“Animal farm” is a widely read modern literature book with a deeply political dimension.
Its popularity is largely due to the fact that the author, George Orwell, decided to use animal characters to illustrate real-life political figures that played a key role in the course of events that took place just before and during the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, and who also played an important role in the political life in the Soviet Union until the end of World War II.
The plot
After having enough of being treated like slaves and left to literally starve, animals rebel against Mr. Jones, their master and owner of the farm, in order to finally take ownership of the farm and rename it to “Animal farm”, which is where the title of the book comes from.
This transfer of power from humans to animals is not as smooth and straightforward as animals would expect it to be.
Some animals, namely pigs, get to enjoy more privileges and a higher quality of life and living standards than other animals.
Although the latter envisioned an animal society that would be governed by the values of fairness and equality, they end up living in conditions that were worse than those that applied before the Revolution.
Finally, and to much of the surprise of other animals, pigs behave and look like humans, to such an extent that you can’t tell one from the other.
My opinion of the book
George Orwell is unique in his approach to use the animal kingdom, in order to be able to convey the messages of the book and his thoughts and reflections, and better capture the reader’s attention.
Judging by the lasting popularity of the book, the author’s effort to give human traits to animals was met with success.
It was not an easy task, though, to illustrate prominent figures of the history of the Soviet Union in so vivid colors by using animals.
When it comes to criticizing communism (“animalism”), the author tends to be more critical of Stalin (“Napoleon”) and other “pigs”, and their understanding and ways and methods of applying the principles and values of communism, than communism itself.
Orwell clearly condemns the fact that a new ruling class of “more equal animals” can emerge within the context of communism, and identifies Stalin as the culprit behind this situation, although the latter keeps blaming Trotsky (“Snowball”) for every mishap that happens in Animal Farm.
However, the author fails to draw a clear line of distinction between persons and concepts, and by heavily criticizing Stalin and his flaws as a person, communism does not escape his criticism as a concept either.
Thus, he tends to overlook the expanded benefits and effects of communism on other countries beyond the “Animal Farm” and the October Revolution, such as the welfare state and social security systems, as well as demanding and achieving better working and living conditions for people all over the world.
To be fair with Orwell, he couldn’t witness himself those benefits and effects that lasted decades afterwards, and continue to be experienced to the present day.
Finally, another point that the author may have missed was to mention Marx’s strong and undisputed influence on social movements, the October Revolution, and the Soviet Union itself.
Sources and further reading:
Animal farm
Analysis of George Orwell’s Novels