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Animal Farm & 1984

by George Orwell, Christopher Hitchens (Introduction)

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 28,036 ratings · 604 reviews

ANIMAL FARM

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture. It is the account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer...more

Hardcover, 385 pages

Published June 1st 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (first published January 1st 1945)

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Oct 21, 2011 Mariel added it Recommends it for: m.d.

Recommended to Mariel by: witches saw the future

Celebrity Death Match tournament versus Macbeth.
In a galaxy that's this one and today only most people don't realize it because it scrolls on the screen in teeny tiny neon green letters with a sterile surgical instrumental backdrop. Or CNN. Once upon a time that's today. There was a MAN and a Big Brother and they were one and the same. What about the sisters?
"You could be big brother, you know. People always ask who the MAN is supposed to be. You're a man, aren't you? Although it has been some t...more Celebrity Death Match tournament versus Macbeth.
In a galaxy that's this one and today only most people don't realize it because it scrolls on the screen in teeny tiny neon green letters with a sterile surgical instrumental backdrop. Or CNN. Once upon a time that's today. There was a MAN and a Big Brother and they were one and the same. What about the sisters?
"You could be big brother, you know. People always ask who the MAN is supposed to be. You're a man, aren't you? Although it has been some time since you were able to get it up... I do know you're keeping me down with your accepted level of mediocrity."
Macbeth was tired after a long day of omitting the thous and thys from the Dougie Howser's Dictionary. His wife reported his mouth breathing coworker and he was a shoo-in for the promotion of updating each and every one of Shakespeare's plays into a high school comedy for the ABC Big Brother telescreens. Why couldn't she let him be well enough alone? Why did they have to move up one more spot on the assembly line?
"I've enrolled you into the adopt a brother program. To be a Big Brother you must be a brother."
"But that's for perverts!"
It was useless to argue. The two minutes of hate was over and it wouldn't do to have a tiff with his wife that couldn't be passed off as mandatory aggression. Macbeth did not want to argue with his wife. To end it meant doing something.
The girl half of the Macbeth team had assigned herself another job. "It's not like I'm not working for us too, you know. I have to hit on that duffer Winston. Do you think that I like suggesting power behind the curtain to feeble men who cannot live with themselves as impotence personified?"
"Duffer is out of the accepted lingo, as is impotence. How about loser?" Offered the Macbeth with a penis. Lady Macbeth wanted Macbeth to think for himself, so long as he was thinking what she wanted him to think. Was that too much to ask? The use of if-you-don't-already-know-then-I-can't-tell-you worked wonders on the thoughtpolice. They were helpless against it.
"If no one knows who Big Brother really is then why can't it be you?"
"You is out of the dictionary. How about they?"
"That's my point! Who is they? Why can't they be me?"
Macbeth did not understand what his wife was saying. He had not the words to understand it. He had worked all day to take those words away from himself. Work and the telescreen. Who had room for anything else?
"Are you a man?"
Macbeth did not know.
"What do I want to be married to this man for? I don't know what I want and the thoughtpolice cannot tell me what that is. I know that."
What was that feeling? The sense of things that were already bad getting a lot worse. It happened more frequently than anything touching on how to dust off the twenty dollar words no one could afford anymore (after all, they were not on the rations list) to describe the other range of experience and emotions. Ambition? Voided out. Don't look to see the man behind the curtain.
"Um, honey, you left the telescreen on, didn't you?"
"No, they did."

Win: 1984(less)

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May 13, 2013 Markus Molina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love 1984, I love Animal Farm, and I love George Orwell. There is so much wisdom and depth to these two stories and there is so much that has been written or said about them, it would be a struggle to review them without subconsciously regurgitating all the good things I've heard. I just feel like both of these stories, and especially 1984 should be read by everyone. I believe it helps you appreciate what you got and to question everything you hear. I believe they are some of the most thought...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Taymara Jagmohan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have finished only Animal Farm, and this book is most certainly a single chapter of good, gracious continental life. It's wonderful. I did read this paragon when I was 13, and now I have grown, but this book remained my personified retinue. It's beautiful.

