Animal Farm Essay
How successful was 'Animal Farm' as an attack on Totalitarianism George Orwell grew up a devout and dedicated socialist in the British colonies of India and even when he eventually studied and lived in England. He was loyal to the beliefs and followings of socialism's fathers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the authors of The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. However, when Orwell saw the ideals of Socialism turned into vicious Communism, taking advantage of and abusing the lower classes that it was intended to help, he could not turn a blind eye to the cruelties and hypocrisies of the totalitarian Communism under the dictatorial reign of Joseph Stalin. Therefore, Orwell wrote two greatest anti-Communist novels that solidified his place as an advocate of freedom and a committed opponent of Communist oppression. His loathing criticism is best portrayed and evident in his satirical and allegoric fable Animal Farm. Written between 1943 and 1944, it served as an enlightening call to freedom and fairness around the world with the Russian revolution serving as the perfect backdrop and storyline to convey his powerful message. In February 1917, Czar Nicholas II, the monarch of Russia abdicated leaving Alexander Kerensky as the premier. However, about eight months later Kerensky was overthrown by Socialist/Communist revolutionists led by Vladimir Lenin, who quickly was
Animal Farm is a classic guide for a dictator's rise to power
Nestor Chavez -23-05 IB English11 Ms. Lê Word Count: Animal Farm: Take Home Essay Test Q: Animal Farm is a classic guide for a dictator's rise to power. What are the methods used by Napoleon and the pigs in their takeover of animal farm? Give an example of how a similar dictatorship has happened in history besides the Russian revolution. Animal Farm, by George Orwell, can be read on three different levels. On its first level, it is an entertaining story about farm animals and their cruel overseers. Very young children can understand and enjoy the story at this level. On its second level, it is an allegory representing the Communist takeover of Russia in 1917 and the subsequent perversion of the idealistic goals of the revolutionaries. On its third level, Animal Farm is an allegory representing any movement and the persons in that movement that goes crooked because of the corrupting lure of power. This has happened repeatedly throughout history. The leader of Animal Farm, Napoleon, can be related to many different people of power such as the most recent: Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler, etc. The other characters of the novel, Animal Farm can be seen as more characters in real life other than in the Russian Revolution. The methods used by Napoleon and the pigs in their takeover of Animal Farm were similar to other methods used in real life. Napoleon
Overview of Animal Farm
Overview of Animal Farm George Orwell (who's real name is Eric Blair) wrote animal farm in 1943 to describe how he felt about dictators and leaders during revolutions. A good example of this is Russian revolution (the events of which are paralleled in Animal Farm), Orwell believe that once leaders had achieved their goal, they should resign and let the community take over and a committee should make the decisions. However in the Russian revolution Josef Stalin (the leader in this case) did not resign and (in my words) became corrupt, as he thought that Capitalism no longer communism was the best way to go, the idea that the original plan that even was equal got thrown out the window after the revolution. People greed and hunger for power is overwhelming and each time someone has obtained this power it has been met with by conflict. The only way the human race has progressed (shall we say) is by the slaughter of one another. Most wars are a good example of this. However when someone does come to total power (totalitarianism) the community don't realize what power they have in these situations. If one worker refuses to do his duty then he is met with conflict and is set t death or another form of punishment, but if the mass of them form together and protest then there is little that the person with total dominance can do, he has to met the problem with another solution than
Animal Farm - Squealer.
Animal Farm Squealer Squealer, a pig, plays a very important role in "Animal Farm." Squealer is the most powerful weapon which Napoleon possesses to control the other animals in the farm. He is the parallel of a propaganda chief in dictatorships like Soviet Russia where propaganda was needed in order to keep the people under control and make the believe in the dictator and whatever he does or may be planning to do. Squealer takes advantage of the other animal's ignorance and exploits it to an unimaginable level. He has excellent talking skills and was believed to be able to turn black into white, and indeed he did. In the early days after the revolution he used to manipulate the animals into thinking that if they should not listen to the pigs, somehow Jones would return. When the pigs wanted to have the milk and apples he convinced the animals that the pigs needed them because they were "brain-workers" and it was "proved by science" that it made them think better. He claimed that this was for "their own sake" as the pigs "were watching over their welfare." And finally the question "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?" assured them. In other cases he used graphic descriptions to make the animals believe something. For example when the animals thought that Boxer sold and sent to his death, he explained that the clinic had just bought the
Animal Farm
During the reign of Napoleon the animal's lives became increasingly hard, and began to resemble their lives with Mr. Jones. During the first barn meeting Old Major spoke of an ideal world where animals ran their own farm in peace and harmony with one another. One of the most important quotes said by old major was him describing the lives of the animals. "Our lives are miserable, laborious, and short". He said that once the animals had served their purpose they were killed. Later in the story Boxer the most loyal of all the animals on the farm was sent to the glue-factory when he became old and could no longer work. Napoleon became just like Mr. Jones. He was just interested in himself and what could get him more money and alcohol. With the help of squealer he was able to convince the other animals on the farm that Boxer was taken to an animal hospital, and unfortunately died. Many of the animals believed him because they could not think for themselves but some animals knew the truth that napoleon was only looking out for the pigs best interest and what would further him. During the reign of Napoleon the animal's lives became increasingly hard, and began to resemble their lives with Mr. Jones. During the first barn meeting Old Major spoke of an ideal world where animals ran their own farm in peace and harmony with one another. One of the most important quotes said
Animal Farm Book Report
Animal Farm By: George Orwell Number of Pages: 102 Date of Publication: 1945 Animal Farm is a novel of dreams, hatred, betrayal and rebellion. One night, all the animals of Mr. Jones' Manor Farm, assemble in the old barn house to hear the speech of an old respected animal on the farm, old Major, a pig that has a dream that the rest of the farm animals will be free from a life of slavery and torture of their human masters. Soon after old Major dies the other animals are inspired by this thought of "Animalism". Animalism is about having a life of freedom that all animals are equal and they will run the farm by themselves. The animals plot their rebellion against their human master and when their master forgets to feed them this is when the rest of the animals take action to drive Mr. Jones out of his farm. During this event it is evident that two of the pigs, Napoleon and Snowball are the cleverest animals on the farm, as they make the plans of the rebellion, and they change the name of the farm from the Manor Farm to Animal Farm. The animals decide to have meetings in the farm house to discuss what they are going to do the following day, and the pigs become the new leaders because of their intelligence. But the power-hungry Napoleon steals the cow's milk and apples for himself and the other pigs, and Napoleons excuse for his actions are that the
Animal Farm.
