Animal FarmAnimal FarmGeorge OrwellGeorge Orwell

FULL TITLE  ·  Animal Farm: A Fairy Story

AUTHOR  · George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair)

TYPE OF WORK  · Novella GENRE · Dystopian animal fable; satire;

allegory; political roman à clef (French for “novel with a key”—a thinly veiled exposé of factual persons or events)

LANGUAGE · English TIME AND PLACE WRITTEN ·  1943–

1944, in London DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION ·  1946

Important Facts

He was born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903 in He was born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903 in Motihari, Bengal, India.Motihari, Bengal, India.

He went to Bruma and served in the He went to Bruma and served in the administration of the Indian Imperial Police administration of the Indian Imperial Police from 1922 to 1927 when he resigned in part from 1922 to 1927 when he resigned in part due to his growing dislike of British due to his growing dislike of British imperialism.imperialism.

He hated He hated CommunismCommunism and preferred British and preferred British Socialism. The reason he hated communism Socialism. The reason he hated communism so much is because it was not pure so much is because it was not pure socialism socialism -- he distrusted the leaders who lived in -- he distrusted the leaders who lived in mansions while the common folk slaved in mansions while the common folk slaved in the fields. the fields. CommunismCommunism , he thought, was , he thought, was just another way for the elite to control the just another way for the elite to control the majority of peasants. majority of peasants.

George Orwell (1903-1950)George Orwell (1903-1950)

In reaction to the sudden glare In reaction to the sudden glare of fame, Orwell moved to the of fame, Orwell moved to the island of Jura, off the coast of island of Jura, off the coast of Scotland, which aggravated Scotland, which aggravated his tuberculosis considerably. his tuberculosis considerably.

While at Jura, Orwell wrote his While at Jura, Orwell wrote his last novel and perhaps most last novel and perhaps most famous novel, 1984 famous novel, 1984

In 1949 Orwell returned to In 1949 Orwell returned to England, but his tuberculosis England, but his tuberculosis was by that time painfully was by that time painfully advanced.advanced.

He eventually succumbed to He eventually succumbed to the disease, dying on January the disease, dying on January 21, 1950. 21, 1950.

It was It was Animal FarmAnimal Farm that finally that finally made Orwell prosperous. His made Orwell prosperous. His other world wide success was other world wide success was Nineteen Eighty-FourNineteen Eighty-Four, which , which Orwell said was written "to alterOrwell said was written "to alter

other people's idea of the kind of other people's idea of the kind of society they should strive after." society they should strive after."

Sadly Orwell never lived to see Sadly Orwell never lived to see how successful it would how successful it would becomebecome. .

The story of Animal Farm is an allegory of the events in Russia after the downfall of Tsar Nicholas II (1910's to 1940's). The characters and events in the story all represent those during this time.

Major represents Karl Marx, Animalism is similar to communism, Napoleon represents Stalin, Snowball represents Trotsky, Squealer symbolizes propaganda, Mr. Jones represents the Tsar when he was in power and other things. Allegory in Allegory in Animal Animal FarmFarm

Through a coincidence of history, Through a coincidence of history, Animal Farm Animal Farm appeared in stores the appeared in stores the same month that the atomic bombs same month that the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Nagasaki.

The irony of this publication date for The irony of this publication date for one of the most politicized novels of one of the most politicized novels of the 20th century did not escape its the 20th century did not escape its early readers, or its author. early readers, or its author.

Orwell made no secret of the fact Orwell made no secret of the fact that his writing, and that his writing, and Animal Farm Animal Farm in in particular, was single-mindedly particular, was single-mindedly focused on the obliteration of focused on the obliteration of totalitarian regimes. totalitarian regimes.

About Animal FarmAbout Animal Farm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bomb

Animal FarmAnimal Farm, while obviously , while obviously referring to the general scope of all referring to the general scope of all forms of totalitarian governments, forms of totalitarian governments, may be seen as a satire of the Russian may be seen as a satire of the Russian Revolution of 1917 in particular. Revolution of 1917 in particular.

