Symbolism and Interpretation in Animal Farm
When Orwell published Animal Farm in 1945, he hoped to write a novel that exposed the murderous truth of the Soviet System. He employed allegory to show a truth that remained unclear to many. As an allegory on early 20th Century Russia, Animal Farm introduces its audience to a wide array of characters, each serving as a symbol. The table below provides a list of fictional characters, events, and items from the film Animal Farm, and the real-life counterparts they appear to represent. Consider how each character could also be interpreted to have a larger, broader meaning.
- Farmer Jones: The farmer stands for the Russian Czar Nicolas II, who was forced to abdicate after the successful February Revolution. In addition, Mr. Jones symbolizes the evils of capitalism and the moral decline of men under this type of society.
- Humans: The humans stand for the capitalists who exploit the weak. The gradual transformation of the pigs into human-like creatures represents the process by which the revolution's leaders became corrupted. Whether capitalist or communist in name, the underlying reality of many political systems is tyranny.
- Old Major: Many believe Orwell made Old Major a symbol for Karl Marx, the father of the Communist belief system. Both Old Major and Karl Marx serve as the founders of a revolutionary creed, and both die before the revolutionary events they predict.
- Snowball: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Like Trotsky, Snowball is a smart, young speaker who dreams of making life better for all animals. One of the early leaders of the "October Revolution," Trotsky was banished from the Soviet Union by Stalin.
- Napoleon: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, who led the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. Like Stalin, Napoleon is intelligent, ruthless, and politically skilled. He also uses violence and fear to maintain his power.
- Squealer: Squealer represents the propaganda machine of any totalitarian government. He is a master of language and uses it to manipulate the other animals into supporting Napoleon's regime.
- Boxer: Boxer represents the working class, who are often exploited by totalitarian governments. He is strong, loyal, and hardworking, but he is also naive and easily manipulated.
- Mollie: Mollie represents the bourgeoisie, who are often more concerned with their own comfort and luxury than with the plight of the working class.
- "Beasts of England": This song, which becomes the official creed of the animals' revolution, represents the "Communist Internationale," a real song penned by supporters of communism in the early 1900s.
- Windmill: The windmill stands for Russian industry. Soviet leaders focused on making Russia industrially modern after the Revolution of 1917. Joseph Stalin, in particular, drew up several "Five Year Plans," which plotted the tremendous growth of Russia's railroads, factories, coal, and metal mines.
Contemporary Connection:
In the original novel, Orwell ends the story with the pigs' ultimate ascension. The
George Orwell's goal in writing the novel Animal Farm was to portray the events surrounding the Russian revolution that took place in 1917. Orwell's tale of Animal Farm is seemingly a story of how a group of farmyard animals plot to overthrow their owner and seize control of the land. The novel seems to be a simple story, however Orwell wrote this book as an allegory, a story that has a clear secondary meaning beneath is literal sense. Everything in Animal Farm is used to represent people and events that took place during the Russian revolution from 1917-1939. Orwell chose to represent Russia's three famous leaders during this time with three pigs. Each three are drastically different and have dissimilar beliefs. Snowball representing Leon Trotsky, Napoleon by Josef Stalin and Old Major by Karl Marx. Orwell wrote this and many other books as warnings. The warning is that people must change their ways, or we are most surely doomed.
One of the main ideas in Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is how each event in it corresponds to an event in the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s entire novel is essentially an allegory, in which each detail represents a different aspect of this historical event and the episodes surrounding it. I believe that “Animal Farm” shows that too much power can corrupt anyone. “When Old Major’s vision, later called “Animalism,” was put into practice, the pigs in charge took over and became selfish and violent, twisting the philosophy until it barely contained an echo of the original intent.” (Orwell, n.d.) This same exact thing happened with communism, as Stalin left much of the country helpless without money, and put people to death if they showed the slightest
The novel “Animal Farm” was written by the author name George Orwell. Animal Farm is a novel based upon the lives of a society of animals wanting a better life for themselves living on the Manor Farm. The setting of the book is a farm called “Manor Farm”. The theme of this book is that the animals should make a stand; if they continue doing the same thing they will continue getting the same results. It is better to be free and starving, than to be fed and enslaved.
Firstly, perhaps no book has linked animals to human counterparts better than Animal Farm. Orwell's beasts serve as a representation of important characters of the World War II era and beyond. For example, Karl Marx, the inventor of the communist movement, was represented by Old Major, the most important animal on the farm until his death. Much like Old Major, Marx was a visionary who dreamed of equality. Old Major states:"Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion!"(Orwell, Animal Farm, 30). In addition, he inspired the Russian Social Democratic Leader Party, led by rivals Joseph Stalin and Leon Trostky. Napoleon is represented by Joseph Stalin and much like him, he builds loyalties within the communist party ( pigs and dogs) so that he can overthrow Snowball (Trostky). Snowball displaying similar traits with Trotsky in the fact that they both fight bravely in their respective battles. Trotsky was an important component to the victory in the Russian civil war, Snowball displaying this bravery during the battle of the cowshed. The hens, geese, and sheep that are executed are a representation of the millions who opposed Stalin's, and who are killed banished as a result. The hens and geese are not known for their docile natures, and serve as perfect rebels . As well, the pigs' metamorphosis of their face and behaviour is symbolic of the transition of a government initially for the people, into ...
This essay will cover the comparison between Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. It will also explain why this novel is a satire and allegory to the Revolution that took place in Russia so long ago. First and foremost, Manor Farm itself represents Russia with its poor conditions and irresponsible leaders. Mr. Jones plays one of those leaders, Nicholas the Second or The Czar as people called him in those days. Mr. Jones beats his animals, forgets to feed them, and treats them badly.