Animal Farm is based on the tropics of hard-working animals, governed by the tyranny stimulated by (Napolean and Snowball) -
I cannot give an explanation or a review for this book, because it is too graceful. It makes you feel the need to eat...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, scifi, russian, fantastical

I somehow managed to get all through high school and college without ever reading 1984 (everyone read it Sophomore year, except my class, and the only reason I read Animal Farm in high school was that it got snuck into Senior year AP English II, between Hamlet and Waiting for Godot). But I've been on a dystopian kick lately, and since I'd never read it I desperately wanted to, so I ransacked my boxes of books for my copy (including pencil drawing of a pig with the hammer and sickle on its stomac...more

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Mar 01, 2008 Hillary rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 26, 2009 Jongalt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Its quite unique how he portrays his characters as animals. And its often hilarious. But once again...hes a socialist...this is what he wants...why does he trash it here but fight for it in real life? But I have to thank him just like I did for 1984 for making a great book explaining the pitfalls of socialism.

Overall:
Storyline is funny yet serious.
You hate pigs more after your done.
You realize that George Orwell is a hypocrite.
Read it and feel great we aren't to this point...yet.

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May 25, 2011 Artem rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Книга, которую стоит прочитать!

Антиутопическая атмосфера и тонкий сарказм, созданные автором заставляют подумать и сделать выводы. А последние главы заслуживают того, чтобы их перечитали несколько раз.
Новояз, это конечно не эльфийский язык, но он тоже заслуживает уважания и улыбки на лице :).

Нет ничего ужаснее и печальнее тотальной несвободы!

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May 13, 2013 Leon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ANIMAL FARM

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture. It is the account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball emerge as leaders of the new community in a subtle evolution that proves disastrous. The climax is the bruta

...more

ANIMAL FARM

1984

In 1984, London is a grim city where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

Review

"A wise, compassionate, and illuminating fable of our times....The steadiness and lucidity of Orwell's merciless wit are reminiscent of Anatole France and even of Swift." --New York Times Book Review

From the Inside Flap

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is the account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm--a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball emerge as leaders of the new community in a subtle evolution that proves disastrous. The climax is the brutal betrayal of the faithful horse Boxer, when totalitarian rule is re-established with the bloodstained postscript to the founding slogan: But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others.

WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

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May 08, 2013 Rachel Smith added it

I think George Orwell's purpose for writing Animal Farm was to show what he believes is the outcome of a communistic government. Orwell's work was written during a time of communism and i believe that he wanted to show what could go wrong. I think that he was against this type of government and wanted to express to the public his views.
The theme of the book was how deceitful people can really be. Orwell was trying to say that just because the government tells you something, it might not be the w...more I think George Orwell's purpose for writing Animal Farm was to show what he believes is the outcome of a communistic government. Orwell's work was written during a time of communism and i believe that he wanted to show what could go wrong. I think that he was against this type of government and wanted to express to the public his views.
The theme of the book was how deceitful people can really be. Orwell was trying to say that just because the government tells you something, it might not be the whole truth. This was expressed through the actions of the pigs. When they originally wrote the rules, all the animals agreed and thought the ideas were good. But, when the pigs started changing the rules, they did so only to benefit themselves or get/do something that was originally against the rules. What the pigs promised the animals is not what ended up really happening and this is what Orwell wanted to say could happen in the government.
The book was written in a narration. A narration is described as the telling of a story through a series of events that describes what happened, usually in chronological order. Animal Farm was told in chronological order. I believe that this was effective because it helped to better show deceitful and furtive the pigs really were. It gave you a better feeling of how the animals' government declined over time.
I was not a big fan of the book. I did not like it because it gave me a creepy feeling reading it. However, it was very effective for the purpose which it was written for. I did like that Orwell had given the pigs ugly personalities. It made the book more interesting because there was not a limit to what the pigs would do next. If I could change it, I would change that it was written about animals. I think I would like it more if it was written with humans as the main characters. It is not similar to any other book i have read. I have never read a book in which the animals had their own government. I would recommend it to others because I feel that it is an eye opener to what could be really going on in the government. (less)

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May 07, 2013 Maddi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I believe the purpose of George Orwell’s Animal Farm is to demonstrate the harmful effects of communism. Orwell wrote this novel during The Russian Revolution. I believe he thought communism wouldn’t function properly and he wrote Animal Farm to convince his readers. Communism is described as a system of government where everyone is equal and without social classes. As shown in Animal Farm, the problems of not having a leader can lead to tragedy. Usually the more intelligent individuals manipula...more I believe the purpose of George Orwell’s Animal Farm is to demonstrate the harmful effects of communism. Orwell wrote this novel during The Russian Revolution. I believe he thought communism wouldn’t function properly and he wrote Animal Farm to convince his readers. Communism is described as a system of government where everyone is equal and without social classes. As shown in Animal Farm, the problems of not having a leader can lead to tragedy. Usually the more intelligent individuals manipulate others into giving them power. This usually results in a dictatorship.

