion Animal Farm is one of the most influential books ever written by one of the greatest authors.