Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution D. Maldonado
Jan 12, 2016
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