The novella by George Orwell, Animal Farm, is an allegory, or a piece of literature with a hidden meaning, of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Animal Farm follows the events of the farm animals and their uprising against the farmer. Despite the obvious differences between, Animal Farm, and the Russian Revolution, they are very much similar. Characters from the novella can be compared to historical figures from the revolution. While the novella is not limited to these characters, these are the most significant.
These characters are: Jones and Czar Nicholas II, Old Major and Karl Marx, Snowball and Leon Trotsky, as well as Napoleon and Joseph Stalin. In addition, certain events of the Russian Revolution can be compared to those of Animal Farm. Czar Nicholas II and Jones The novella is set in England in a normal farm called Manor Farm where the farmer, Jones, lives and oversees the farm and his animals with the help of his workers. Jones treats the animals quite badly, and because of this, the animals want change.
In the actual Russian Revolution (which occurred in Russia and began in 1917), Czar Nicholas II (1868-1918) had total power over his people , who were struggling to survive in the harsh conditions. He was widely unpopular amongst the Russians because of what they had to endure. According to a video narrated by Nate Sullivan for World History, “… he did not have the charisma characteristic of other leaders. Many people felt he was haughty and aloof; many peasants and middle-class citizens felt the czar was out of touch with the realities of their meager existence.
For these reasons, his political power was less than secure. Both Jones and the czar’s rule were one of the reasons why the people/animals rebelled against them. Like the czar, Jones treated his animals unrealistically by not feeding them for days and making them work unreasonable hours with little rest the way the czar did. In his speech, the character Old Major spoke about their exploitation saying, “Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.
Our labour tills the soil, our dung fertilises it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. Old Major can be considered part of the proletariat, as he worked, and also was exploited by Jones. This is similar to what the proletariat thought while under Czar Nicholas II’s rule. Before and during the Russian Revolution, the food shortage was a significant problem the people faced, and was a reason why the people rebelled. Karl Marx and Old Major Karl Marx (1818-1883) is represented by Old Major in Animal Farm. Karl Marx – among many things – was a socialist who wrote The Communist Manifesto, which was a collection of his beliefs known as Marxism. In the novella, Old Major was a well respected boar in the farm.
Old Major has his own beliefs, much like Karl Marx. These ideas were referred to as “animalism. ” Old Major had influenced the animals was through his beliefs. The text states, “[Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer] had elaborated old Major’s teachings into a complete system of thought, to which they gave the name of Animalism. Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. ” In addition, he also proposed the idea of a rebellion to the animals one night after giving a speech on the animals’ struggle.
Another way both Marx and Old Major influence their followers was by talking about a possible revolution. The text says, “ Old Major’s speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. ” Old Major thought the animals suffered too much; they had to work very hard and often were not even fed. He was able to convey his struggles to others who also experienced them, for a more clear picture of their life. Realization motivated them to change their lifestyle. This was another reason why Old Major and Karl Marx are the same: they both thought the proletariat was being exploited.
In Animal Farm, Old Major says, “No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. ” Karl Marx himself suffered greatly, being a working class citizen and little money, and so he also shared these views, and again, made others aware of the misery they lived in. Another similarity between Karl Marx and Old Major was the fact that he died before he could see the change he envisioned, just like Old Major. After writing several books explaining his beliefs, he was disregarded.
According to the text, “Three nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. ” However, Old Major was not disregarded, and many of the animals wanted to recreate Old Major’s dream of a better life for the animals. Karl Marx died years before the revolution began; he never had the opportunity to experience life in a communist government. Leon Trotsky and Snowball Another historical figure that can be compared to an animal from the novella is Leon Trotsky. He is represented by Snowball, one of the pigs.
Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) was a Marxist revolutionary, and politician who was also a great leader and orator. Snowball was one of the pigs who assumed a leadership role after Jones’ defeat. Both were very influential leaders in their revolutions. Both Trotsky and Snowball were leaders. Leon Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army during the revolution, devised plans to take over the government like in the March revolution, and led the Russian Civil War. In the Battle of Cowshed, which is the equivalent of the October Revolution/Russian civil war in the Russian revolution, Snowball leads the way.
