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The message that animal farm gives
What is the main message of animal farm
Message of animal farm
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From fictional novels to real life experiences, tyrants who have been removed from power will only be replaced by the next, thus negating the original objectives of the revolution that was once hard fought for. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a story of which animals overthrowing their tyrant owner and establishing a nation of their own. As time passes, the more intelligent of the animals taste the lure and addiction of power, turning out to become the tyrants they once abolished. A leading Irish figure in 20th century theater, George Bernard Shaw, once said "Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny, they have only shifted it to another shoulder." Tyranny is yet to be diminished since human (animal) nature is selfish and only seeks the good of oneself. When one steps down, another rises from the crowd, repeating this pattern of a power shift. Basically, those with the influential powers and support of many, tend to obtain power. This does not allow the power to be shared amongst the commoners. The grasp of tyranny is to be hovering over the masses and time by time the one abusing the power would be switched. History demonstrates to us that Shaw's observation applies in any era.
After the expulsion of the previous tyrant, the masses believe that all are equal, but as time flows, some become ?more equal than others? (133). From the beginning, when the revolution was yet to be complete, Old Major introduced the basic idea of revolting against Mr. Jones, their owner. In his final speech to provide his fellow animals with a boost, the old boar reminded them that they must not follow in the steps of the tyrant they hated. ?Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices? (31). As the cornerstones of Animalism a...
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...is overwhelming power overcame him. Nothing was changed after all. Leaders have all been the same, as many fall into the same traps or follow the footsteps as previous ones in power.
George Orwell?s Animal Farm is a definite entertainment and moral. One of the main themes, human nature dictates that revolutions are bound to fail, incorporates with what George Bernard Shaw said about revolutions. ?Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny, they have only shifted it to another shoulder.? Tyranny is part of life. It cannot be avoided unless God rules over man as William Penn suggested. ?Men must be governed by God, or they will be ruled by tyrants.? As one succeeds to power, original objectives most likely are neglected while becoming tyrannical like the previous. Shaw?s observation serves as a core of Animal Farm, an illuminating and realistic lesson.
The Russian Revolution of the twentieth century represents a cycle of feudal dictatorship. Similarly, in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon and his pigs use manipulation to succeed in their quest for total control. From exploiting the farm’s resources and withholding education to overworking the other animals, the pigs show no mercy in their power struggle.
Although George Orwell’s Animal Farm was created in order to mimic individuals as well as occurrences that took place during the Russian Revolution period, it is still possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the text without a past knowledge of history through the exploitation of human nature’s imperfections. Following the publishment of his novel, Orwell confirmed that his goal in writing this fable was to expose the wrongdoing of the Soviet Union as well as the treachery of the true ideas of the Revolution. Nonetheless, there have been several other examples of events such as the French Revolution that can effortlessly be contrasted against components of the allegory. However, we need not to dig no deeper than to the fundamental faults in human nature to witness the catastrophic consequences that attributes such as hierarchy, propaganda and betrayal have on today’s society.
The rebellion fails due to the blindness of the animals, accepting each other as equal, but do not notice the pigs adding new rules to suit themselves, ‘no animal shall kill another animal without due cause.’
After the Animal Revolution the pigs take the initiative and place themselves in charge because of their claim of having higher intelligence. Over time this power begins to distort the basis of their revolt by recreating the same social situation they were previously in. “When the pigs takeover they claim that their goal is to preside a farm of equal animals, all working together to support one another, yet power quickly proves too much for a pig.” Though the animals originally took over the farm to increase the animal’s independence as a whole, because of the pig’s superiority they soon take the place of the humans further limiting their independence.
Marx ended the Communist Manifesto with the fighting words “WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!” (Marxism, 44). This was to be the inspiration for the proletariat to band together and realize that they were being oppressed by the bourgeoisie. After they realize this, they would rebel, in which a revolution would take place where the proletariat would be victorious over the bourgeoisie. Old Major, the eldest pig in Animal Farm was the animal recreation of Karl Marx. He professed, “Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend” (Orwell, 31). In this case, man is the bourgeoisie and the animals are the proletariat. Both Karl Marx and Old Maj...
