History in itself, is a reflection of the power of using social circumstances to create historical, literary pieces, that guide our future and reflect our past. Literature reveals flawed economic systems and corruption, as displayed in the animal fable, “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell. It allegorizes the rise of power through the development of Soviet Communism. Social forces influence Orwell’s work which is displayed by historical events, the author’s personal experiences, and the construction of a political value system. This is depicted by the use of symbolism and has an impressionable effect on its readers.
The Russian Revolution inspires Orwell to reveal the truths of a dark time period in history through the form of symbolism. …show more content…
Orwell himself, is represented by Benjamin, the donkey of Animal Farm; a representation of a realist, yet also a cynical character. Benjamin signifies those who are aware of Stalin 's unjust and oppressive policies, as he "occupies an indefinite position between the porcine state of cunning, immorality, and historical awareness, and the ahistorical animal world of impulse, ignorance, and innocence" (Symer 2003) . Orwell sees himself as Benjamin, through the philosophy he presents. Benjamin states that donkeys are known to live for a long time period, as no one has seen one dead. This can be interpreted through Orwell’s point of view in which the course of an author’s lifetime, one witnesses such impressionable events and ideas. However, readers note a crucial difference. Orwell speaks out against injustices that are witnessed, instead of letting them be unfolded for a sense of humor. In addition, one’s personal experiences are key in aiding to build the context of literature. Orwell’s experiences shape his identity and as a motivating factor to help build context in Animal Farm. In Orwell’s writing “ [he] plays a two-sided game with his reader. In some ways, he clearly emphasizes the similarities between the beasts on Animal Farm and the humans whom they are designed to represent ; at other times, he demonstrates with both humor and pathos the profound differences separating animal farm from man—differences which in the end to serve to limit the former. In doing so, he forces his reader to draw a distinction between the personalities and conduct of the beasts and those of the human world" (Letemendia, 1992 ). Orwell see’s the working class’s major weaknesses, which is to have trust in the intentions of the oppressors and an inability to recognize even the most blatant forms of exploitation. Boxer possesses all of the best qualities of the exploited working
The Russian Revolution inspires Orwell to reveal the truths of a dark time period in history through the form of symbolism. …show more content…
Orwell himself, is represented by Benjamin, the donkey of Animal Farm; a representation of a realist, yet also a cynical character. Benjamin signifies those who are aware of Stalin 's unjust and oppressive policies, as he "occupies an indefinite position between the porcine state of cunning, immorality, and historical awareness, and the ahistorical animal world of impulse, ignorance, and innocence" (Symer 2003) . Orwell sees himself as Benjamin, through the philosophy he presents. Benjamin states that donkeys are known to live for a long time period, as no one has seen one dead. This can be interpreted through Orwell’s point of view in which the course of an author’s lifetime, one witnesses such impressionable events and ideas. However, readers note a crucial difference. Orwell speaks out against injustices that are witnessed, instead of letting them be unfolded for a sense of humor. In addition, one’s personal experiences are key in aiding to build the context of literature. Orwell’s experiences shape his identity and as a motivating factor to help build context in Animal Farm. In Orwell’s writing “ [he] plays a two-sided game with his reader. In some ways, he clearly emphasizes the similarities between the beasts on Animal Farm and the humans whom they are designed to represent ; at other times, he demonstrates with both humor and pathos the profound differences separating animal farm from man—differences which in the end to serve to limit the former. In doing so, he forces his reader to draw a distinction between the personalities and conduct of the beasts and those of the human world" (Letemendia, 1992 ). Orwell see’s the working class’s major weaknesses, which is to have trust in the intentions of the oppressors and an inability to recognize even the most blatant forms of exploitation. Boxer possesses all of the best qualities of the exploited working