Kaan Kalipci ANIMAL FARM At this extract Orwell is aiming to make some of his points by ridiculing the corruptness of the Animal Farm and how it is being ruled by 'Comrade Napoleon'. The main idea that is being ridiculed here is that, how Napoleon is made such a strong figure by dramatic speeches and poems written by animals who hardly ever see him and the animals believing that Napoleon actually is a superior leader, caused by the exaggeration of this character. Orwell is a writer who writes to express his feelings or to expose some lies or to draw attention to social and political problems. His strong use of language is his biggest weapon and he usually ridicules the problems he is trying to draw attention to. In this part one of the issues he wants to highlight is that those people who have knwoledge and aware of the on going situation, but are pasive when it comes to aciton to take political responsibilities. According to Orwell this is one of the worst sins. Benjamin is representing these types of people but in this part the main focus is on how Napoleon is being exaggerated on the eyes of the animals. After taking control of the farm, Napoleon couldn't live up to expectations declared by Old Major. He executes animals and starts changing the seven commandments. He became a fierce leader who is rarely seen in public. In this part of the book, the main part
Animal Farm
Draft During chapters 7-10 Orwell goes to great lengths to show sympathy for the animals in animal farm. He achieves this by using different techniques which I am going to show you. George Orwell based Animal Farm on the Russian revolution which occurred many years beforehand. Orwell tries to make us feel pathos for the animals to show what the Russian revolution was like for the people affected by it. In chapters seven to ten the animals have to work harder than ever and one wrong move would take them to the chopping board. One quote which stands out for classical satire of the Russian revolution is "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS." (Chapter 10, pg. 112) This quote makes people feel pathos for the animals because they would think that they were only on the farm to serve Napoleon and build windmills whilst the pigs whop were obviously better off just lazed around or did less of the work. The animals blamed their faulty memories for forgetting the commandment. At this point the animals would probably feel that they were hard done by in the reign of napoleon. Orwell has done well to create pity for the animals here. "The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and living frugally" (Chapter 10, pg. 107) this quote is written by the pigs who lived the best lives whilst doing the exact opposite, the animals would feel that they would
Animal Farm, George Orwell
Hilary Platt 10L1 Mrs. Nelson Animal Farm In writing Animal Farm, George Orwell had two main goals in mind. His first goal was to write this novel as an attack on what he perceived as Soviet Communism. His other goal was to write it, as a satire on those who yearn for a utopian society, which he felt, was difficult, if not impossible to reach. He saw that Communism was an attempt on creating somewhat of a utopia. The reason why it failed was because if a government is in the hands of one main ruler the ruler will become corrupt and therefore it isn't a utopia anymore. Throughout the book Orwell manages to achieve these two goals and to teach his readers a very important lesson, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Lord Acton). Despite the fact that Orwell wrote his book to parallel Soviet communism, his intention was not only to produce a satire on Russia, but to also teach humanity a lesson about human nature. Power should never be in the hands of one singular person or group of persons. Notwithstanding anyone's good intentions when they take over the reins of society and are prepared to govern it; if power is unchecked, the one person who has absolute power will eventually be corrupted absolutely, and according to Locke, the purpose of the government will have been defeated. Locke believed that if a government is oppressive or corrupt, the people
Explore the ways Napoleon gains and maintains power over Animal Farm
Explore the ways Napoleon gains and maintains power over Animal Farm The first time Napoleon is mentioned is when he gets described after the old major dies. 'Napoleon was a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker but with a reputation of getting his own way.' Napoleon has a little helper who is described perfectly by his name, Squealer. Squealer was very good at speeches and his cuteness was very persuasive. Snowball was the other pig, he was more of a talker than Napoleon but Napoleon was very hard-headed. Snowball and Napoleon were in charge at the beginning and of the rebellion. Napoleon is based on one of those people that don't care about anyone else, are extremely selfish and just want power. That is what Napoleon gets in the end. At the beginning there are seven commandments that are based on the fact that everything human is a sin. Once Napoleon has overthrown Snowball, the seven commandments slowly and unnoticeably adjust to the likes of Napoleon. For example: 'No animal shall drink alcohol' changes to 'No animal shall drink alcohol to any extent' when Napoleon gets drunk and has a hangover. The whole idea of the rebellion was that the animals would have to do less work, get more food, be free and have better life. Napoleon makes them work harder, feeds them less and they are not free under his
