Skip to main content

What is Animal Farm an allegory for?

Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian/Bolshevik Revolution in particular, and for the rise of totalitarian dictatorships based on communist principles in general. Orwell was a democratic socialist, and like many European (and American) leftists during the Great Depression, he viewed the Bolshevik Revolution and the establishment of a communist state with great interest and even hope. But as the decade wore on, he found himself deeply disillusioned as news of the brutality of...

Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian/Bolshevik Revolution in particular, and for the rise of totalitarian dictatorships based on communist principles in general. Orwell was a democratic socialist, and like many European (and American) leftists during the Great Depression, he viewed the Bolshevik Revolution and the establishment of a communist state with great interest and even hope. But as the decade wore on, he found himself deeply disillusioned as news of the brutality of Stalin's regime leaked out, and as he witnessed firsthand the death and destruction of the Spanish Civil War. Orwell's contempt for the Stalinist regime became complete when Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler in 1939. He wrote the book a few years later, and published it at the end of the war, in 1945.


So Animal Farm is replete with allegorical figures and events. Old Major, whose impassioned speech provides the basis for the ideas of Animalism, is meant to evoke Karl Marx. Napoleon, who rises to power by combining brutality and manipulation of the truth, is suggestive of Joseph Stalin. Snowball, his rival, is comparable to Leon Trotsky, who fled the Soviet Union and was eventually assassinated by Stalin's henchmen. Like Stalin's bloody purges, there are massacres of animals who are thought to be disloyal, and the windmill project is reminiscent of Stalin's program of forced industrialization. The central theme of this allegory is that power, even when wielded in the name of equality and economic justice, corrupts, and the people (animals) suffer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more