Animal Farm by George Orwell: An Opposition to Corrupt Governments

Designed as a means of opposition to the corrupt government in the Soviet Union at the time, George Orwell’s well-crafted fairy tale Animal Farm is regarded as quality literature due to its lasting relevance to current social issues as well as its biting social commentary. The novella Animal Farm powerfully corroborates with the aphorism, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. This is done through Orwell’s skilful usage of characterization, plot and theme. Through an in depth exploration of the novella's key thematic concerns, the youth of today are made aware of political issues and compelled to act for change, thus the book manages to establish itself in line with Stover’s statement regarding what constitutes quality young adult literature.

Animal Farm is an allegory that tells the story of a farm that is overtaken by animals. The pigs eventually claim leadership and turn out to be worse leaders than the humans they overthrew. This is a crystal clear comparison to Stalin's Russia. The book was written by George Orwell during World War II as a result of the zeitgeist of the times and with the encouragement from his publisher, he decided to write about oppressed persons. The idea for this novel came to Orwell after witnessing a young boy whipping a horse on a cart, “It struck me, that if only such animals became aware of their strength, we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat (working class).” (Orwell, 1933) George Orwell drew largely on what was happening around him in society. When Orwell saw a powerful dictator named Joseph Stalin come up through the revolutionary ranks in Russia and eventually oppress the people as badly as the ...

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... objective truth would create far worse situations for humanity than any ideological war ever could. Orwell realized, power, had become an end in itself. The novella Animal Farm has successfully proven the maxim "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." And in turn has established itself to be quality young adult literature in line with the criteria set out by Stover. Animal Farm has proven to be relevant both to young adults during the time it was written and has remained relevant through the ages due to it's in depth and highly detailed scrutiny of corruption because of power. When looking at politicians through the ages it is easy to see that their beliefs manifest in the same way as the pigs when they stated, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than other's." The belief of superiority is tantamount to corruption through power.