...hing a tyrannical society. Another factor contributing to this process, which has not been mentioned in this paper yet, is that animals that were capable of seeing wrongness in the actions of the leaders did not express their opinions publicly, when they had a chance. They did not want interfere in the affairs of the farm because they thought there would be no use out of their actions. Another reason for their unconcerned behavior towards the affairs of the farm might be that they were merely disinterested in obtaining the power and leading the farm in which they would have been engaged had they asserted their positions publicly. That is why those animals decided to stay aloof without trying to prevent injustices that were happening. These all factors promoted the tyranny to emerge in the society that had meant to be just.
George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is a great example of allegory and political satire. The novel was written to criticize totalitarian regimes and particularly Stalin's corrupt rule in Russia. In the first chapter, Orwell gives his reasons for writing the story and what he hopes it will accomplish. It also gives reference to the farm and how it relates to the conflicts of the Russian revolution. The characters, settings, and the plot were written to describe the social upheaval during that period of time and also to prove that the good nature of true communism can be turned into something atrocious by an idea as simple as greed.
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.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political satire of a totalitarian society ruled by a mighty dictatorship, in all probability a fable for the events surrounding the Russian Revolution of 1917. The animals of “Manor Farm” overthrow their human master after a long history of mistreatment. Led by the pigs, the farm animals continue to do their work, only with more pride, knowing that they are working for themselves, as opposed to working for humans. Little by little, the pigs become dominant, gaining more power and advantage over the other animals, so much so that they become as corrupt and power-hungry as their predecessors, the humans.
The author of the novel “Animal Farm” George Orwell once wrote “every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been against totalitarianism”. Similarly “Animal Farm” also highlight about the totalitarianism. As all other revolutions, the revolution of animal farm also arises with the dream for a better and more perfect society which transfers in to a totalitarian night mare with the urge for the power in the minds of animals, who symbolizes the people who live in society. “Animal Farm is a satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism during the Stalin era. In the novel Orwell uses pigs to represent the ruling class and throughout the story he represent how the ruling class people spread and improve their power employing pigs as the characters.
This book highlights the dangers of trying to establish an equal society under the ideas of communism, and also has poignant symbolic characters that display historical figures in new light. While the two words are not named in Animal Farm, communism and totalitarianism are two things that are explored immensely in this book. Communism is defined by Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language as: “a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.” In addition, totalitarianism is defined as “absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution.” Starting their rebellion, the animals were undoubtedly going for the ideal communism, where all the animals were treated equal and had all things in common.
Old Major, who is a respected animal on the farm, had given a speech to stir the animals emotion into rebellion. He used his power of respect and trust to persuade the others to pursue the vision in his dream. “Old Major was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say” (Orwell 15). Old Major’s dream was for the earth to be ruled by animals. Old Major strongly believed that animals have only one adversary. “Man is the only real enemy we have” (19). His oration inspired and energized the listeners. “At this moment there was a tremendous uproar” (21). Old Major had all the power and history has proven that dictatorship does not work, due to the fact that, power leads to corruption in a communism style government. The power Old Major held led his friends into taking action in what he desired to do, which led to rebellion and future tragedies. Power corrupted society and absolute power that is eventually obtained becomes corrupt within. (Lord Acton).
Fables are meant to have a moral, and the moral of Animal Farm is that all revolutions fail in the end. Orwell could have written a long essay expressing such ideas but it is doubtful that many people would now be reading it. The success of Animal Farm is that it tells the sad tale of a group of creatures we care about, and how their hopes and dreams were dashed. Beyond the surface story, however, is the message that for ordinary people revolutions simply change one set of rulers for another. It is a depressing message but people are prepared to listen to it because it is told in a simple and entertaining way like all the best fables.
George Orwell wrote a unique story in 1945 to criticize the political system of that time. He uses animal characters to tell his story. The novel effectively portrays how animals rebel human leadership with the intent to rule themselves. Some animals pursue the rebellion because they believe they are going to be free at last. However, as events turn out, they end up in more oppression by one of their kind. The animals end up in disappointment and slavery. Orwell brings out the political theme carefully. In my opinion, Orwell’s story has relevance to the political and economical system in the developing world today.
Imagine that you were an animal 's or society, citizen living under Napoleon or Stalin rule and the fear that your life can be taken always from you at any time. In the novel of Animal Farm, George Orwell he wanted to show how a novel is an allegory of the situation in Russia during the communist years and a satire of the political situation at that time between Napoleon and Stalin. Where Orwell chose to create his character that would represent the common people of Russia at the time of the Revolution. Animal Farm is a social and political fable or allegory about the influences of all the animals and getting ride of his partner however, how he used his power for greatest good or absolute evil.