...Writing the novella, Animal Farm, A Fairy Story, George Orwell or, Eric Blair, satirizes the Russian Revolution using an allegorical fable. Using pigs to symbolize tyrannical, Soviet Russian leaders and other animals to represent the working class, Orwell demonstrates valuable lessons. "'Four legs good, two legs bad! Four legs good, two legs bad!' bleated the sheep, never seeming to grow tired of it." Capturing the essence of Animalism (communism), Napoleon, the boar despot, and Squealer, a lower pig leader, use the maxim," Four legs good, two legs bad!" as a tool of diversion, directed against the other animals. Bleating at tense moments causes other animals, instead of thinking further, to acquiesce to Napoleon and Squealer's ideas. Essentially, Squealer uses the sheep to take advantage of hard working animals, comparable to a propagandist using media to take advantage of an uneducated working class....
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...Animal Farm is a novel that appears at first glance like a children's book metaphor to represent Russia, but it's much broader than that, it's the mistakes of all men with absolute power. Animal Farm is a historical novel that illustrates the idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely and with corruption comes lack of equality among the people. George Orwell uses: metaphors, fables, satire, illusion, and characterization to convey the ideas that men make mistakes with too much power. Animal Farm, like a metaphor, conveys a deeper level of meaning beneath the children’s story about animals on a farm. One main point Orwell was trying to show his audience is too much power can corrupt any government. This can be viewed through the character Napoleon. As the story progresses, the pigs gradually obtain more power, which they used to take advantage of the less intelligent animals on the farm. When the animals were weeding the turnip field, "They worked diligently, hardly raising their faces from the ground, and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors" (Orwell, p.52). This shows how Orwell was trying to warn the audience that no matter what the person's intentions are, power can corrupt anyone. Animal Farm can also be a fable that is used to teach lessons on morality. One lesson can be that greed brings out the worst in everyone. For example, the pigs were driven by their own personal interests until they became just as bad as their enemies...
Words: 876 - Pages: 4
...Comparative essay- Animal Farm Animal farm- Paragraph 1- manipulation by the pigs State they are educated elite, use intellectual superiority to manipulate the other animals. Quote shows them as apathetic and meddlers. State how Orwell is criticising Stalin and his Government. Paragraph 2- Propaganda by the pigs State Napoleon uses propaganda through squealer to push his ideas and implement his plans. Quote shows that Napoleon uses propaganda to get what he wants. State that Orwell is criticising Stalin’s manipulation of the Russian society a big ally of the propaganda is the animal’s ignorance and false memory Paragraph 3- Power of Napoleon State that Napoleon, whom represents Stalin, only gained and keeps his power through cruelty, treachery and making the other animals scared of him. Show that after the rebellion, Napoleon has taken the place of Mr Jones (seen through quote) State that the quote shows that Napoleon has dominance over the farm like Mr Jones. State that Orwell is criticising that after a rebellion, inevitably someone will rise to power over all and everything will be the same, maybe worse. Quotes- For manipulation- ‘Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed? ... It says, ‘no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.’ (cynicism) For propaganda- When squealer assures the animals about trading with humans- ...
Words: 614 - Pages: 3
...and language it becomes a force to be reckoned with. In the beginning of the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the character Old Major gives a speech which inspires the animal revolution that erects the seven commandments; it foreshadows the downfall of the farm as each commandment is broken and changed one at a time. By examining the characters uses of propaganda, force and vulnerability it will be made clear how the abuse of language is connected to the abuse of power. Propaganda is known as “information, ideas or rumors deliberately...
Words: 663 - Pages: 3
...Animal Farm An Allegory of the French Revolution By Travis Booker English 1302 Mrs. Simpson April 18, 2012 What is an allegory? Allegory is a device used to present an idea, principle, or meaning, which can be presented in literary form, such as a poem or novel, in musical form, such as composition or lyric, or in visual form, such as in painting or drawing. It is also seen in scriptural passage. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions, or symbolic representation. Allegory is generally treated as a figure of rhetoric; a rhetorical allegory is a demonstrative form of representation conveying meaning other than the words that are spoken. As a literary device, an allegory in its most general sense is an extended metaphor. As an artistic device, an allegory is a visual symbolic representation. An example of a simple visual allegory is the image of the grim reaper. Viewers understand that the image of the grim reaper is a symbolic representation of death (Kennedy 142). During a time when there was much change and the spirit of rebellion was all around, Animal Farm was written by George Orwell. George Orwell used allegory in his novel Animal Farm to parallel the Russian Revolution and resulting totalitarian regime to the revolutions of the animals and the pigs' corruption of absolute power. The novel's characters, events, and corruption of ideas paralleled the pattern that took place among the Russians during and following the...
