Animal Farm-a political satire

Animal Farm George Orwell                                             4-19-02 Book Review # Plot Summary George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political satire of a totalitarian society ruled by a mighty dictatorship, in all probability a fable for the events surrounding the Russian Revolution of 1917. The animals of “Manor Farm” overthrow their human master after a long history of mistreatment. Led by the pigs, the farm animals continue to do their work, only with more pride, knowing that they are working for themselves, as opposed to working for humans. Little by little, the pigs become dominant, gaining more power and advantage over the other animals, so much so that they become as corrupt and power-hungry as their predecessors, the humans. Characterization Major is a white boar, he is old and wise.

Shortly after, Napoleon takes the spot light and takes charge along with the other pigs. He argues that dishonesty becomes present within the environment and their ideas and their views are all different. In this story the animals send away the unkind humans out of the farm, and change the name of their home from Manor Farm to Animal Farm. George Orwell embodies the Russian corruption of communism into the pigs upon the farm. Mr. Jones was irresponsible to his animals by letting them starve, and very cruel by beating them with whips.

Plot Several important events lead to the outcome of Animal Farm. In the end the pigs within the story have become a complete corrupt government and very human like. The long chain of events begins with Napoleon chasing off Snowball at the meeting that decides if the windmill is to be built. He “uttered a high pitched whimper” to call his police dogs, which drove Snowball straight off the farm. Napoleon then chose to build the windmill after all.

If one was in the position of power it would be difficult not to take control. In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, farm animals that are not fed well and are treated poorly rebel against the farmer that is in control, naming it animal farm. The animals drive the farmer and his family off of the Manor farm and take control of it. Napoleon ,the Pig, took advantage of the animals so that he could become more powerful. He also made himself the only leader by exiling the other Pig, Snowball.

During the course of the story these pigs used their power to get more power, and in the process their inclinations towards corruption triumphed. When Old Major, the boar who came up with the idea of all animals uniting against humans, died, Napoleon and Snowball saw an opportunity where they could take control and took it. Napoleon used force to get rid of Snowball and take all the power for himself, and he used fear to keep the other animals from revolting. He used scapegoats so that he could not be blamed for anything that went wrong, and propaganda to brainwash the animals into loyal slaves. Napoleon changed and broke the commandments of Animal Farm to benefit himself, and he lacked empathy for all those who worked hard for him, executing those that might cause him trouble.

Some of these animals’ names are Old Major, Snowball, and Napoleon. They are all pigs from the farm. The animals on the farm get tired of how they are getting badly treated. So they end up overthrowing their farm owner Mr. Jones. After they overthrow their owner, the pigs start taking over the farm and taking control over all the other animals in the farm.

As Napoleon begins to grow in power and influence, Snowball, his political rival, also expands his control through rhetorical means. Consequently, they often have contrasting ideas regarding the farm’s future. The debate regarding the construction of a windmill was one major conflict and caused Napoleon to resort to violence. As the boar could not bear to let others gain control, he orders his attack dogs to exile Snowball and intimidates the animals into oppression. “One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball’s tail but Snowball whisked it free just in time.

In the story, the two pigs always disagreed with each other. The other animals were divided equally in supporting either Snowball or Napoleon. By spreading the rumor that Snowball was a traitor, Napoleon was able to drive Snowball from the farm and become the leader of Animal Farm with no one to oppose him. Napoleon, with the help of Squealer, turned all the animals against Snowball. Squealer, who was a masterful manipulator, played an important part in convincing the animals that Snowball was an enemy.

They set up a commune under the control of the pigs soon afterwards. But the pigs abuse their power and the animals end up being no better off than they were under Farmer Jones. Animal Farm, a parody of the Russian Revolution, is Orwell’s attempt to inform others about a purveying truth regarding human nature- that power is, by its very nature, corrupting. This is why “history consists of a series of swindles where the masses are first lead into revolt… and enslaved all over again”. Old Major, representing both Marx and Lenin, is the catalyst for the revolution.

However, when Napoleon hears Snowball’s plans for power on the farm, he decides to have his now grown puppies chase Snowball off the farm. After Sno... ... middle of paper ... ...s off the farm, used euphemisms to make what the pigs where doing seem like it wasn’t such a bad thing. Even when he was caught In the act of changing the farm rules, he got away for it because of his superior way of persuasion. Just like the pigs in animal farm using persuasion, and manipulation, people also use these tricks to manipulate others in real life. Using “double speak” techniques can get you ahead, but at the cost of others (Lutz 27).