An Analysis Totalitarianism and Symbolism in “Animal Farm”

Books tell stories. Novels tell long stories of fictitious characters. Non-fiction recounts real persons in actual circumstances and situations. George Orwell's novel, "Animal Farm," depicts fictional characters journeying through circumstances and situations mirroring Russian history, namely the Bolshevik Revolution. This revolution brought communism from the mind of a disenchanted member of the working class into the realm of politics on the world stage. Specific characters in this novel actually stand for people who really lived. The situations they faced are highly comparable to true events in history.

Ultimately, these events led to the corruption of the original tenets of communism and brought about a restrictive, totalitarian military state.

Symbolism plays an enormous part in "Animal Farm." As stated earlier, certain characters stand for specific historical figures. "Animal Farm" is the story of farm animals rebelling against an abusive human owner. After ousting this man, the animals attempt to establish a perfect, classless society based on the political theory of Animalism. Such an attempt eerily echoes events in Russian history. Key characters in the novel that represent actual people include Snowball, the enthusiastic leader pig who constantly butts heads with Napoleon, his calculating and manipulative arch-rival, and Old Major, the elderly boar who reveals his theory of Animalism on his deathbed. As Howard Bloom clearly states, "Napoleon is Stalin, and Old Major and Snowball are Lenin and Trotsky" (10). Other symbolic characters are the sheep, the dim-witted and gullible herd representing the trusting and easily fooled masses of society (53). The vicious dogs that Napoleon raises as his personal enforcers blatantly reveal themselves as the equivalent of the KGB, the secret police (Orwell 93). Benjamin the donkey clearly represents the few people always present in a decaying situation that recognize the existence of a problem but are unable to do anything about it. Bloom's Notes states, "best of all is the donkey [Benjamin] that says little, but is always sure that the more things change, the more they stay the same" (23). "Modern Critical Interpretations" says, "...in his cynicism, Benjamin would come to see but will be incapable of changing the reality of the situation" (11). Unfortunately, few share Benjamin's lack of faith in Animalism. Lastly, there's Boxer, the ill-fated horse that literally works himself to death for the farm's sake. Boxer is a tragic hero, representing the hard-working people of communist Russia who did their very best to make life for themselves and others better but were merely pawns in the hands of those controlling them. Boxer, like the Russian people, is loyal to his government. His loyalty is evident in his commentary throughout the story. When conditions worsen, Boxer says, "I will work harder" (Bloom, Interpretations 116). If anyone doubts the pigs' leadership, Boxer replies, "Comrade Napoleon is always right" (120). These are some of the symbolic characters included in "Animal Farm."

The new animal owners of the farm do not always get along with their human neighbors. While the animals try to coexist peacefully with human beings, on more than one occasion the situation becomes violent (Bloom, Interpretations 10). Gradually, "the warring farms and farmers around Manor Farm naturally come to stand for Germany (Fredrick) and the Allies (Pilkington)" (10). Although peaceful relations are finally reached, these transpire at the tail end of the novel (Orwell 128). Although outright war is never realized, Animal Farm's situation mirrors that of the Soviet Union towards its global neighbors.

Animal Farm is a sort of satire. It uses simple farm animals to act as real historical figures and the situations they face parallel Russian history. Modern Critical Interpretations plainly states, "certain events in the story are said to represent events in history" (10). Bloom's Notes takes a more lighthearted approach, writing "there is plenty in the USSR to satirize, and Mr. Orwell does it well. The author continues to say, "his latest satire, beautifully written, amusing and, if you don't take it too seriously, is a fair corrective of much silly worship of the Soviet Union" (23). The satire becomes apparent in the connections between Russia's actual historic leaders and the fictitious animals of Orwell's fantasy. Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin were influenced by the writings of Karl Marx, just as Squealer, Napoleon, and Snowball adopt Old Major's ideas into Animalism (10). The connection of Orwell's story to events in the history of Russia is plain to see (31). The animals rebel against their tyrannical and abusive master just as the Bolsheviks rebelled against the tyrannical and abusive Czarist government of Russia (Orwell 39, Dalziel 114). Bloom's Notes makes the connection clear by writing, "How deftly the fairy story of the animals who, in anticipation of freedom and plenty, revolt against the tyrannical farmer, turns into a rollicking caricature of the Russian Revolution" (Bloom, Notes 23). Orwell's reason for compiling Animal Farm is clearly visible, and the situations he wrote about in his fantasy novel are undoubtedly pertinent to actual events.

Old Major envisions a classless society where all animals could exist freely and in harmony with other animals. Unfortunately, his dreams are perverted by manipulative leaders, not unlike the now-deceased Karl Marx. The problems that plague Animal Farm do not necessarily stem from the animals that work there. They do their work without question and respect the very ideal of such a place as Animal Farm (Bloom, Reviews 37). The problem's roots stem from the swine of the farm. From the very beginning of the tale, the pigs control everything. Modern Critical Interpretations address this accusation by stating that "the destiny of the revolution is predetermined by the pigs' knowledge of reading, which resembles man and goes against Old Major's instructions" (Bloom, Interpretations 13). Near the beginning of the story, Old Major passes away (Orwell 35). Before this happens, he sets seven definite commandments that govern how animals should interact with each other. They are as follows:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill another animal.
7. All animals are created equal. (Orwell, 43)

In addition to the seven commandments, Old Major tells the other farm animals not to imitate man or take his habits (31). The problem doesn't rest in ideals or workers, but instead, it is the leaders of Animal Farm that corrupt it.

Old Major's dream of a peaceful farm controlled by animals is dashed by Napoleon and his assistants. Napoleon and those close to him conspire on many occasions and eventually succeed in removing all freedom from the animals in the farm. One account of this is when the pigs start to alter Old Major's commandments, written on the barn wall, beginning with alcohol (Bloom, Review 103). The pigs then change other commandments such as the rule concerning animals sleeping in human beds (Orwell 79), and the rule about the killing of other animals (Orwell 98). The pigs decide to award themselves special food, designating all milk and apples for their consumption only (43). When Napoleon introduces his guard dogs, they "wagged their tails at Napoleon like the dogs used to wag their tails for Mr. Jones" (58). Eventually, the pigs begin to walk on their hind legs (121). Finally, they erase the last of Old Major's commandments and paint a new comprehensive commandment in its place (Orwell 133). Bloom's Notes summarise this development by saying, "The very best thing in Mr. Orwell's story is the picture of the puzzled animals examining the original principles of the revolution, only to find them altered: 'All animals are equal,' said the slogan, but some animals are more equal than others" (Bloom, Notes 23). Old Major's dream completely dissipates after years of Napoleon’s manipulation and calculating strategies. His vision is corrupted entirely, resembling a perfect, classless society no more than the human-run farm he wished to rebel against.

Orwell composed a true literary masterpiece with his publication of Animal Farm. Never before or since has anyone written such an instantly respected and loved satire of such a serious recounting of history. Animal Farm is not a child's story to be dismissed as children's literature. Quite the contrary, it's a memorable and informative satire of the ethics and inherent problems that inevitably occur in any revolution, no matter how noble the original intent is. Animal Farm features distinct characters based on real persons and situations that parallel actual events in Russian history. It tells the poignant story of how an individual's idealistic dream of a perfect world can be twisted and perverted into something that no longer resembles its original form, becoming the exact opposite of what was desired. Animal Farm is a timeless fable that remains relevant despite the fall of the Soviet Union. It serves as an important reminder for all societies to safeguard ideals and scrutinise change without facing the consequences of their actions, or lack thereof.

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