Because of this controversial subject Because of this controversial subject matter, British publishing houses were matter, British publishing houses were loathe to take on Orwell's work, and loathe to take on Orwell's work, and he was rejected throughout his entire he was rejected throughout his entire first round of publishing attempts.first round of publishing attempts.

About Animal Farm cont.About Animal Farm cont.

Upon the novel's eventual publication in Upon the novel's eventual publication in 1945, however, Orwell was instantly 1945, however, Orwell was instantly famous. famous.

The reception of The reception of Animal Farm Animal Farm led to many led to many different interpretations of its meaning, different interpretations of its meaning, which Orwell perhaps clarifies best himself, which Orwell perhaps clarifies best himself, in his article called "Why I Write": in his article called "Why I Write": http://www.zb.eco.pl/gb/21/

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•"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism...Animal Farm was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole."

Farmer Jones: Farmer Jones is the man who originally owned Animal Farm, and who is overthrown by the animals at the beginning of the Revolution.

He symbolizes corrupt and fatally-flawed governments that create societies ripe for Revolution.

Major Characters

Old Major: Old Major is the old pig whose visionary dream inspires the animals with their first concept of revolution. He may be compared to Karl Marx, whose ideologies and writings eventually led to the Communist Revolution.          

Snowball: The brilliant, idealistic pig who, along with Napoleon, assumes a loose leadership at the beginning of the Revolution. His ideas are not always practical, but they are always grand and far-reaching. He is run off the farm by Napoleon and subsequently vilified by the common animals.

Napoleon: The aggressive, shrewd pig who, along with Snowball, becomes the early leader of Animal Farm.

After he successfully eliminates Snowball, he gradually increases his personal power and privileges, while simultaneously tightening the control over the other animals.

By seizing onto a populist revolution and turning it into his personal regime, he may be compared to his namesake, Napoleon Bonaparte of France.

Squealer: This young pig is the persuasive speaker who is the liaison to the common animals, always convincing them to accept Napoleon's latest infringements on their rights. In this role, he represents the propaganda machine of a totalitarian government.

Muriel: Muriel the goat is the farm animal who reads better than the rest of the "common' animals. Though she does not always understand the meaning of what she reads, she often reads the altered Commandments to the other farm animals, and so to the reader she may symbolize a revelatory force.

Boxer: Boxer is the hardworking cart-horse who becomes the strongest devotee of the Revolution, standing behind Napoleon through all of the outrages he commits. He symbolizes the downtrodden peasants who are lied to and mistreated by political figures out for personal gain.

Mollie: Mollie is the young mare who runs away because she cannot endure the loss of her precious sugar lumps and colored ribbons. Her departure is seen by some of the animals as a betrayal. Mollie represents the fickle class of nobles who fled Russia after the Revolution.

Benjamin: Benjamin is the gloomy, cynical donkey who never embraces the Revolution or stands in opposition to it.

He represents the human tendency toward cynicism, apathy, and the belief that "things will never change".

Moses: Moses the raven always tells the animals fantastical tales of Sugarcandy Mountain, a marvelous place where no animals have to work.

Moses, however, is free to fly away, and comes and goes from Animal Farm as he chooses.

* He symbolizes organized religion in general, and the Russian Orthodox Church more specifically.

Pilkington: The neighboring farmer who Napoleon plays off Frederick in negotiations for the pile of timber. Pilkington's nonchalance and apathy toward the situation at large is a commentary on a specific type of decadent and unpolitically-minded British gentleman, as well as on the slow response of the Allies during World War II.

Frederick: The evil and cruel farmer to whom Napoleon eventually sells the pile of timber; he pays in forged bank notes, thus cheating Animal Farm. The rumors of exotic and cruel animal tortures he performs on his "farm" are meant to echo the horror stories emerging from Nazi Germany.

