Animal Farm by George Orwell

In this post, I shall be reviewing the book Animal Farm by George Orwell.

Introduction

Animal Farm was written by George Orwell in from 1943 to 1945. It was published in 1945, on the 17th of August. It was based on his experience during the Spanish Civil War and the Russian Revolution. Although many call Animal Farm a fable, I do not think so. A fable is a fantasy story which utilizes animal characters or mythical beings and objects who are given human characteristics to impart a lesson or a moral. However, George Orwell wrote it as an allegory as it parallels the events that happened during the Russian Revolution. George Orwell is using the animals to criticise the events that happened.

Orwell was a socialist who believes in the foundation of communism. Socialism is where everyone is equal and nobody advances further than others. Communism is where a power rules over the entire community. This is why Orwell strongly condemns against Communism. Through his experience in the Spanish Civil War which happened during the Russian Revolution, he realised how totalitarian propaganda could have a huge impact on other democratic countries since the Russian Revolution had an effect on the Spanish Civil War.

Beginning
The book starts off as a speech by old Major, a pig, who represents Karl Marx, the foundation of modern communism. He senses that his life is about to end and thus communicates to the animals his wish and a dream he had. He expresses his wish for a rebellion against Mr Jones and his workers who have been abusing their power and have a parasitical way of taking the fruits of the animals' labour. When the animal has rendered him service and is too old to work, they are subjected to a cruel death. Old Major represents Karl Marx because he is the animal who explains the ideals of "Animalism", a parallel to communism in reality. Old Major relates his dream that he had in the previous night which depicts a scene when Man had been overthrown and the animals roamed the fertile lands of the Earth and lived in freedom. He explains that only through perfect comradeship can the animals succeed in the rebellion against the humans. However, he warns the animals not to adopt any of Man's habits as they are corrupt. However, the pigs start to turn corrupt and some of these ideals are flouted later in the story.

Three days later, old Major dies in his sleep. This is parallel to Karl Marx dying even before his ideas are realised. The organising and teaching falls to the pigs naturally since they are the "cleverest". However, this is assumed since there are other animals intellectually capable of performing the same tasks as the pigs. Here, we can see that knowledge does have a power to allow somebody to rule. In teaching the animals, it is already a human habit and it seems to betray the ideals of Animalism. Three prominent pigs emerge as the main leaders. Napoleon, a boar who has a reputation of getting his own way, Snowball, an eloquent and idealistic boar and Squealer, a silver-tongued pig who is used as a messenger. They start to plan their rebellion against the humans on the farm. The Rebellion came earlier than they thought and they succeeded in overthrowing the humans on the farm. This significant event parallels the overthrowing of the Tsar in the Russian Revolution. They formulate the principles of Major's speech into the Seven Commandments. However, due to the lack of intellect in some animals, they reduced it into a simple sentence: "Four legs good, two legs bad." Before they started their harvest, the pigs milked the cows and put them in buckets. This is a human habit and shows another betrayal of the principles of Animalism. The farmhouse was decided to be preserved as a museum.

Betrayal of the Principles of Animalism
After the harvest, the animals find out that the milk is missing. They soon find out that the milk was taken by the pigs for their own consumption. Not only that, they were also given all the windfall apples in the orchard. However, Squealer is sent to explain to the animals that they were the brainworkers of the farm and deserved it even though they hated milk and apples. He even threatened the animals by saying that Jones would come back if they did not eat apples and drink milk. This betrays the principles of Animalism as not all animals are equal anymore. This also marks the start of the corruption by the pigs which continues with other acts such as:
1. The pigs sleep in the farmhouse which was supposed to be preserved as a museum which betrays the principle "No animal shall sleep in beds." which gradually changed into "No animal shall sleep in beds with sheets."
2. The pigs retrieve beer from the scullery of the farmhouse and drinks it, which gave Napoleon a headache whom he claims he s dying. It betrays the principle "No animal shall drink alcohol." which gradually changes into "No animals shall drink alcohol to excess."
3. Napoleon orders the animals to confess to their "crimes" in Animal Farm such as collaborating with Snowball to destroy the windmill, dreaming about Snowball, stealing six ears of corn from their harvest and other absurd acts. Then, Napoleon orders his dogs to tear the throats of the animals and even attempts to perform it on Boxer, which he protects himself from. This is a serious act which betrays the principle of "No animal shall kill another animal." which gradually changes into "No animal shall kill another animal without cause." At the same time, it contradicts the principle "Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend."
4. Napoleon starts putting on clothes which were worn by Mr Jones before. Mr Jones represent the power over Animal Farm in the past. In wearing the clothes of Mr Jones, Napoleon is holding power of the farm and this betrays the principle "No animal shall wear clothes." and "All animals are equal."
5. Soon, Napoleon starts engaging with the humans in trade of timber wood. This act betrays the principles "No animal shall engage in trade with humans." and 'Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy." By trading with the humans, they are not regarding humans as enemies at all.
6. The principle of "All animals are equal." had been betrayed throughout the many instances in the story. Firstly, the pigs were the ones keeping all the apples and milk for themselves. Then, they committed many atrocities which are listed above. The betrayal of a principle in the Seven Commandments is actually betraying the principle of "All animals are equal."

A Parallel Dimension to Reality
In the story, there are many events and characters which resemble real life people. These characters and events are used to criticise communism during George Orwell's time. Old Major represents Karl Marx, the founder of socialism, Jones represents the Tsar and with his workers, they form the monarchy in reality, the group which has total control over the country, Moses represents religion, which the communists opposed against at first but used it later to pacify the oppressed, Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union, Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, who was expelled from the Soviet Union by Joseph Stalin, Squealer represents the propaganda, Animal Farm represents the Soviet Union while Napoleon's dogs were the military.

Conclusion
Animal Farm has created a world of the Russian Revolution from which we can learn many moral values George Orwell tries to communicate with his readers. At the same time, we can see how he tries to criticise communism and propaganda and how socialism gradually changes into communism due to corruption and the thirst for power.