Animal Farm, written by George Orwell in 1945, portrays the Russian Revolution by using animals on a farm as symbols of political figures, such as Lenin and Stalin, and historical events as well. Orwell often wrote books such as Animal farm so that he can reflect and share his concern on the political and social circumstances of his day@. After the animals were treated brutally, they decided to revolt and rule the farm on their own. This resulted in them being in the hands of Napoleon, who was one of the pigs.
Napoleon was not the leader who they thought he was, but a corrupted dominator. This was much like the Russian Revolution where the citizens revolted against Czar and later resulting in having Stalin, who was much like Napoleon as their leader. The book was very convincing in getting the message of the Russian Revolution and how power can be dangerous when in the wrong hands, across to the readers. As you read the book, it is clear that Orwell thought that the Russian Revolution was a result of corruption and power that was in the hands of the wrong people.
He uses animals such as pigs for the rulers and animals such as chickens and horses for the citizens. He chose cleaner animals for the citizens to portray them in a more positive way compared to the leaders. The book, written in chronological order in comparison to the Russian Revolution, is historically accurate and includes the major leaders and events that occurred during the time of the Revolution making the book a metaphor of the Revolution. The story starts by introducing the farmer of the farm, Mr. Jones. He mistreated the animals and was always very cruel towards them.
Mr. Jones is much like Czar Nicholas who was the leader of Russia. The peasants and indignant workers worked very hard while Nicholas continued to live the great life of being the leader, which caused a huge strike. Bloody Sunday, was the day in which Nicholas’ troops decided to kill the people who were working to improve the conditions for the peasants and working class. This historical event proves just how harsh Nicholas was. After the animals on the farm decided to get together to discuss the farm and Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones let out gun shots into the air.
He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom and let fly a charge of number six shot into the darkness. “(11), is one quote from the book that proves just how cruel Mr. Jones was. He was someone who kept a gun right beside his bed, signifying that he was not afraid to use it at any time much like Nicholas. Both Nicholas and Mr. Jones were overthrown by their very own people. Nicholas was turned against after Russia endured in many losses in WW1 and the citizens began to live in poverty.
Similarly, the animals turned against Mr. Jones after living a poor lifestyle and realizing they can govern their own farm. After Mr. Jones was overthrown, Old Major stepped in politically as the leader. Old Major was respected greatly by the rest of the animals on the farm. “… [Old Major] was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say. “(1), which is exactly what they did. The animals listened to Old Major’s speech about how the humans are taking their personal possessions such as eggs, how humans are evil and how all animals are equal to one another.
Old Major was a clear representation of Vladimir Lenin. Lenin was the founder of a Russian Communist Party. In 1917, he came to Russia and denounced the government of the country after it became weary of the war. He believed that the government should be a Soviet government and it should be ruled by soldiers, peasants and people of the working class. Old Major and Lenin were very much alike because they were both communists. They both believed that everyone should be equal to one another and the country’s decisions regarding the government and laws should not be in one person’s hands.
Lenin stepped up his role in the revolution movement and motivated the people to overthrow their government. Old Major’s speech also was the key reason as to why the animals revolted against Mr. Jones and the humans. Old Major is not only Lenin, but also Karl Marx who was an influential socialist that built communism. Old Major is also a representation of Marx because like unlike Lenin, Old Major was not there during the revolution due to him dying after his speech.
Marx, who built communism like Lenin, died before the revolution which is why Old Major is also much like Marx. After Old Major dies, Snowball decides to take charge. Snowball was also another pig much like Old Major. He was a very idealistic leader and he agreed with Old Major to make everyone on the farm equal. Snowball is much like Leon Trotsky, who was Lenin’s heir apparent. Trotsky was also a communist and he was the key figure in the Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia after the victory of the Civil War. Trotsky developed a theory of permanent revolution.
This meaning that the many demands that were coming from peasant and the working class, could not be achieved until capitalism was overthrown. He was also a military leader and helped spread communism among his citizens. Snowball, after taking Old Major’s place, changed the rules of the farm to make it equal for all animals on the farm. Unfortunately, Napoleon, who was another pig on the farm who wanted to claim power, hired the dogs to chase Snowball out of the farm. “… with a few inches to spare, [Snowball] slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. (40), which was describing Snowball’s unfortunate end to his reign.
This also happened to Trotsky, who was beaten by Stalin who then took over Russia. Stalin, being the next leader of Russia, was represented by Napoleon. Both Napoleon and Stalin were very mean and corrupt. Stalin won power over the communist part and after becoming the dictator of the Soviet Union, he turned against his people. He got rid of anyone who he saw was a threat to him and his government and acted as if he was a communist although he wasn’t. He was responsible for a number of purges as well.
These purges included the Communist Leadership which resulted in 93 out of the 139 people of the committee dying, the armed forces which resulted in 81 of the 103 people dying and the Communist party which resulted in a 3rd of the 3 million people being killed. Napoleon was a lot like Stalin because he used the dogs to control the other animals on the farm and he turned against the rules of the farm and caused inequality between the different types of animals. For example, he ended up selling some of the chicken’s eggs although they said they would not trade with humans.
He was also a liar and acted as if he was a communist although he was not. Many people still looked up to him although he was so cruel, such as his friend squealer. Squealer was Napoleon’s friend who was responsible for helping Napoleon with all of his decisions. He was also very manipulative and was able to convince other animals to follow Napoleon and believe he was a great leader by saying things like, “I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. (41), this would make the animals on the farm think that Napoleon was a great leader.
He was a clear representation on the propaganda of Stalin’s government and his leadership. The propaganda posters and people who would speak very highly of Stalin would promote Stalin’s rules and policies and it would convince the people to view Stalin as an amazing ruler. Squealer the pig successfully convinced other animals into thinking Napoleon was the best leader that they have had. Other Animals such as Boxer the horse, were convinced by squealer to believe that Napoleon was beneficial to them.
Boxer was one of the hardest working animals on the farm. He later ended up being portrayed by Napoleon after Napoleon sold him. Boxer’s friend, Benjamin, who witnessed Boxer being sold says, “… They are taking Boxer to the knackers! ” (87). Animals such as boxers represent the people in Russia who saw the propaganda and believed that Stalin was a great leader although he ended up betraying them with his purges. While reading the Russian Revolution and the animals in Animal Farm, the themes are very clear. One of the main themes of Animal Farm is power.
The whole story itself is following how the farm was governed by different leaders and how power was abused. From Old Major to Napoleon it was following how each leader had a different way of using their power and how it had an affect on the other animals on the farm. Another theme was corruption throughout the farm. When Napoleon became the ruler of the farm, the pigs were immediately treated better than the others and although they agreed that all animals are equal, Squealer convinces them that, “the importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all to obvious. (27) and the animals gave the milk and apples all to the pigs.
The feeling of having all of the power over the animals caused them to make decisions that were corrupt. Oppression was also a theme because the animals had to work hard building a windmill although the pigs did not. The pigs also took all of the good food from the other animals and slept in comfortable human beds although the others were not allowed to. There were many different themes throughout the story, but power, corruption and oppression were the main three themes.
Being someone who did not know anything about the Russian Revolution, there was a lot to be acquired from the book. Although the book can be controversial and people can argue that the Russian Revolution was beneficial, Orwell portrayed the revolution in a way where it was not as beneficial as they thought it would be. It is a great book to read so that people can be educated on the very important historical events. It contrasted animals to important leaders or events such as Napoleon and Stalin and the themes were very clear to recognize.