Whymper: Whymper is the man who acts as a trade agent for Animal Farm. His interests in the farm's affairs are purely business-minded, and his lack of concern for the animal rights issues behind the Animal Farm regime offer up a parody of the activities of countries which conduct business with communist regimes.

Comrade Napoleon Comrade Napoleon Friend of fatherless! Friend of fatherless!

Fountain of happiness! Fountain of happiness! Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh, how my soul is on Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh, how my soul is on

Fire when I gaze at thy Fire when I gaze at thy Calm and commanding eye, Calm and commanding eye,

Like the sun in the sky, Like the sun in the sky, Comrade Napoleon! Comrade Napoleon!

Comrade Napoleon:Comrade Napoleon:

Stalin

1.  Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 1.  Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 2.  Whatever goes upon four legs, or has 2.  Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. wings, is a friend. 3.  No animal shall wear clothes. 3.  No animal shall wear clothes. 4.  No animal shall sleep in a bed 4.  No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheetswith sheets. . 5.  No animal shall drink alcohol 5.  No animal shall drink alcohol in excessin excess.  .  6.  No animal shall kill any other animal 6.  No animal shall kill any other animal without causewithout cause. . 7.  All animals are equal, 7.  All animals are equal, but some are more but some are more equal than others. equal than others.

The 7 Rules of the FarmThe 7 Rules of the Farmand the changes in REDand the changes in RED. .

Themes in Themes in Animal Animal FarmFarm

http://www.sijmen.nl/filo/philoimages/marx.jpg

Grave Marker of Karl Marx

The Corruption of Socialist Ideals in the Soviet Union

•Animal Farm is most famous in the West as a stinging critique of the history and rhetoric of the Russian Revolution. •It retells the story of Soviet communism in the form of an animal fable, Animal Farm allegorizes the rise to power of the dictator Joseph Stalin.

In the novella, the In the novella, the overthrow of the overthrow of the human oppressor Mr. human oppressor Mr. Jones by a democratic Jones by a democratic group of animals group of animals quickly gives way to quickly gives way to the consolidation of the consolidation of power among the pigs.power among the pigs.

Much like the Soviet Much like the Soviet

intelligentsia, the pigs intelligentsia, the pigs establish themselves as establish themselves as the ruling class in the the ruling class in the new society.new society.

Czar Nicholas (1868—1918) of Russia with family.

Old ruling order: the royal family.

The Societal Tendency toward Class Stratification

*Animal Farm illustrates how classes that are initially unified in the face of a common enemy, as the animals are against the humans, may become internally divided when that enemy is eliminated.•The expulsion of Mr. Jones creates a power vacuum, and it is only so long before the next oppressor assumes totalitarian control.

PIGS TAKE OVERPIGS TAKE OVER Soon the farm becomes divided between Soon the farm becomes divided between

the powerful PIGS who consider the powerful PIGS who consider themselves the “brainworkers. The PIGS themselves the “brainworkers. The PIGS use their superior intelligence to use their superior intelligence to manipulate the farm for their own manipulate the farm for their own benefit. benefit.

The novella points out that there is a The novella points out that there is a tendency toward total government tendency toward total government control in many communities and that it control in many communities and that it poses a threat to democracy and freedom.poses a threat to democracy and freedom.

The Abuse of Language as Instrumental to the Abuse of Power

•One of Orwell’s central concerns, both in Animal Farm and in 1984, is the way in which language can be manipulated as an instrument of control. •In Animal Farm, the pigs gradually twist and distort a rhetoric of socialist revolution to justify their behavior and to keep the other animals in the dark.

The animals heartily embrace Major’s The animals heartily embrace Major’s visionary ideal of socialism, but after visionary ideal of socialism, but after Major dies, the pigs gradually twist the Major dies, the pigs gradually twist the meaning of his words. meaning of his words.

