(George Orwell, England 1945, USA 1946)
Animal Farm is a novel published in the end of World War 2. It’ a fairy story about farm where animals take control and force their human owners away. Orwell, who resisted the ideology of Stalinism and dictatorship, made the novel reflect actions in the Russian Revolution. It was fun to read how connections between Russian headmen and animalistic counterparts summed up. The book’s original name was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story but it was later changed to Animal Farm so adults could feel more comfort to read it.
On Manor Farm, an aging boar called Old Major enlightens other animals to get rid of human leaders and prepare for the rebellion. The words of the revolutionary song “Beasts of England” gets stuck to everyone’s head. After Major passes away, animals somehow manage to drive drunken Mr. Jones from the farm. A new ideology, animalism, is born. Animals agree with Seven Commandments, the most important being: All animals are equal”. At first everything seems to be fine. Animals manage to farm and hold the intruders off. Soon howerer, two young pigs named Napoleon and Snowball take control. Eventually there can be only one leader and the loser is never seen again. Things start to get worse when pigs prioritize themselves and act more and more like humans…
There are no real protagonist in Animal Farm although certain characters appear in the text more than others. Berkshire boar Napoleon could be called the main villain. He reflects soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. “Traitor” Snowball is the second seeker of the leadership, later driven from farm by Napoleon. Like Stalin did force Trotsky away. Squeeler is pig and Napoleon’s enforcer who keeps the propaganda up. Boxer is loyal and strong horse, example of ideal, hard working member.
The book messed with my mind nicely. In the beginning animals taking over farm and surviving themselves felt silly but later the story got much darker. Animals making executions and drinking alcohol brings up thought about how ruthless humans can be.