Irony In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell and published in 1945, is an allegory which reflects on the communism that was developed during the Russian Revolution. Animal Farm was formerly known as Manor Farm, and ran by its owner, Mr. Jones. However, determined to follow their late wisest pig, Old Major’s dream, the animals attempt to create their own utopia. In order to do this, they rebel against Mr. Jones and drive him off the farm. The farm is now fully run by animals, and is under the control of two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. These two rival each other for single authority over the farm; Napoleon overpowers Snowball, and soon Animal Farm is under his control. Throughout the course of the novel, Orwell uses verbal and situational irony,

as well as dramatic irony, which through the omniscient point of view reveals how ironically the animals end up adopting the vices of the human ruling as their own, after overthrowing the humans because of their vices.
In Animal Farm, Orwell uses verbal irony to show how Squealer’s words blindfold the animals from their surroundings.

The farm is meant to be the only farm best for animals as they are all treated equal in this place. However, here is the ironic part-- the animals are not all treated equally. All of the pigs, including the leader, eat the apples and drink the milk. For this, Squealer was sent to make a statement to the animals: “It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples” (36). Certainly, one would think that the pigs would then fulfill their duties, however the opposite occurs; the pigs fail in leading the animals on the farm to a forever-lasting victory. Therefore, Squealer means to say that the milk and apples are taken by the pigs for their own sake and desire. Shortly after the rebellion, Mr. Jones returns with not only his men, but men from neighboring farms, to stop the spread of Animalism. However, the animals are not up for it and they fight as much as they can to drive them back off the farm and teach them a lesson to never come back again (41-42). After the victory of the animals, Squealer is sent to the animals to make yet another statement: "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure!” (55). He means the opposite of what he is saying because for Napoleon, leadership must be a great pleasure as he gets

to have power over everyone. Additionally, he gets to do what he wishes, such as sleeping in a bed and drinking alcohol. His pleasure of being a leader is evident through his action of overthrowing Snowball, and enjoying himself in luxury.
Orwell uses situational irony in Animal Farm to reveal to the readers, how Napoleon seems to be following into the footsteps of Mr. Jones. For instance, Napoleon decides to develop relations with human beings. He hires Mr. Whymper who is the negotiator of Animal Farm, and is meant to help them. Through this business relationship with Mr. Whymper, NApoleon forms relations with neighboring farms. Orwell criticizes his relations by stating, “The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington, though they were only conducted through Whymper, were now almost friendly” (96). Here, Orwell uses the words friendly to show how ironic it is that such a relationship has become so close and intimate. It was meant to be only business related, however it changed into something completely different. Thereupon, the second commandment, which states “Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy” has been violated. A human, which goes upon two legs has now become a friend to Napoleon. Furthermore, Napoleon uses his relation with Whymper, to get him materials used by humans. Towards the end up Chapter 8, Orwell states, “. . . it was learned that he [Napoleon] had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling.” (108) Here, Orwell shows his readers that Napoleon is following in the footsteps of Jones, making his ruling no different than of Jones. However, Napoleon does not realize so, because he is too excited and having fun in taking advantage of his leadership. Hence, Orwell uses Napoleon’s actions to mock the ruling of a communist society.
The omniscient narrative point of view from which Animal Farm is written contributes to the dramatic irony, which means the readers know of information which the characters are not aware of.

Examples of this are crystal clear in the last chapter of Animal Farm as the inner thoughts of the animals are exposed. Orwell states, “. . . in those days they [the animals] had been slaves and now they were free, and that made all the difference, as Squealer did not fail to point out” (113). Here, the animals, based on their belief, are described to have been treated as slaves in Jones’s days, and finally now feel free. However, the animals do not come to realize that they are working harder and receiving less in Napoleon’s time than Jones’s time; nonetheless, they see themselves as to be free when being treated as slaves. In the last part of this quote, “Squealer did not fail to point out”, Orwell reveals to his readers of the fact the animals do not know they are being controlled by Squealer’s words (113). Whatever it may be that he says, they believe him. The animals choose not to speak up, hence making it easier for Squealer to blindfold them and make them hear what he wants to. Afterwards, Orwell goes on to state, “Indeed, all the animals worked like slaves . . .”, which contradicts the previous quote (118). It was previously stated, the animals were free in Napoleon’s days and now it is stated that the animals worked like slaves in his days. Through these quotes, Orwell reveals,

that literacy plays a major role in living in a communist society. On one hand, the few literate animals come to realize that Squealer’s words are not true, however pretend to believe him. On the other hand, the illiterate animals do not even come to realize they are being controlled by his words, thereupon making them an easy target for Napoleon and Squealer. This can be supported by the scene in which Boxer is being taken away. Orwell states, “Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked ‘Horse Slaughterer,’ and had jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. It was almost unbelievable, said Squealer, that any animal could be so stupid” (124). Here, the readers are aware of what is truly going on, whereas the animals are not too sure of anything. They do tend to believe in what they see; however, Squealer uses his words to blindfold and make them believe in his words. Hence, the readers are aware of what is going around the animals, whilst the animals are only aware of what they hear from Squealer and Napoleon.
In conclusion, Animal Farm was meant to be the perfect communist society, in which all animals were to be treated equally. However, the pigs were given more, treated better, and had the power over the entire farm, which they took advantage of. It reached to the point where the animals turned into being worse than humans rather than being better than them. Orwell explains this by stating how the “creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which” (141). Here, Orwell shows the outcome of the ruling of a communist society; he mocks the ruling of Joseph Stalin, who Napoleon portrays in the novel. Hence, a communist society can never succeed.