Dystopian fiction based on historical events and the history of human behavior is a unique genre in literature, but few books in the genre are more distinctive than George Orwell’s 1945 novella “Animal Farm.” Orwell’s classic has been taught in English, history, and political science classes since its release, and it has remained relevant for the latter half on the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century.
“Animal Farm” is quite literally about the animals on a farm and their rebellion against who they perceive as their human oppressors. Orwell wrote “Animal Farm” as a political satire and allegory for the rise of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union during the second quarter of the 20th century.
Personification of the animals on the farm, particularly the pigs, is used to mock Stalin and the Soviet regime while also showing the dangers of authoritarian and totalitarian governments as a whole.
Orwell’s novella starts with Old Major, a boar on the farm, calling a meeting in which he tells the rest of the animals about his dream of a world where animals break free from the oppression of human beings. Old Major is a symbolic representation of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, a socialist party that overthrew the Russian government in hopes to stop the cycle of oppressive tsars that ruled the country for centuries. Some critics, this author included, argue that Old Major also serves as a representation of Karl Marx, a 19th century German philosopher who is widely considered the father of communism.
Like Lenin and the Bolsheviks felt about the overthrowing of the Russian government, Old Major sees the violent overthrow of the humans as a necessary evil to free the animals from the grips of human oppression. Old Major’s meeting strikes a passion and a following amongst the rest of the animals on the farm, but Old Major dies a few days after the meeting. Three of the younger pigs on the farm, Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer, assume leadership of Old Major’s revolution.
The three pigs in power create an ideology called Animalism, which has seven commandments based on Old Major’s dream of freedom and equality for all animals. The pig’s leadership results in a successful overthrow of the farm, forcing the farm’s owner Mr. Jones to flee from his own property.
After a brief period of success, Napoleon and Snowball engage in a power struggle that results in a Snowball being chased away from the farm by the same puppies that Napoleon falsely told the rest of the farm were being educated in Animalism. Snowball’s exile and Napoleon assuming total power over the farm results in the gradual transition from a revolution based on equality and freedom to a totalitarian leader running an oppressive authoritarian government.
Like Napoleon and Old Major, many of the characters in “Animal Farm” are symbolic representations of historical figures, events and ideologies. Snowball is a representation of Leon Trotsky, who was another powerful figure among the Bolsheviks that threatened Stalin’s succession of Lenin. Trotsky was exiled by Stalin like Snowball was exiled by Napoleon. Stalin also essentially wrote Trotsky out of Soviet history and made him a villainous figure in the minds of Soviet citizens, similar to how Napoleon rewrites the history Snowball’s role in the Battle of the Cowshed and his portrayal of Snowball leading a conspiracy against the farm.
Squealer, on the other hand, represents propaganda and the efforts of authoritarian governments to manipulate and intentionally deceive their citizens so they remain ignorant enough to be unaware of the oppressive actions of the regime. Squealer is a representative of all authoritarian regimes, not just the Soviet Union.
Boxer, a cart-horse, is particularly enthusiastic and passionate about the beginning of the revolution and pledges himself and his resources to the cause. Boxer represents the working-class people of the Soviet Union, but like Squealer, Boxer can also serve as a representation of working-class populations that have historically been exploited by other authoritarian regimes.
Parallels can also be drawn between Napoleon and the events in “Animal Farm” with other authoritarian and totalitarian regimes of the latter half of the 20th century. Viet Kong leader Ho Chi Minh sold many Vietnamese citizens on the liberation from oppressive imperial powers that plagued the country’s history. He also sold many Vietnamese people on freedom and equality, but similar to Napoleon and Stalin, he also devolved into a full-blown authoritarian leader with political purges, suppression of education, and a land reform campaign that led to the execution of thousands of his own people.
Similar comparisons can be made between Napoleon and Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot was a dictator in Cambodia in the late 1970s, who horrifically purged and killed people in his own military, government officials, and any citizens he deemed a threat to his year-one agricultural vision for Cambodia. Pol Pot is considered one of the most evil people in world history. According to BBC, he is responsible for the mass genocide of at least two million of his own people during his rule.
In modern times, many of President Donald Trump’s harshest critics believe his administration is showing the beginning signs of an attempt at an authoritarian regime. Although it certainly is not an apples-to-apples comparison since a mass genocide has not occurred, there are certain parallels between Napoleon, other authoritarian dictators, and Trump.
Trump and his administration have engaged in fake news and misinformation campaigns since he was first elected in 2016, he is aiming to have more control over education curriculums, he has consistently tried to silence the press, and he has attempted to consolidate power by appointing his allies in powerful cabinet positions and as judges in federal courts. Recently, he has even tossed around the idea of changing the 22nd Amendment of the constitution, which says no president can serve more than two terms.
“Animal Farm” is a fairly easy read, and it is quite short, with many editions being under 100 pages. It isn’t a literary masterpiece by any stretch, but what it lacks in literary prowess, it certainly makes up for in Orwell’s genius commentary on political power. Considering the historical relevance and perhaps even some modern parallels, “Animal Farm” is a can’t miss for anyone interested in history, political science, or just a thought-provoking book.