Old Major, the creator of animalism, represents both the original revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin, and the founder of communism, Karl Marx. Like these Russians, Old Major wants all individuals to be equal. Old Major is symbolic of Marx because, like Marx, he has a dream about the revolution. He says, "'That is my message for you, comrades: Rebellion! And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship, in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades'" (Orwell 4). Also, neither of the two live to see the revolution put into effect ("Animal" 1). Old Major is also symbolic of Lenin because while he introduces the idea of a revolution, Lenin introduces the New Economy Plan to Russia (Urban 1).
George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, “… to discredit the Soviet system by showing its inhumanity and its back-sliding from ideals [he] valued…” (Gardner, 106) Orwell noted, “there exists in England almost no literature of disillusionment with the Soviet Union.’ Instead, that country is viewed either with ignorant disapproval’ or with uncritical admiration.’” (Orwell, 10) The other animals take this utopian idea to heart, and one day actually do revolt and drive the humans out. Two pigs emerge as leaders: Napoleon and Snowball. They constantly argued, but one day, due to a difference over plans to build a windmill, Napoleon exiled Snowball. Almost immediately, Napoleon established a totalitarian government. Soon, the pigs began to get special favors, until finally, they were indistinguishable from humans to the other animals. Immediately the reader can begin to draw parallels between the book’s characters and the government in 1914-1944 Russia. For example, Old Major, who invented the idea of “animalism,” is seen as representing Karl Marx, the creator of communism. Snowball represents Trotksy, a Russian leader after the revolution. He was driven out by Napoleon, who represents Stalin, the most powerful figure in the country. Napoleon then proceeded to remove the freedoms of the animals, and established a dictatorship, under the public veil of “animalism.
Through the story “Animal Farm” there were many examples of ethos, logos, and pathos. For these three animals Old major, snowball. And napoleon. Some examples for ethos for all of them is that Old major thinks that the rebellion is better for all of the animals rather than just work until they can’t then they just get slaughtered. For snowball she doesn't care about anything only that she stays alive and well and that is very selfish and that just isn't good. For napoleon He wants to only get his way and he doesn't care what happens as long as he gets what he wants. For the examples of logos Old major makes some decisions that have good reason and that makes sense to the other animals like that if they didn’t rebel then they would die and that
The Use of Language in Animal Farm Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory in which animals are personified to represent the struggles and conflicts of the Russian Revolution. The main point emphasizes in the novel is that language is a powerful tool, which can be used to manipulate and control people in order to bring about change, whether big or small. In the story the pigs govern everything that happens, whether it is something as miner as eating a meal, or something as major and important as fighting a strategic battle. Napoleon, the foreman, or leader of the pigs is the most powerful of them all. Napoleon and his “side kick”, Squealer, abused the powers of language to manipulate the animals of the farm into thinking that the farm was a beautiful society flourishing with life and freedom, when in fact, it was quite the opposite.
History itself is a reflection of the social forces which aid in constructing literature pieces. Literature reveals flawed economic systems and corruption, as in the animal fable, “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell, it allegorizes the rise of power through the development of Soviet Communism. The effects of social forces influence the causes of historical events, the author’s personal experiences, and a construction of a political value system. This is to be displayed in Orwell’s work and has an affect on the audience’s response to it.
Theme Essay If a seven year old read Animal Farm he/she would have thought that it was a sad story about a farm in England. If an older person reads it, however, he/she realizes that this story has much more meaning to it. The story is filled with themes that help us understand the world around us. In this essay, I am going to talk about four themes that Orwell discussed in this story.
When analyzing the book Animal Farm the book brings to your attention a few things about it that may go unnoticed by many readers. At first when glancing at it, or reading a little bit of it, it may seem like a children’s book. When the book first came out it was placed on the children’s shelves at stores, once readers discovered the complex work by Orwell it was moved to the adult fiction shelf which is where it belongs. “Many of the first readers of Orwell’s little masterpiece apparently did not realize that it was brilliant work of political satire” (Rooden, Appreciating Animal Farm in the New Millennium). The book is about a group of animals on a farm that want to from their own society, and control themselves rather than being controlled by humans. The book goes way beyond just that though, it has hidden meanings that have social value and create controversy. The animals sing a song together in the book, that song is believed to be based off of an old song from the 1920’s. This is an excellent example of a covert meaning, when realizing why Orwell incorporated this song in the book it really makes readers think about the reasoning. Reading Animal Farm was very interesting finding hidden meanings, and learning about political controversy from the early 1900’s. The hidden meanings in pieces of literature really make readers think and encourage them to learn more about why the author wrote it how they did.
Animal Farm included many events in which injustice was the main factor. The pigs got to sleep on comfortable beds whereas the animals, who worked hard and long hours everyday, slept on the floor with hay. The pigs got more to eat, while the animals who, once again, worked hard and long hours got little to no food at times. “In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of people to give it to the other.” ‐‐Voltaire. Napoleon, which in this case is the government, continuously takes food, the money, from the animals and gives it to the pigs, the dogs and himself (the other class).
Political Allegory In The Book Animal Farm Ideas play a part in any revolution, conflicting ideas are the main reason why revolutions happen. This is the platform that George Orwell used in his book Animal Farm. The political allegory in the story is mocking the Revolution that changed "Russia" into the "USSR". This was the work of Karl Marx.
to the political and social events of the world today as it was in 1945.