By the end of the novella, after By the end of the novella, after Squealer’s repeated revisions of the Squealer’s repeated revisions of the Seven Commandments in order to Seven Commandments in order to decriminalize the pigs’ treacheries, the decriminalize the pigs’ treacheries, the main principle of the farm can be main principle of the farm can be openly stated as “all animals are equal, openly stated as “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than but some animals are more equal than others.”others.”

Old Major warns, "Your resolution must never Old Major warns, "Your resolution must never falter.  No argument must lead you astray.  falter.  No argument must lead you astray.  Never listen when they tell you that Man and Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest....we must the animals have a common interest....we must not come to resemble him...No animal must not come to resemble him...No animal must ever live in a house or sleep in a bed, or wear ever live in a house or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade.“touch money, or engage in trade.“

But when Muriel reads the writing on the But when Muriel reads the writing on the barn wall to Clover, interestingly, the words barn wall to Clover, interestingly, the words are, "No animal shall kill any other animal are, "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.“without cause.“

The 7 Commandments are abridged for the The 7 Commandments are abridged for the last time, simply reading, "All animals are last time, simply reading, "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than equal but some animals are more equal than others."others."

New Commandments New Commandments

FarmhouseFarmhouse

•The Jones' farmhouse represents the place where greed and lust dominate. 

•Unlike the barn, which is the fortress of the common man, the genuine concept of socialism, the farmhouse, where Napoleon and the pigs take over, symbolizes the Kremlin. 

•Even today the Kremlin is an important place to Russian leaders, who, instead of embracing Marxism, have created their own distorted view of communism and have shoved it down their peoples' (animals') throats. 

Animalism represents socialism.  This view Animalism represents socialism.  This view was first expounded by Karl Marx (old was first expounded by Karl Marx (old Major), who, in Orwell's opinion was naive in Major), who, in Orwell's opinion was naive in thinking that his philosophy would actually thinking that his philosophy would actually work.  work. 

Orwell, although he agreed with the concept of Orwell, although he agreed with the concept of equality though socialism, was critical of Marx equality though socialism, was critical of Marx because he didn't take into account the greed because he didn't take into account the greed and jealousy which would eventually and jealousy which would eventually undermine the entire cause.  undermine the entire cause. 

This idea was shown through Napoleon and This idea was shown through Napoleon and the other pigs, who, through persuasion and the other pigs, who, through persuasion and force became the dominant authority on the force became the dominant authority on the farm. farm.

Animalism:Animalism:

    The nationalism the animals' feel The nationalism the animals' feel is demonstrated through their daily is demonstrated through their daily processions and rituals where they processions and rituals where they practically worship the flag (their practically worship the flag (their institution of the state and institution of the state and obviously not God).  obviously not God).  

These processions and parades These processions and parades grow more dramatic with the fall of grow more dramatic with the fall of socialism and the rise of socialism and the rise of Napoleon's dictatorship.  Napoleon's dictatorship. 

      

The Flag:The Flag:

The gun represents the overthrow of Mr. Jones in The gun represents the overthrow of Mr. Jones in the Battle of Cowshed.  Again, opposing Marx's the Battle of Cowshed.  Again, opposing Marx's ideal that rebellion is to be accomplish through ideal that rebellion is to be accomplish through honesty, innocence, and passive determination.honesty, innocence, and passive determination.

Napoleon and even Snowball (Trotsky) rise to Napoleon and even Snowball (Trotsky) rise to power by using death and destruction, the very power by using death and destruction, the very system Jones used on them.  Thus they prove system Jones used on them.  Thus they prove themselves no better than Jones and the previous themselves no better than Jones and the previous administration.        administration.       

The GunThe Gun

The Battle of Cowshed is a clear The Battle of Cowshed is a clear metaphor for the overthrow of the metaphor for the overthrow of the old Russian government based on old Russian government based on czars (Mr. Jones).   czars (Mr. Jones).  

