Animal Farm Comparison
Most directly one would say that Animal Farm is an allegory of Stalinism, growing out from the Russian Revolution in 1917. Because it is cast as an animal fable it gives the reader/viewer, some distance from the specific political events. The use of the fable form helps one to examine the certain elements of human nature which can produce a Stalin and enable him to seize power. Orwell, does however, set his fable in familiar events of current history. Old Major, a eminent pig on the Jones farm, is regarded as the wise superior by the other animals. He has had a strange dream and calls the other animals together to talk about their disastrous situation. Old major declares: "Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious and short". He declares in Marxist terms that Man is the problem: "Only get rid of the Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could be 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!" The simple, but emotional appeal, gets trough to the uneducated and plain animals and, as in all revolutions, the planning begins in euphoria and idealism. No voice is raised to ask
The Rebellion comes sooner then it had been excpected and the successful animals join together with a will to build a new and better world. To symbolise the new day the name of the farm is changed from Manor Farm to Animal Farm. relevant question or call for a considered debate. The pigs developed Old Major's teaching into a complete system of thought: Animalism. Rules of equality, formality, and hard work was proclaimed and encoded in The Seven Commandments - "an unalterable law." The animals enthusiasm was expressed through a hymn, "Beasts of England." The last episode of the book parallels to the Teheran Conference, which is symbolised by a game of cards between the pig-dictator Napoleon and a human neighbour, Mr Pilkington. Suddenly when each of them plays an ace of spades simultaneously, the frightened farm animals, watching the violent quarrel which follows from outside the parlour window, are unable any longer to distinguish the pig's face from the man's. Very soon comes the discrediting of CO-leader Snowball. Snowball is the idealist, faithfully considering the welfare of all the animals while Napoleon is the pragmatist, ready to achieve his purposes with violence. So the technique of the "big lie" and constructed evidence results in Snowball's being driven out from Animal farm, leaving Napoleon in sole command. The discredited Snowball can now be blamed whenever problems arise. Here Orwell is parallel
Some common words found in the essay are:
Russian Revolution, Trotsky Stalin, Pilkington Suddenly, Snowball Snowball, Mystique Leader, Yes Major, Animal Farm, Napoleon Slogans, England Rebellion, Seven Commandments, animals equal, seven commandments, animal farm, animal hero class, commandments unalterable, leadership napoleon, hero class, unalterable law, seven commandments unalterable, animal hero, commandments unalterable law,
Approximate Word count = 964
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