Words: 2472 - Pages: 10
...The story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. The story is told by an all-knowing narrator in the third person. The action of this novel starts when the oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all animals to a secret meeting. He tells them about his dream of a revolution against the cruel Mr Jones. Three days later Major dies, but the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new outlook on life. The pigs, who are considered the most intelligent animals, instruct the other ones. During the period of preparation two pigs distinguish themselves, Napoleon and Snowball. Napoleon is big, and although he isn't a good speaker, he can assert himself. Snowball is a better speaker, he has a lot of ideas and he is very vivid. Together with another pig called Squealer, who is a very good speaker, they work out the theory of "Animalism". The rebellion starts some months later, when Mr Jones comes home drunk one night and forgets to feed the animals. They break out of the barns and run to the house, where the food is stored. When Mr Jones sees this he takes out his shotgun, but it is too late for him; all the animals fall over him and drive him off the farm. The animals destroy all whips, nose rings, reins, and all other instruments that have been used to suppress them. The same day the animals celebrate their victory with an extra ration of food. The pigs make up the seven commandments, and they write them above the door of the big barn. They run thus: 1. Whatever goes upon...
Words: 4325 - Pages: 18
...determined by the political happenings of the time. (Bloom, 2007). Many literary and political analysts have found a place to refer to in interpreting political realities of the world in George Orwell’s works. Orwell is remembered for his other book Animal Farm that continues to spark emotional reactions from all over the world every day. A look at how the political theme gets manifested can help one to understand better the happenings in the story and their general applicability to the world we are living in. The Theme of Political Strife There are a number of themes that Orwell (1964) brings out in his book 1984. It is a prediction of the coming political sceneries in future since its publication came earlier before the year 1984. Among the major themes that can be found in the story are betrayal, suffering, hatred and political strife. The theme of Political Strife is indeed among the most dominating as most events are centred on the political happenings within the novel. The existence of the slogan “War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength (Orwell, 1984, p6) depicts a society that is full of political struggling. The analysis below looks at how political strife gets...
Words: 2301 - Pages: 10
...Which social groups are marginalized, excluded, or silenced within the text? In George Orwell’s novel ‘Animal Farm’ we can see how there are several social groups who are marginalized, excluded and silenced. However, it is important to take into account that each characters are a representative of a certain archetype in society or figure in history, therefore the marginalization, exclusion and silencing that we seen within the text is expressed in a very direct manner as it is directed to a single character, who is representing that social group, rather than a community of people. Animal Farm can be divided into two classes, the establishment and the commoners. The pigs, who represent the elite, strategize. While Boxer and Clover, represent...
Words: 1884 - Pages: 8
...with this court or they must be counted against it." How do both texts show us that there is little room for justice in an oppressive society? Injustice is often a result of oppression as absolutist societies establish a dichotomy of good and evil to manipulate the powerless into subservience. The allegories by George Orwell and Arthur Miller denounce the harmful effects of tyranny, as it generates deception and fear, enabling despotic individuals to gain power and control. Miller’s play, The Crucible, advocates for the necessity of transgression to gain autonomy, as Salem’s theocracy is eventually broken; however, it is Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, that exposes the unjust reality in which rebellion does not always guarantee freedom,...
Words: 1688 - Pages: 7
...immediately thought about how ridiculous a novel would be based on such a thing. As I did my research I was proved very wrong, I found that in many ways the roles of marketing is depicted in novels in a much broader sense. The novel that I chose is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Our aim in this essay is to write about what the novel tells us about marketing or consumer society. What does Animal Farm tell us about consumer behaviour? It is a message targeted at emotion, aspiration and hope that can trigger deeply emotive and primal response, which often results in us buying into an idea/product irrationally. Also, it speaks to the idea of...