According to the text, “As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. ” In addition to being the first to attack, he also paved the way, and lead the animals the way Trotsky lead his people. On a much less positive note, Trotsky was exiled by Joseph Stalin in 1928. Similarly, Snowball was banished from the farm by Napoleon in chapter five. George Orwell writes, “At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.
In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. ” In this scene, Napoleon’s guard dogs were chasing him, but it was Napoleon himself who made the order for Snowball to be chased off the farm, and essentially, he banished Snowball. Joseph Stalin and Napoleon The character Napoleon represents the revolution’s infamous Joseph Stalin (1878-1953). Both Napoleon and Stalin used fear as a way to make their people/animals comply with their demands due to their acquired power, and had secret police (dogs). Joseph Stalin instilled fear into his people; he used fear as a tactic to make people obey him.
During his reign of terror, “Millions were killed in forced labor or starved during the ensuing famine,” as Stalin’s biography states. Once in power, Napoleon began to inflict terror upon his followers the way Stalin created a reign of terror in Russia. The novella states, “And so the tale of confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon’s feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood…” Such events created terror amongst the animals, only making them believe they were the problem. This caused them to only try to work harder, and this includes obeying Napoleon’s orders.
Napoleon was also able to ban the animals beloved song, Beast of England, with the power he had acquired. During the time of the revolution, composers like Dimitri Shostakovich, were afraid of making music because of Stalin. According to the text, “[Squealer] announced that, by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon, Beasts of England had been abolished. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. ” Both Stalin and Napoleon wouldn’t have been able to do both inflict terror and prohibit songs, if they weren’t powerful. Both raised to power from the sidelines, and did similar things. In Animal Farm, Napoleon’s reign of terror are also evident.
The dogs that Napoleon had raised had helped him establish dominion over the animals. They were very loyal to Napoleon and responded to a mere whimper. These dogs represent Stalin’s NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennih Del), who were secret police, and known for political suppression. During his reign of terror, the dogs aided Stalin execute people. In Animal Farm, the dogs also helped do this. The author writes, “But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. ” The dogs and the NKVD alike, became an icon of violence and threat to the animals and people.
Other Parallels Between Russian Revolution and Animal Farm In the novella, Animal Farm, another way in which it is similar to the Russian Revolution is the fact that the proletariat acted, and followed through with their plans of overthrowing the bourgeois. In the second chapter, we see the animals become surfeited with the way they were being treated, and they attack the humans. After enduring so much suffering, from hunger and exploitation, the cows acted first. In the actual Russian Revolution, the women began to revolt due to the food shortages.
The text states, “At last they could stand it no longer. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins. ” The parallel is that both female roles took it upon themselves to try and change the way they were living. This was another event that triggered their revolution. After their acts, the revolution commenced. According to the novella, “This was more than the hungry animals could bear. With one accord, though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand, they flung themselves upon their tormentors.
Both in Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution of 1917, the reasons and roles of those involved were the same enough to cause an uprising, as previously mentioned. In chapter nine, the animals are starving through the harsh winter, yet again. The animals’ food rations have been reduced twice, but the work is still there. The animals were rebuilding their windmill in order to generate electricity and have more commodities. Animals like Boxer, offered their strength. This is similar to Joseph Stalin’s Five Year Plan, which was to industrialize to better prepare themselves for possible invasions from the west.
During this time, Stalin demanded the production of materials needed to industrialize. The text reads, “There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm, and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses, so that all the materials for building were at hand. ” The materials to begin building were collected, just like in Stalin’s time when he instructed the workers to collect coal and oils, among other materials, to industrialize Russia. Napoleon and Stalin alike, take complete control over the windmill project.
Ultimately, the novella Animal Farm, is very much like the Russian Revolution of 1917 from their characters, but also events. Historical figures like Czar Nicholas II, Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin, who influenced and took part in the revolution itself, can be recognized in the characters in Animal Farm. In the novella, Czar Nicholas II is represented by farmer Jones, Karl Marx is represented by Old Major; Leon Trotsky is represented by Snowball; Joseph Stalin is represented by Napoleon. Certain actions made by the characters allow the comparison between the character and person to be made.
