The book “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell is an allegorical novella reflecting upon the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the revolution itself. I would even go so far as to state “Animal Farm” is a moral satire that is directly linked to the events that took place during the Russian Revolution and the prominent figures involved in it. The main characters such as Old Major, Snowball and Napoleon bear a resemblance to Russian figures such as Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. Other minor characters also s symbolize whole groups of people, organizations and/or ideas during the time of the revolution. Good examples are characters such as Squealer, who appears to represent a certain Russian newspaper called “Pravda”
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He develops a form of moral authority by claiming he is more intelligent than the others and therefore should be able to dictate the order of the farm. To further secure this sense of authority, he begins to twist the ideals of the revolution to suggest that questioning his position and status is treason to Animal Farm and harms the good of the whole. He uses Squealer, another priviledged pig, as a propaganda minister to circulate embellished reasoning to support why he is right and why he, Napoleon, needs no justification. For instance, in regards to Napoleon driving Snowball off of the farm, Squealer provides suggestions on Napoleon’s motivation in banishing Snowball, based on the accusation that Snowball was actually working for the old farmer in hopes of regaining power to his farm. Squealer also tells the other animals that if Snowball had been successful, then the way of life would revert to what it once was and the animals do not want that. In reality, Napoleon gains and builds upon his power based through use of force and terror. To explain further, in the beginning of the rebellion, when Mr. Jones was overthrown and the animals were free, Napoleon took it upon himself to teach these newly born puppies the new way of life, personally grooming them. In teaching them this new way of life, what came to be known as animalism, he actually began teaching and reinforcing in them the principles of loyalty and obedience directly to him; that they must obey him and everything he says and does because it is unquestionably right. When the puppies are fully grown, he then uses them to drive out Snowball and then inflict fear in the other animals. Napoleon can be seen as having grown into a true dictator because as his power base grew, he gained total control over the farm,
He develops a form of moral authority by claiming he is more intelligent than the others and therefore should be able to dictate the order of the farm. To further secure this sense of authority, he begins to twist the ideals of the revolution to suggest that questioning his position and status is treason to Animal Farm and harms the good of the whole. He uses Squealer, another priviledged pig, as a propaganda minister to circulate embellished reasoning to support why he is right and why he, Napoleon, needs no justification. For instance, in regards to Napoleon driving Snowball off of the farm, Squealer provides suggestions on Napoleon’s motivation in banishing Snowball, based on the accusation that Snowball was actually working for the old farmer in hopes of regaining power to his farm. Squealer also tells the other animals that if Snowball had been successful, then the way of life would revert to what it once was and the animals do not want that. In reality, Napoleon gains and builds upon his power based through use of force and terror. To explain further, in the beginning of the rebellion, when Mr. Jones was overthrown and the animals were free, Napoleon took it upon himself to teach these newly born puppies the new way of life, personally grooming them. In teaching them this new way of life, what came to be known as animalism, he actually began teaching and reinforcing in them the principles of loyalty and obedience directly to him; that they must obey him and everything he says and does because it is unquestionably right. When the puppies are fully grown, he then uses them to drive out Snowball and then inflict fear in the other animals. Napoleon can be seen as having grown into a true dictator because as his power base grew, he gained total control over the farm,