animal farm in 1984

             Animal Farm and 1984, two novels both written by George Orwell, were both ways for Orwell to express his anti-totalitarian standpoint. Animal Farm gives a specific example of an oppressive government by using animals to represent real life characters during the Russian Revolution. 1984, on the other hand, is a general warning against the dangers of following a dictatorial government. Overall, both novels utilize the parallels of the characters and the changing of the past, develop the general theme of the two novels that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
             The most obvious similarities in characters in 1984 and Animal Farm are Big Brother, the leader of the people of Oceania, and Napoleon, the leader of the animal rebellion on Manor Farm. Both Big Brother and Napoleon are authoritarian rulers who use absolute power as a means of gaining and keeping supremacy. Note: Big Brother can also represent the Party itself because the novel, 1984, never really makes clear who Big Brother really is (for all we know, he can be a character made up by the Party as a medium to publicize its intentions). Both Big Brother and Napoleon work behind the scenes rather than openly sharing their objectives with their subjects. They also give extra effort in trying to abolish any opposition to their rule, whether it be banishing Snowball or castigating Rutherford. Likewise, they place emphasis on elaborate ceremonies/gatherings as a way to give periodic updates on their orders and to keep their subjects from thinking freely for themselves. This is important because it takes away freedom from the people, which is the "...right to believe that 2+2=4." Without freedom to believe what you want, the ruler has the power to make you believe whatever he wants to. In Animal Farm, Napoleon uses the windmill by which he exerts control. He uses it to direct the animals' attention away from
             ...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
animal farm in 1984. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 13:43, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/37242.html