Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution

D. Maldonado

George Orwell (1903-1950)

Eric Blair

Educated at private schools

Resulted in hating the class system

disapproved of Communism

a socialist

Communism was not pure socialism because:

gulf in society

control of the peasants

Hypocritical

used his writings to communicate a political message

Orwell and Satire

Orwell was a socialist as well as a satirist

Orwell became a critic of capitalism and communism

Animal Farm is a Fable, a Satire, and an Allegory

Fable

- A short story that has a moral and has animals as characters Brainstorm: Fables?

Satire

-The use of ridicule to attack ideas/failures/evil action Brainstorm: Satirical cartoons?

Modern Examples

Allegory

emblem: a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor

Wall-E as an Allegory

“Allegorically, two metallic robots and a tiny green plant growing out of a discarded shoe appear prophetic, perhaps hyperbolically representing the concept of love for another, the necessity for community and the fragility of the balance of nature.”

Why an Allegory?

Provides for a greater audience

Easy way to spread a complex idea to the masses

Less “in your face” type of persuasion; provides a way to talk about something without REALLY talking about it

To understand how Animal Farm is an allegory, you must have knowledge of the Russian

Revolution.

Allegory in Animal Farm

Farmer Jones – Czar, Aggressive & Brutal

Old Major – Karl Marx; philosopher

Snowball – Lenin; democracy and industrialism

Napoleon – Stalin; controlling, terrorism

Squealer - propaganda

Allegory in Animal Farm

Beasts of England – Song of Rebellion

Windmill – Industrialization; hope that things will improve/life will get easier

Dogs – Secret Police (KGB); kill enemies and enslave those who threaten ruling class

Pigs – government (“smarter” than everyone else)

Boxer – proletariat (working class); loyal & hardworking

Mollie – upper class; lazy elitist

Moses – Russian Orthodox Church (heaven = Sugar Candy Mountain)

Benjamin – Older generation; things never change