ANIMAL FARM AS AN ALLEGORY

George Orwell

( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell )

Animal Farm

( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm )

          Most of the literary works of the Modern Age were influenced by the disillusionment that came after the World War 1. And authors used irony, allegory, satire and comparisons frequently to illustrate some points of society.

Among them Animal Farm is one of the brilliant satire and an allegory written by Eric Arthur Blair using pseudonym George Orwell published in 1945. Basically the story is based on Orwell's disgust towards Totalitarianism and Stalin's practices in Russia. It is a fable that animal characters in the allegory, can be regarded as symbolizing real life characters and situations in Stalinist Russia.

"Every line of serious work that I have written directly or indirectly against totalitarianism...."

In his article "Why I write" Orwell openly portrays his hated to the society which is dominated by totalitarianism. So now we can identify how the author composes Animal Farm as an allegory.

          Although the serfdom system was abolished in 1861, the lives of the rural people did not improve. Then with the recruitment of farmers to World War 1, the production of  food also declined. With such reasons on March 8, 1917 (according to Ruxuxssia: February 23) a protest took place on International women's day. The Communists or Bolshevik party helped to the peasants and this class of intelligetia was the backbone of the Revolution which literally begun. So the whole scenario can be compared with the novel.

          First of all the title of novel "Animal farm" and actual farm which open and ends with the name Manor Farm symbolizes Russia and the rules of Soviet Union under Communist party. As well as it is a completed internal structure of a nation with,

- a government (the pigs)

- police force or army (the dogs) 

- working class (the other animals)

- political entity with diplomatic concerns (neighboring farmers) 

- State holidays and rituals.

However the Story begins with a speech of white boar named Major, an allegorical combination of Karl Marx and VI Lenin; one of the creaters of Communism and the communist leader of the Russian Revolution.

  "There comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word.. Man. Man is the only creature that consumes without producing..."

The eyes of others were opened by Major showing the real situation. With that Mr. Jones who proceeded Animal Farm before the Rebellion had flee out though it was owned for three generations of Jones'. This scene is similar to the abdicate the throne which Tsar Nicholas II, the monarch of Russia's family had held for three centuries. Then three days after new awakening, old Major left the dream of utopian society for animals and died.

"Beats of England, beats of Ireland,

 Beats of every land and claim.

 Soon or later the day is coming

 Tyrant man shall be o'erthrown 

 Cows and horses, geese and turkeys

 All must toil for freedom's sake......."

          After that the responsibility passed upon another to pigs called Napolean and Snowball. Allegorically Napoleon represents the autocratic leader Joseph Stalin while Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Napoleon is the villain of the novel and he uses Snowboll as a scapegoat for any misfortunes and his failings. He is a cruel, brutal, selfish and corrupted same as Stalin who didn't follow Marx's idea. In 1927 Trosky was expelled by Stalin from the party and in 1940 he was assassinated. It is emerged through the banned of Snowball by Napoleon using 9 puppies, in order to became a totalitarian leader.  

" It became necessary to elect a president. There was only candidate, Napolean." 

But snowball always needed to follow pure teachings of Communism which they named as animalism.

" those ribbons that you are so devoted to are the badge of slavery. Can you not understand the liberty is worth more than ribbons? "

Snowball tried to make free them all from slavery but had not chance to establish their society which Major imagined.

          Further more in every society we can see naive people who are worshipping politicians. These people are represented by Boxer; a loyal, kind, dedicated and hardworking horse.

" I will work harder, Napoleon is always right. "

As well as his character can be compared to Alexey Stakhanov. However Boxer and other gentle caring mare Clover represent working class people betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed finally, similar to betrayed by Napoleon.

          The oldest and wisest animal in the farm is a donkey: Benjamin who is suspicious of Revolution. It thinks "nothing ever change" is right and portrays the characters of skeptical people in Russia and outside Russia who were not sure revolution would change anything.

" nodes his muzzle with the knowing air and seemed to understand, but would say nothing."

It reminds me one of the great sayings of Martin Luther King, 

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

          In addition to that there are so many characters allegorically run their roles and Squelar is showing the minister of propaganda: Vyacheslav Molotov who worked for Stalin to support his image. 

" The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white."

The author uses this pig to show how politicians manipulate language in mass media to change the mindsets of people.

" Do you know what would happen if we picks failed in our duty? ....

 Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back ..."

          As well as Moses: the spy and tale - bearer who always talk about a Paradise called Sugar Candy Mountain represents religion. The sheeps who stupid and noisy can be compared to the ordinary people who do not understand what is happening all around them but blindly support the revolution. Molly as vain and selfish people in Russia and world. And also neighboring farmers Mr. Patrick and Mr. Pilkington  represent orderly untrustworthy neighbor to Russia: Hitler and capitalist government of England and the US and so on.

However finally we can understand how these things are presented successfully through a novel using allegory by the great writer George Orwell.

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which."

                                                  By,

                     ❤️ Tharushi Fernando ❤️