Animal Farm Comparison Essay Research Paper Most

Animal Farm Comparison Essay, Research Paper Most directly one would say that Animal Farm is an allegory of Stalinism, growing out from the Russian Revolution in 1917. Because it is cast as an animal fable it gives the reader/viewer, some distance from the specific political events. The use of the fable form helps one to examine the certain elements of human nature which can produce a Stalin and enable him to seize power. Orwell, does however, set his fable in familiar events of current history. Old Major, a eminent pig on the Jones farm, is regarded as the wise superior by the other animals. He has had a strange dream and calls the other animals together to talk about their disastrous situation. Old major declares: Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious and short

. He declares in Marxist terms that Man is the problem: Only get rid of the Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could be rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades. Rebellion! The simple, but emotional appeal, gets trough to the uneducated and plain animals and, as in all revolutions, the planning begins in euphoria and idealism. No voice is raised to ask relevant question or call for a considered debate. The appearance of rats at the meeting raises a question: Are rats comrades? A democratic vote results in a ringing Yes! . And Old Major proclaims, No animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are

all brothers. All animals are equal! It was however generally understood that the pigs were the cleverest of the animals, so the work of organising for the Rebellion fell naturally to them. Especially two pigs take over leadership: Napoleon and Snowball. The pigs developed Old Major s teaching into a complete system of thought: Animalism. Rules of equality, formality, and hard work was proclaimed and encoded in The Seven Commandments – an unalterable law. The animals enthusiasm was expressed through a hymn, Beasts of England. The Rebellion comes sooner then it had been excpected and the successful animals join together with a will to build a new and better world. To symbolise the new day the name of the farm is changed from Manor Farm to Animal Farm. Very soon, however, under

the leadership of Napoleon, the techniques and sanctimonies of tyranny begin to appear. First, there is a strong emphasis on ceremony and ritual. Sunday morning meeting is set up by Napoleon. Slogans are recited. A favourite is their great announcement: Four legs good – two legs bad! When a counter-attack by farmer Jones is beaten off, the great event is declared The battle of the Cowshed , and military decorations are created including Animal Hero – first Class and Animal Hero – second Class. Napoleon awards both of these to himself. Very soon comes the discrediting of CO-leader Snowball. Snowball is the idealist, faithfully considering the welfare of all the animals while Napoleon is the pragmatist, ready to achieve his purposes with violence. So the technique of the big

lie and constructed evidence results in Snowball s being driven out from Animal farm, leaving Napoleon in sole command. The discredited Snowball can now be blamed whenever problems arise. Here Orwell is paralleling the conflict between Stalin and Trotsky with Stalin the winner. Another distinguishable technique used by Napoleon to hold power is revision of the past. The seven Commandments – unalterable law – are revised one by one to suit Napoleon s purposes. Also the democratic meetings are abolished, and replaced with assemblies where Napoleon issues his orders. The workers are often perplexed but they absorb everything they are told and therefore become perfect subjects for manipulation. The most outrageous and most effective techniques used by Napoleon are the show