The violence used in the battle, The violence used in the battle, however was not condoned by however was not condoned by Marx (old Major) or Orwell, who Marx (old Major) or Orwell, who both believed in pacifism.  both believed in pacifism. 

Snowball and Napoleon, though, Snowball and Napoleon, though, were too greedy and were required were too greedy and were required to use force in order to establish to use force in order to establish their corrupt government.  their corrupt government. 

Battle of Cowshed:Battle of Cowshed:

Orwell uses Sugarcandy Orwell uses Sugarcandy Mountain to symbolize the Mountain to symbolize the Christian concept of Christian concept of Heaven.   Heaven.  

Moses, the raven of Mr. Moses, the raven of Mr. Jones, and later Napoleon, is Jones, and later Napoleon, is the vehicle from which the the vehicle from which the working class hears about working class hears about this land where clover and this land where clover and sugar is unmeasured and sugar is unmeasured and free to everyone.  free to everyone.     

Sugarcandy Sugarcandy Mountain:Mountain:

Orwell's use of ribbons and sugar Orwell's use of ribbons and sugar symbolizes the luxuries of life symbolizes the luxuries of life enjoyed by the old middle class enjoyed by the old middle class under the old government.   under the old government.  

Mollie, the symbol for the Mollie, the symbol for the capitalist, is particularly fond of capitalist, is particularly fond of ribbons and sugar— so much so ribbons and sugar— so much so that she leaves the farm for that she leaves the farm for them. them.

Ribbons & Sugar:Ribbons & Sugar:

Orwell uses milk to represent the care and Orwell uses milk to represent the care and love that mothers give to their children.love that mothers give to their children.

When Napoleon takes the milk for himself When Napoleon takes the milk for himself and the other pigs, he is, in essence, and the other pigs, he is, in essence, stealing the very core of the people.  stealing the very core of the people. 

Now he can raise the children (other farm Now he can raise the children (other farm animals) as a tool of the state.   No longer animals) as a tool of the state.   No longer is the power in the family; now the is the power in the family; now the cornerstone of civilization is in the cornerstone of civilization is in the totalitarian government of Napoleon totalitarian government of Napoleon (Stalin).(Stalin).

Milk and Apples:Milk and Apples:

Orwell uses beer to represent the "Old" Russia.  He Orwell uses beer to represent the "Old" Russia.  He first notes that the reason Jones lost control of the first notes that the reason Jones lost control of the farm and began being cruel to the animals was farm and began being cruel to the animals was because of alcohol.  It symbolizes, more than because of alcohol.  It symbolizes, more than anything, a corrupt government— a government anything, a corrupt government— a government drunk on prosperity (a prosperity which never drunk on prosperity (a prosperity which never trickles down to the common animal).  trickles down to the common animal). 

          Alcohol was originally seen as a grave evil of Alcohol was originally seen as a grave evil of the new regime.   Old Major repeatedly warns the the new regime.   Old Major repeatedly warns the animals against taking on Man's ways, but his animals against taking on Man's ways, but his concerns are not heeded.  Really it was the issue of concerns are not heeded.  Really it was the issue of alcohol that made many of the animals suspicious alcohol that made many of the animals suspicious of the pigs.  Thus, Napoleon had Squealer change of the pigs.  Thus, Napoleon had Squealer change the commandments.     the commandments.           

Alcohol:Alcohol:

* The windmill is used by Orwell to * The windmill is used by Orwell to symbolize Soviet industry. If you'll symbolize Soviet industry. If you'll notice in the book, the windmill was notice in the book, the windmill was destroyed several times before it finally destroyed several times before it finally was complete.was complete.

* This represents the trials the * This represents the trials the communists in Russia went through to communists in Russia went through to establish their armament-production establish their armament-production industry. industry.

Windmill:Windmill:

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Take this Quiz for review.Take this Quiz for review.

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