Similarities Between Russian Revolution And Animal Farm

The allure of power and the difficulty of resisting said temptation has long been an issue for several rulers. In the metaphorical comparison of the Russian Revolution and Animal Farm by George Orwell, both face the temptation of power and ultimately fall to is corruption. Stalin and his animal representation, Napoleon, are proof that the quote “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” by Lord Acton rings true.

Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution both share several similarities, before and after their respective history. A similarity between both is that their citizens were starving. On Animal Farm, the animals were overworked and starved, Farmer Jones failing to feed them. Similarly, the citizens of Russia prior to the rebellion starved, sources stating that there was a food crisis in the capital. Animal Farm is similar to the Russian Revolution in that they both had their respective ideals. In Animal Farm, the animals adapted the ideals of Animalism

after Old Major gave speech illustrating his vision of a future. Likewise, prior to the Russian Revolution, Karl Marx published the Communist Manifesto, outlining the ideas of Communism. Like Animal Farm, the Russian Revolution also hosted its own issue of corruption. In Animal Farm, Napoleon forcibly exiled Snowball, before he went on to disobey all seven of the commandments. Likewise, Stalin also exiled Trotsky before he turned his back on the ideals of the Communist Manifesto by spreading false propaganda about his former ally, obviously proving the quote by Lord Acton true. The actions of both Muse and Metaphor prove that power has the frightening ability to corrupt, unbeknownst to the Ruler, but completely obvious to the citizens beneath the rule. (Shmidt 1) (Smele, "War and Revolution In Russia 1914-1921" Sec. 2)
Czar Nicholas II and Farmer Jones both share several similarities, both in their actions and lifestyle. In the same way that Farmer Jones failed to feed the animals, Czar Nicholas didn't feed his citizens, resulting in mass starvation and a food shortage with the ongoing war, causing breadlines that stretched through the capital. Farmer Jones failed to feed the animals because he arrived drunk and passed out on the couch, conveying his inability to care for the animals. Similarly, Czar Nicholas was unable to care about the plethora of problems Russia had, only caring about his family. Czar Nicholas had a son with Hemophilia, worrying mostly over his son instead of Russia. Along with also caring for his son, he also ignored the large class gap between the nobility and the general populace. Pre-Revolution Russia had the issue of a large class gap. Identically, Farmer Jones and the animals also had the issue of a class gap, with the example of both Rulers living in a lavish lifestyle compared to their general populace. For example, the Czar and his family lived in the Winter Palace, while Farmer Jones and his wife lived in the farmhouse. (Brown 14-15) (Smele)
Karl Marx and Old Major bear several similarities, such as introducing their respective ideology to their populations.

Karl Marx introduced Communism, bringing around ideals that would change the course of Russian Society, such as equality via the creation of a classless society. Similarly, Old Major called for an equal society of animals, without man. Both Muse and Metaphor cautioned against the corrupting properties of power, warning both animal and man against the adverse effects of power. In an act of cruel irony, both rulers falling to the corrupting allure of power. Karl Marx unfortunately died before his ideas were put into place, and was unable to see the tragic corruption of ideals at the hand of a corrupt ruler. Similarly, Old Major peacefully met his demise before his ideas were formulated into Animalism, then simplified down to the seven commandments, which the corrupt metaphor of Stalin disobeyed and twisted to meet his own selfish gain. (Schmidt Sec.

2)
Stalin and his animal representation, Napoleon, are proof that the quote “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” by Lord Acton rings true. No-one in the world may ever be able to resist the temptation of power alone. The dictatorship of the muse and the metaphor are proof of this, as shown through their abuse of their citizens, their betrayal of their ideals and all the promises they failed to deliver on. This abuse of power snuffs out the bleak spark of hope the future had. Hopefully, the actions of both muse and metaphor can convince people to work for a better tomorrow.