Animal Farm example essay topic

Plot This is a book that takes a look, from a satirical point of view, at the rise and excesses of Communism in the former Soviet Union. Written from the point of view of animals in a farm, it starts with the ' vision' of a boar, Old Major, who dreams of a time when all animals are free from domination from humans and are equals. Eventually, the animals revolt, driving out the farmer and setting up their own society. However, from the start, things slowly start to go wrong. The pigs set themselves up as leaders (' first among equals') and began to ' allocate work' to the rest of the animals. The Commandments set up just after the revolution began to be distorted and all questions on the leadership of the pigs or the commands handed down are swiftly deflected by their spokesperson.

The parallels to the rise of Communism are obvious in this book. People who know something about the history of Communism will have no problems figuring out who represents Karl Marx, Stalin, the KGB, etc. However, even if you don't, or are not interested in finding parallels to Communism, the book is still an entertaining book to read. The gradual erosion of the initial ideals of the animal society, the rise to power of the pigs (unopposed by the other animals), and the eventual horror as the animals realize they have replaced one master with yet another are well written in this book. Characters Old Major Old Major is the wise old pig whose stirring speech to the animals helps set the Rebellion in motion- though he dies before it actually begins. His role compares with that of Karl Marx, whose ideas set the Communist Revolution in motion.

Napoleon is a "large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way. ' And so he does. Instead of debating with Snowball, he sets his dogs on him and continues to increase his personal power and privileges from that time on. What counts for him is power, not ideas. Note his name: think of the other Napoleon (Bonaparte) who took over the French Revolution and turned it into a personal Empire.

Napoleon's character also suggests that of Stalin and other dictators as well. Snowball Snowball is an energetic, brilliant leader. He's the one who successfully organizes the defense of the Farm (like Trotsky with the Red Army). He's an eloquent speaker with original- although not necessarily beneficial- ideas (the windmill). Squealer Squealer is short, fat, twinkle-eyed and nimble, "a brilliant talker.

' He has a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail that is somehow very persuasive. They say he can turn black into white! That's just what he does, again and again: every time the pigs take more wealth and power, Squealer persuades the animals that this is absolutely necessary for the well-being of all. When things are scarce, he proves that production has increased- with figures.

He is also the one who makes all the changes in the Seven Commandments. In human terms he is the propaganda apparatus that spreads the "big lie' and makes people believe in it. Boxer Boxer believes in the Rebellion and in its Leader. His two favorite sayings are "Napoleon is always right' and "I will work harder. ' His huge size and strength and his untiring labor save the Farm again and again. He finally collapses from age and overwork, and is sold for glue.

Clover Clover the mare is a motherly, protective figure. She survives to experience, dimly and wordlessly, all the sadness of the failed Revolution. Mollie Mollie, the frivolous, luxury-loving mare, contrasts with Clover. She deserts Animal Farm for sugar and ribbons at a human inn. Orwell may have been thinking of certain Russian nobles who left after the Revolution, or of a general human type.

Napoleon's Dogs The dogs represent the means used by a totalitarian state to terrorize its own people. Think of them as Napoleon's secret police. Muriel Muriel the goat reads better than Clover and often reads things (such as Commandments) out loud to her. The Sheep The stupid sheep keep bleating away any slogan the pigs teach them. Moses Moses the Raven, who does no work, but tells comforting tales of the wonderful Sugar candy Mountain where you go when you die, is a satire of organized religion.

(Marx called religion, in a famous phrase, "the opiate of the people. ' ) In terms of Russia, Moses represents the Orthodox Church. Watch what happens to him in the story. Pigeons The pigeons spread the word of Rebellion beyond the farm, as many Communists spread the doctrine of the revolution beyond the boundaries of the Soviet Union. Benjamin Gloomy Benjamin, the donkey, may remind you of Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh, except that unlike Eeyore he never complains about his own personal problems. He is a skeptic and a pessimist- we'd almost say a cynic, if it weren't for his loyal devotion to Boxer.

Like his friend, he doesn't talk much and patiently does his work, although- unlike Boxer- no more than is required. He's also unlike Boxer in that he does not believe in the Revolution, nor in anything else, except that life is hard. Whatever political question he is asked, he replies only that "Donkeys live a long time' and "None of you has ever seen a dead donkey. ' He survives. The Humans Jones In the narrowest sense the drunken, negligent Farmer Jones represents the Czar. He also stands for any government that declines through its own corruption and mismanagement.

Pilkington Pilkington, who likes hunting and fishing more than farming, represents Orwell's view of the decadent British gentleman in particular- and of the Allied nations in general, especially Britain and France. Whymper Whymper is a commercial go-between for animals and humans- just as certain capitalists have always transacted business with Communist nations. Frederick The cruel Frederick doesn't really represent anything, but he does kind of show a strong resemblance toward Germany, the cruel nation that it is. Setting As its title implies, Animal Farm is set on a farm. But Orwell uses the farm to represent a universe in miniature.

It sometimes seems idyllic, peaceful, fresh, spring-like. Usually moments when it is perceived in this way contrast ironically with the real situation of the animals. The setting suggests an attitude: "this could be utopia, but ' It does not really interest Orwell in itself. Sometimes he sketches a wintry, bleak, cold decor, a perfect backdrop for hard times. Here you could think of the setting as a metaphor– a way of representing hard times. Theme The theme of Animal Farm is not difficult to understand.

Orwell intended to criticize the communist regime he saw sweeping through Russia and spreading to Europe and even the United States. Though he agreed with many Marxist principles, Orwell was unable to accept the communist interpretation of socialism because he saw many similarities between the communist governments and the previous czarist regimes in old Russia. Communism, he thought, was inherently hypocritical. In his self-proclaimed "fairy-story,' Orwell uses his allegorical farm to symbolize the communist system.

Though the original intention of overthrowing Mr. Jones (who represents the Czars), is not inherently evil in itself, Napoleon's subsequent adoption of nearly all of Mr. Jones' principles and harsh mistreatment of the animals proves to the reader that indeed communism is not equality, but just another form of inequality. The pigs and dogs take most of the power for themselves, thinking that they are the best administrators of government. Eventually the power corrupts them, and they turn on their fellow animals, eliminating competitors through propaganda and bloodshed. This is of course a reference to Stalin, who murdered many of his own people in order to maintain his dictatorship of Russia.