How Does Orwell Present The Russian Revolution In Animal Farm

One of Orwell's goals in writing Animal Farm was to portray the Russian (or Bolshevik) Revolution of 1917 as one that resulted in a government more oppressive, totalitarian, and deadly than the one it overthrew. Many of the characters and events of Orwell's novel parallel those of the Russian Revolution: In short, Manor Farm is a model of Russia, and many of the animals are portrayed to represent the dominant figures of the Russian Revolution.

Mr. Jones is modeled on Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918), the last Russian emperor. His rule (1894-1917) was marked by his constant proclamations that he was the premier and almost divine ruler of the nation. During his reign, the Russian people experienced terrible poverty and famine, marked by the Bloody

Lenin was responsible for changing Russia into the U.S.S.R., just like old Major is responsible for transforming Manor Farm into Animal Farm. Another interesting thing to note is that both of these parties made their flags the things that they held close, the tools of the people, in the U.S.S.R’s flag they have the hammer and sickle and in the Animal farm flag they have a hoof and horn.

One of Lenin's allies was Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), another Marxist ideologist who participated in a number of revolutionary demonstrations and uprisings. His counterpart in Animal Farm is Snowball, who also felt that a worldwide series of rebellions was necessary to achieve the revolution's ultimate goals. Snowball's plans for the windmill and programs reflect Trotsky's ideas about the best ways to bring Marx's theories into reality. Trotsky was also the leader of Lenin's Red Army, as Snowball directs the army of animals that repel

and killed by the agents of Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), as Snowball is chased off of the farm by Napoleon — Orwell's stand-in for Stalin. Like Napoleon, Stalin was unconcerned with debates and ideas. Instead, he valued power for its ability to control, and by 1927 had assumed complete control of the Communist Party through acts of terror and brutality. Napoleon's dogs are like Stalin's KGB, his secret police that he used to eliminate all opposition. As Napoleon gains control under the guise of improving the animals' lives, Stalin used a great deal of propaganda, like Squealer in the novel to present himself as an idealist working for change. His plan to build the windmill reflects Stalin's Five Year Plan for revitalizing the nation's industry and agriculture. Stalin's ordering Lenin's body to be placed in the shrine-like Lenin's Tomb parallels Napoleon's unearthing of old Major's skull, and his creation of the Order of the Green Banner parallels Stalin's creation of the Order of Lenin. Thanks in part, to animals like Boxer (who had no ability to discern what was right or wrong), Stalin became one of the world's most feared and brutal