Animal Farm (Book)

Animal Farm is a political satire novel written by British author author George Orwell as an allegorical critique of the Soviet Union and the Stalinist regime. The story begins with the animals on Manor Farm rising up against human domination and taking control of the farm to govern themselves. Although they initially strive to establish an ideal system of equality, the pigs gradually seize power and establish a dictatorship more oppressive than the one they overthrew.

The elderly pig Great Old Major inspires the animals to rebel against their human oppressors and encourages them to fight for freedom. He dies shortly after delivering his speech, and the pigs Snowball and Napoleon lead a revolution to seize control of the farm. A new ideology called “Animalism” is developed, and seven commandments are established:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

Over time, Napoleon drives out his rival Snowball and consolidates all power. The pigs begin to resemble humans, acquire privileges, and violate the original rules. Eventually, the seven commandments are erased and replaced by a single rule: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

The novel uses allegory to explore the following themes:

• Power and Corruption: It demonstrates how authority can corrupt even when power changes hands.
• Critique of Totalitarian Rule: Orwell specifically criticizes the Soviet Union under Stalin.
• Propaganda and Manipulation: The pigs, especially through the character of Squealer, illustrate how propaganda can deceive the masses.
• Equality and Class Struggle: The animals’ revolution alludes to the ideals of socialist revolutions but points to the emergence of totalitarian regimes as their outcome.

• Old Major: The wise pig who establishes the ideological foundation of the rebellion. He represents Karl Marx and Lenin.
• Napoleon: The cruel pig who becomes the absolute leader of the farm. He symbolizes Joseph Stalin.
• Snowball: Napoleon’s rival, a pig who upholds the revolutionary ideals. He represents Leon Trotsky.
• Squealer: The pig who serves as the master of propaganda. He symbolizes Stalin’s official propaganda apparatus.
• Boxer: The farm’s most loyal and hardworking horse. He represents the working class.

Orwell uses this novel to allegorically depict events following the 1917 Russian Revolution. The events on the farm mirror the power struggles that occurred in the Soviet Union after the revolution. Napoleon’s seizure of power parallels Stalin’s expulsion of Trotsky. The worsening living conditions of the animals after the revolution reflect the hardships endured by workers and peasants under Stalin’s rule.

Animal Farm faced censorship upon publication and was heavily criticized by circles supportive of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War era, the book was also regarded in the West world as an anti-communist work. Nevertheless, some interpretations have argued that the novel also highlights the flaws of the capitalist system.

Today, Animal Farm remains one of the most frequently studied works in courses on politics, literature, and history.