Why Did George Orwell Write Animal Farm?

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Why Did George Orwell Write Animal Farm?

Before I can answer the question - 'Why did George Orwell write animal farm,' I must explain some of the history from the time George Orwell lived in.

The novel - 'Animal Farm' is based upon reality. Although there is no actual reference, it is easy to see that the book is based upon the Russian Revolution. The story of the Russian Revolution is told as an animal fable. There are several different reasons why George Orwell has chosen to write the book in this way. Here I will outline three of the main reasons. The first reason is to simplify human behaviour and events, which can become complicated when told as reality. The second reason is to allow us, the reader, to stand back from the story, and understand easier, the actions of the animals. The third and final reason that I am going to outline is to express that although the animal world is unlike our world, it is also very much the same. This statement may be seen as a contradiction, but if you look into the story in more depth, you can see that the behaviour of the animals, especially the pigs, is similar to that of the human race.

By describing the Russian Revolution as an animal fable, George Orwell is able to demonstrate how changes that seem good at first, can also turn bad. The novel - 'Animal Farm' shows these changes, when the animals decide to dismiss their current leader, Mr Jones, and run the farm by themselves. At first, the changes seem to be much better, but when the pigs start to take up human behaviour, this is when the so-called 'good' changes, turn bad.

In the 'Animal Farm' story, there is a lot of interest in the farm from outsiders. This is indicating the Russian Revolution, when at this time there was a lot of interest in Russia from other countries.

After the Russian Revolution, Russia was seen as a 'workers paradise.' This is how the animals saw 'Animal Farm' immediately after the Revolution. George Orwell is trying to tell us to take a closer look into the story. Then, and only then will we see the corruptions.

The rebellion started when Old Major, a very old and wise pig who was seen as the leader of the animals, held a meeting in the old barn. All the animals attended. Old Major talked of good times to come. He talked of a time when all animals would be free. Times of when the farm would be run by the animals, and humans would become distant. All the animals agreed to this life. What Old Major calls animalism can also be seen as communism, which profoundly affected the world. I shall now explain the pig's behaviour from the rebellion.

After the rebellion, drew up seven commandments, which all the animals were expected to obey. These are the commandments-:

-Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy

-Whatever goes upon 4 legs or has wings is a friend

-No animal shall wear clothes

-No animal shall sleep in a bed

-No animal shall drink alcohol

-No animal shall kill any other animal

-All animals are equal

The pigs write these commandments. Even though the pigs have not yet taken over, the fact that they write the commandments, indicates that they have the potential to do so.
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When the animals take in the harvest, pigs don't actually do any work. They just "directed and supervised" the other animals. This shows leadership and slight domination. Also, it indicates that the pigs are too superior to the other animals to have to do any of the work.

When the milk on the farm disappears, no one instantly admits to taking it. Eventually it is revealed that the milk is being mixed in with the pigs mash everyday. Also, when the apples in the orchard start to ripen, the pigs order that these must be reserved for ...

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