The novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is a tale about a revolution amongst animals. The animals at a mismanaged farm rebel against their abusive owner and create a new farm called, “Animal Farm”. Orwell’s novel is an allegory for the events and circumstances of the Russian Revolution and the totalitarian dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. He uses this story, told like a fairy tale, to show his ideas and thoughts on the revolution, along with communist and capitalist governments. Before the rebellion, the animals thought that the farm would be a much happier, healthier place if they were running it. Orwell uses the character Old Major to represent Karl Marx, as each character in the novel plays a key role in both the Russian and Animal
…show more content…
Before his passing, he revealed to the rest of the animals his dreams and how they could achieve this “great life” on the farm. His long, inspirational speech had all of the animals thinking, even those who were not the smartest wanted to contribute to this spoken of rebellion. His teachings of equality amongst all animals sounded wonderful, and it all seemed like a great idea that they could achieve. In Animal Farm, Orwell represents man as the enemy. To the animals, man is the one who causes all of their problems. If they were to cut man out of their lives, things would be so much better, they thought. In Old Major’s speech, Orwell writes, “Man serves the interest of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” (pg. 30-31) Old Major tells many stories of the farm throughout the years, of how things are never getting better, how the animals need to unite and achieve the first Animal Farm Rebellion. There wise words of Old Major represent Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. The ideas and thoughts of communism by Karl Marx were spread through Russia even years after his death. These ideas were the basis of their revolution. Old Major’s words result in a similar outcome, uncoincidentally, making this story an allegory for the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s use of the contrast between what the animals had hoped to happen, and what really happened, shows us how the Communist Manifesto’s effect on the Russian Revolution and Old Major’s speech are allegorically related. Orwell uses allegory throughout the novel, but most importantly as the representation of Old Major. Old Major and Karl Marx both set off the basis of the revolutions, making them a very important part of both of the stories. Their visions of communism and animalism did not improve the circumstances as they wished, but only
Before his passing, he revealed to the rest of the animals his dreams and how they could achieve this “great life” on the farm. His long, inspirational speech had all of the animals thinking, even those who were not the smartest wanted to contribute to this spoken of rebellion. His teachings of equality amongst all animals sounded wonderful, and it all seemed like a great idea that they could achieve. In Animal Farm, Orwell represents man as the enemy. To the animals, man is the one who causes all of their problems. If they were to cut man out of their lives, things would be so much better, they thought. In Old Major’s speech, Orwell writes, “Man serves the interest of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” (pg. 30-31) Old Major tells many stories of the farm throughout the years, of how things are never getting better, how the animals need to unite and achieve the first Animal Farm Rebellion. There wise words of Old Major represent Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. The ideas and thoughts of communism by Karl Marx were spread through Russia even years after his death. These ideas were the basis of their revolution. Old Major’s words result in a similar outcome, uncoincidentally, making this story an allegory for the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s use of the contrast between what the animals had hoped to happen, and what really happened, shows us how the Communist Manifesto’s effect on the Russian Revolution and Old Major’s speech are allegorically related. Orwell uses allegory throughout the novel, but most importantly as the representation of Old Major. Old Major and Karl Marx both set off the basis of the revolutions, making them a very important part of both of the stories. Their visions of communism and animalism did not improve the circumstances as they wished, but only