Animal Farm
Many great works have been inspired by events in history. George Orwell's Animal Farm provides an unusual outlook on the Russian Revolution and its leaders by using animals to represent their human actions. Orwell attacks communist society and points out weaknesses in its government officials. He calls for a close examination of the treatment of Russian citizens and questions whether they have any rights at all. Orwell was careful in his use of animals in Animal Farm. Animal Farm uses the perfect combination of animal symbolism to relate the occurrences on Manor Farm to actual historical events of the Russian Revolution through the use of such characters as Napoleon, Snowball, Squealer, and Boxer. Napoleon is undoubtedly the most corrupt character in the novel. His brutal methods of ruling the farm draw strange but clear comparison to his human character Joseph Stalin. Napoleon is described as "a large, rather fierce-looking boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way". He dominates the political scene on Manor Farm, controls the education of the youth, and is a brilliant strategist when it comes to rallying support for
Only Napoleon and the other pigs enjoy the fruits of their labor while the others are left to exist with minimal food. Snowball is also modeled after a Russian leader. His good intentions are evident to all of the animals, and his means of assuring a better life consists of a more humane work schedule and even a retirement plan for elderly animals. Laws are also established which are conducive to the overall ideas and fundamentals of Animalism. "Snowball embodies an expanding, dynamic view of reality; his social fabric will be permeable to the dynamic energies of an ever-changing technology". and various others, besides instituting classes in reading and writing. Boxer unfortunately is the least intelligent of the animals, which leads him to support ideas that he does not fully understand. Squealer plays a major role in the dictatorship of Napoleon. Snowball's dynamic speeches and innovative ideas give insight to his superior intelligence, which allows him to maintain control of Animal Farm until he is chased away by Napoleon's dogs. After Snowball's exile, Napoleon diminishes the population's faith in their former leader by accusing him of treason and blaming all of the problems encountered on the farm as Snowball's revenge. This reduces all of Snowball, along with his good intentions, to a mere scapegoat. However, he makes good use of his resident "smooth-talker," Squealer, to insure that his subjects see the purpose of his evil and demented ideas, while those who oppose him are merely torn apart by dogs that Napoleon accumulated to protect him and distribute justice as he sees fit in much the same way that Stalin used the KGB. Squealer himself takes a sense of responsibility and power by performing his tasks for Napoleon. Without Squealer, there is a chance that the animals would realize that Animalism no longer exists under Napoleon and would rebel against their leader.
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