Words: 1364 - Pages: 6
...Animal Farm George Orwell’s Animal Farm can be said to be one of the most popular parodies, dealing with politics, which has ever been written. It is shown to be against communism and shows how the author observed the disloyalty of the ethics and beliefs of revolutionary Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It describes the meaning of tyranny in general and sarcasm at the mannerisms of any ruling class, to think what they know is right and it is the best course of action for those they rule. Animal Farm was written for almost sixty years now and it still impacts the way people think mentally. Animal Farm warns of blind faith, the abuse of power, and propaganda. The story mostly tells readers how a revolution of farm animals emerged against a cruel master. They were all revolting against the unethical, greediness and a power hungry master. There is something we refer to toxic leadership. Being in the military, there are times where myself rarely make decisions. There is always somebody that out ranks me, giving a demand, and I go about following out those orders. That is where all the decisions come from, those higher ranking. Those high-ranking individuals sometime misuse their power to do unjustifiable things in my eyes. It is not something that happens all the time, but it does happen. In Animal Farm, the pigs abuse their power by changing the law to their own advantage. In the Novel, Boxer has a motto. This motto is “Napoleon is always right!” Before you know it...
Words: 611 - Pages: 3
...lived in fear, and a large amount of them died from poor living conditions and forced labor. But fear alone does not control a massive body of people, he also used the oldest trick in the book,...
Words: 793 - Pages: 4
...and power hungry. George Orwell’s Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England that is run by a man named Mr. Jones who was later on overthrown by the animals. After the animals kick Mr. Jones off the farm, the two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball battle for power. After Napoleon chases Snowball off the farm, Napoleon starts to create a totalitarian government. One of the first ways Napoleon starts to gain power is Napoleon starts to control the food supply in order to control the animals on the farm. In addition Napoleon uses Squealer to spread fear propaganda by stating that if the animal don't listen than Mr. Jones will come back. Which the animals don't want because of the way they were treated. Lastly Napoleon creates a scapegoat Snowball because this is going to help him gain full power. Napoleon controls the animals through different methods because he was to gain full power. Napoleon gains power by reducing food rations...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...ANIMAL FARM George Orwell Important Quotations Explained 1. “Four legs good, two legs bad.” This phrase, which occurs in Chapter III, constitutes Snowball’s condensation of the Seven Commandments of Animalism, which themselves serve as abridgments (abbreviations) of Old Major’s stirring speech on the need for animal unity in the face of human oppression. The phrase instances one of the novel’s many moments of propagandizing, which Orwell portrays as one example of how the elite class abuses language to control the lower classes. Although the slogan seems to help the animals achieve their goal at first, enabling them to clarify in their minds the principles that they support, it soon becomes a meaningless sound bleated by the sheep (“two legs baa-d”), serving no purpose other than to drown out dissenting opinion. By the end of the novel, as the propaganda needs of the leadership change, the pigs alter the chant to the similar-sounding but completely antithetical “Four legs good, two legs better.” 2. Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tiding Of the golden future time. These lines from Chapter I constitute the first verse of the song that Old Major hears in his dream and which he teaches to the rest of the animals during the fateful meeting in the barn. Like the communist anthem “Internationale,” on which it is based, “Beasts of England” stirs the emotions of the animals and fires their revolutionary idealism. As...
Words: 2398 - Pages: 10
...The Novel Project Your name: Giselle Gonzalez Your Novel: 1984 – George Orwell 1. Explain how the novel represents two or more concerns of its historical time period; these concerns may be economic, political, cultural, social, or moral concerns. Clarify the author’s view on one of the following as s/he presents the concerns: right vs wrong; conservative vs radical, or elite vs commonplace. Orwell published “1984” in 1948 just after the end of World War II. Although at this time, Hitler’s reign was brought to an end, Joseph Stalin, another ruthless leader was still in power. Though they were adversaries during WW II, both men shared acute similarities in their success towards creating a totalitarian government much like the one seen in “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” The ghastly, but impressive ease with which each ruler rose and remained in power is possibly what caused Orwell to focus so heavily on political concerns in his novel. While there are no direct allusions to the Adolf Hitler or Stalin, the political devices used by the Party to control Party members in Oceania are undeniably parallel to the manipulation and brutality that each ruler used to control government. Big Brother for instance, is a fearless leader who is loved by all of the Party members. Though it is never confirmed whether or not he is a real person or just an idea, citizens praise him almost instinctively, posters of him are found in every building, and badmouthing him is not only an act of audacity, but punishable...
Words: 4296 - Pages: 18
