Symbolism in Animal Farm by George Orwell

Symbolism in Animal Farm by George Orwell

The novel Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian revolution, and therefore

the book is full of symbolism. General Orwell associates certain real

characters with the characters of the book. Animal Farm is as important

to the political and social events of the world today as it was in 1945.

George Orwell’s attack on totalitarianism and the governmental abuse of

power is an outlet for adolescent sensitivity to authority, injustice,

inequality, and the need to rebel.

Mr. Jones, the farmer sands for the Russian Tsar Nicolaii. The second

to be forced to abdicate after the successful February-revolution. But Mr.

Jones also somehow stands for the moral decline of men in a capitalist or

feudalist type of society.

Old Major, on one side represents the workers of the Putilow factory,

who started the February-revolution, and on the other side, Old Major is

representing the Russian intelligence. But it is also possible that Orwell

made Old Major a symbol for Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who

somehow symbolizes Vladimir Iljitsch Lenin, the leader of the October

Revolution.

Without any doubt, Napoleon stands for Josef Wissarionowitsch

Stalin, one of the most cruel dictators in worlds history.

Squealer is an excellent speaker. Squealer convinces all animals to

follow the revolution. The appearance of this pig can be compared with

Goebbels, the German minister for propaganda.

Snowball is a symbol for Leo Dawidowitsch Trotzky. In the beginning

Trotzky participated in the revolution, but later was forced to go to the

exile.

Russia’s working class, would have to be Boxer and Clover. They

were convinced of the necessity of the Revolution. The Russian working

class then has build up the industry, which was forty years behind the

western countries. Then this class that has done so much for the prosperity

of Russia has been betrayed by the Communist party, or in this case the

pigs. Orwell also shows up that the roles are not very intelligent.

Orwell has chosen the pigs to represent the Communist Party.

Before and short after the revolution they acted like being loyal to the

working-class, or common animals, but later they have became just like,

the Tsar family. They just exploit the working-class, and they live in luxury

and abundance.

The dogs were recruited by the pigs to protect their own power and

might. The dogs were also used to evict and to intimidate political

enemies within their own rows. So one can say that the cruel dogs stand

for the army and the secret-police.