“Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.”
This fabled fable has already been subject to countless reviews. But it can't hurt to write another one, can it? This allegorical novella was first published in 1945, and describes a group of animals which take over a farm in the name of Animalism. However, things soon take a turn for the worse. Napoleon, one of the pigs, assumes a dictatorship over the other animals. The entire story is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, and Napoleon himself plays the part of Joseph Stalin.
Obviously, there's a lot to say about the historical context of this book. Orwell was very clear in his intentions, and openly explained that Animal Farm was a commentary about Soviet Russia. He left no room for doubt on this matter. In fact, he initially found it difficult to publish the book, because some people feared that it would damage the diplomatic relations between Russia and England. Practically every character, and every incident, can be traced to a real world equivalent. Napoleon is Stalin, Snowball is Trotsky, Squealer is Molotov. Mr Jones is Tsar Nicholas II, and Mr Frederick is Hitler. Even Moses the raven, who tells of the mystical Sugarcandy Mountain, is an allegory for the Russian Orthodox Church. Creatively, it's an interesting strategy. Orwell did not have to invent his own plot, or create his own characters, but just had to follow the genuine history of Russia. This means that, although his skill is evident in his creation of such a clever political allegory, the rest of the story must have been relatively simple to write!
But what if we ignored the fact that 'Animal Farm' was an extended metaphor? If we stripped away the historical context, and pretended to be utterly ignorant of Russian historical events and personalities, would this still be a valuable read? In many ways, I actually think that it would be. Orwell's skill as a writer is far greater than his ability to create a clever analogous plot line. This is an uplifting story of revolution, enacted by lovable animals, which quickly turns sour. The villainous pigs are easy to despise, and masterfully characterised. The events which unfold are frustrating yet entertaining, with just the right amount of hope, despite a constant sense of mounting dread. It's the perfect length for a novella, and the third person narrator brings a brilliantly sardonic voice to the entire situation. Some of the language is beautifully constructed, but sticks to simple and readable prose. A child could (and should) read this classic without any trouble whatsoever. To transmit such powerful messages through simple language is a mark of Orwell's skill as a writer.
Ultimately, this is just a brilliantly written story about humanity, and evil, and innocence. It's about betrayal, and greed, and truth. The fable is not just an allegory for Russia, but is also an allegory for all of mankind. These animals hold a mirror up to our own lives as human beings, and offer a lesson and warning to us all, which transcends the threat of state communism or dictatorship. Orwell, as a socialist, wasn't just attacking Stalinism. He's also teaching us to treat each other better. This means that, even without the political context, 'Animal Farm' is still an important and excellent book. In years to come, even if we forget about the Russian Revolution, this novella should still have a place on our bookshelves.
Obviously, there's a lot to say about the historical context of this book. Orwell was very clear in his intentions, and openly explained that Animal Farm was a commentary about Soviet Russia. He left no room for doubt on this matter. In fact, he initially found it difficult to publish the book, because some people feared that it would damage the diplomatic relations between Russia and England. Practically every character, and every incident, can be traced to a real world equivalent. Napoleon is Stalin, Snowball is Trotsky, Squealer is Molotov. Mr Jones is Tsar Nicholas II, and Mr Frederick is Hitler. Even Moses the raven, who tells of the mystical Sugarcandy Mountain, is an allegory for the Russian Orthodox Church. Creatively, it's an interesting strategy. Orwell did not have to invent his own plot, or create his own characters, but just had to follow the genuine history of Russia. This means that, although his skill is evident in his creation of such a clever political allegory, the rest of the story must have been relatively simple to write!
But what if we ignored the fact that 'Animal Farm' was an extended metaphor? If we stripped away the historical context, and pretended to be utterly ignorant of Russian historical events and personalities, would this still be a valuable read? In many ways, I actually think that it would be. Orwell's skill as a writer is far greater than his ability to create a clever analogous plot line. This is an uplifting story of revolution, enacted by lovable animals, which quickly turns sour. The villainous pigs are easy to despise, and masterfully characterised. The events which unfold are frustrating yet entertaining, with just the right amount of hope, despite a constant sense of mounting dread. It's the perfect length for a novella, and the third person narrator brings a brilliantly sardonic voice to the entire situation. Some of the language is beautifully constructed, but sticks to simple and readable prose. A child could (and should) read this classic without any trouble whatsoever. To transmit such powerful messages through simple language is a mark of Orwell's skill as a writer.
Ultimately, this is just a brilliantly written story about humanity, and evil, and innocence. It's about betrayal, and greed, and truth. The fable is not just an allegory for Russia, but is also an allegory for all of mankind. These animals hold a mirror up to our own lives as human beings, and offer a lesson and warning to us all, which transcends the threat of state communism or dictatorship. Orwell, as a socialist, wasn't just attacking Stalinism. He's also teaching us to treat each other better. This means that, even without the political context, 'Animal Farm' is still an important and excellent book. In years to come, even if we forget about the Russian Revolution, this novella should still have a place on our bookshelves.
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