Animal Farm, “A Fairy Story”George Orwell

“A powerful fable that uses animals to reflect human political failure”

George Orwell

•Also known as Eric Arthur Blair (1905-1950)

•British novelist and journalist•Common themes/influences

▫Awareness of social injustice▫Opposes totalitarianism▫Belief in democratic socialism

•Most well-known works▫1984 (1949): dystopian novel▫Animal Farm (1945): allegorical novella

Animal Farm • An allegorical novella about power,

corruption, and political failure

• Allegory▫ Stories in which character and events

represent or symbolize ideas and concepts▫ Surface: story of animals living on a farm▫ Symbolic: Stalin’s rise to power and abuse

of Russian citizens

• Subtitled “A Fairy Story”▫ Considered a political fable

▫ Fables: often use animals as characters; meant to teach a lesson or “moral”

▫ To what extent does Animal Farm achieve this?

Utopia• Idea of a “perfect society”

▫“All animals are created equal.”• Not sustainable, and bound to break down into a

dystopia ▫“Animalism” is corrupted and twisted as a power

structure emerges▫There will always be people who want to have more

power

• Orwellian: describes the totalitarianism and authoritarian practices that emerge in politics and reflected in literature

Animal Farm: Themes

•Power corrupts those who have it.▫People’s ignorance contributes to their political,

and social oppression.

• In society, individuals are not treated equally ▫All societies contain individuals who will seize

power for their own ends.

•Revolutions may result in a change of political power, but most people’s lives stay about the same.

•Those in power try to revise history to fit a current political need.

Political & Allegorical context

Karl Marx: The Father of Communism• Opposed Capitalism

According to Marx, in capitalist societies, workers (Proletariat) are exploited by the Bourgeoisie (who own the companies)

Capitalism concentrates power and wealth into a very small group This same group controls most

of society• Communism

Would put the ownership of production into the hands of those who are doing the labor

Would decrease the presence of social classes, making society more equal

Marxism Communism • The Communist Manifesto, 1848

▫Presents the Marxian vision▫Looks at history and how world divides into the

“haves” and “have nots.”▫Proscription for the future: how system “will”

work under Marx’s views▫Extremely influential (Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky)

• “From each according to his ability, for each according to his need”▫Everyone would have what they needed, and

no one citizen would possess more than another.

Russian Revolution•Russia was in an appalling state of

poverty while the Czar (Nicholas II). •There was tremendous dissatisfaction

among the people. •Bolshevism

▫Later the Communist Party of Soviet Union▫Came to power after the October

Revolution 1917▫Lenin became the early leader

•Russian Communism▫All people are equal ▫Government owns everything,

but people own the government

Key Political Players• Vladimir Lenin

▫ Adopted Marx’s ideas. ▫ He believed that the bourgeoisie must be overthrown.

• Leon Trotsky▫ Tireless self-promoter; great public speaker▫ Pure communist, followed Marx▫ Wanted to improve life for all Russians▫ Favors world revolution

• Joseph Stalin▫ Does not follow Marx’s ideas▫ Cares for power, kills all who oppose him▫ Secures his power base when he exiles Trotsky in 1929

▫ Stalin did kill Trotsky after his exile with an ice pick

As you read Animal Farm , pay attention to the different characters in the novel.▫Which ones resemble some of these

political figures?▫How is allegory at work in the novel?

Warm up

•Why do you think revolutions occur? What circumstances would lead people to overthrow the daily political and economical structure of their lives?