The theme of the novel is power and control over the intellectually inferior. This is shown after the Rebellion where the pigs take over, claiming to be the cleverest animals on the farm. Since the other animals do not question the intensions of the pigs, they do whatever the pigs ask. The pigs use their verbose language and influence to convince the ignorant animals. They use their influence to change the Animal Farm’s rules by adding small phrases. For example, what was, “No animal shall kill any other animal” was changed to, “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.”

The style of writing of this novel is a narration. It is a narration because the story was written in a series of events in chronological order. This style of writing is effective because it is easy for the reader to follow. A narration is also effective when the writer wants to convey necessary information to the reader efficiently. In this novel, Orwell wants to convey the message of Communism, so a narration is an effective way to tell the reader. The chronological order helps the reader see the developing influence the pigs had over the other farm animals. It also helps the writer make smooth transitions between the viewpoints of other characters. Even though you probably do not approve of what the pigs are doing, you may also feel a little bit of admiration for their scheming ways.

I enjoyed the novel Animal Farm because I like reading novels about dystopias. Even though dystopias generally end tragically, they allow me to appreciate our current society. It also concerns me to think how dystopias may occur in the future. Of course, I wasn’t particularly a fan of the pigs overruling all of the other animals. I enjoyed how the novel was easy to ready for any generation even though it was published in 1946. I also like how the theme still applies to this generation. This novel is unlike any novel I have read because it made me feel irritated towards my own kind to treat animals so horribly.(less)

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Apr 26, 2013 Rick Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

One story flows into the other making this collection appropriate, if not necessary. Animal Farm is basically a description of how the oligarchical entities in 1984 were formed—only with pigs, dogs, and horses symbolizing high, middle, and low class, respectively. Animal Farm is more hopeful, and cohesive and succinct, where 1984 is bleak (purposefully), with an inconsistent pace, and feels incomplete. Orwell obviously wanted to expound on the presence and effect of Goldstein's philosophy; while...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Sharad rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't believe I had not read this book until very recently, I curse my self for it,i was recently writing a post in a public forum on political scene in India,when a friend recommended,that i should read Animal farm,i can't thank him enough for it.its brilliant. George Orwell has become one of my favourite authors,right up their with Jack London, Tolstoy,and twain if you want to read a classic,if you are intrigued by politics,if you find it too complex to understand,then this is the book for y...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: essay-study-treatise, fiction-protagonist-animal

This is not great novel. This is a great book. I liked it about as much the first time I read it in school as I re-digested the story with every one of my children who were assigned to read it in school.

Yet, how many times have I referenced back to Orwell's fiction story when I read news story? It is a story acted out again and again, to which I can immediately frame because of the concise d/evolution of greed and vanity in governing, that has become politics, Orwell put forth in Animal Farm.

I...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Kayli Warden rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Animal farm was another great novel by George Orwell. It tells the tale of the animals of Manor Farm, who after endless mistreatment from their "master" Jones, decide to educate themselves then rebel against the humans in control of the farm. After rebelling successfully, the animals begin to run the farm on their own, but as the years pass by, the animals lives at the newly titled "Animal Farm" worsen.

Some of the major themes in Animal Farm are the power of words and the dangers of ignorance....more Animal farm was another great novel by George Orwell. It tells the tale of the animals of Manor Farm, who after endless mistreatment from their "master" Jones, decide to educate themselves then rebel against the humans in control of the farm. After rebelling successfully, the animals begin to run the farm on their own, but as the years pass by, the animals lives at the newly titled "Animal Farm" worsen.

Some of the major themes in Animal Farm are the power of words and the dangers of ignorance. The power of words is represented by Squealer's speeches, all of which benefit Napoleon. "What matter? We will build another windmill. We will build six windmills if we feel like it. You do not appreciate, comrade, the mighty thing that we have done. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. And now - thanks to the leader ship of Comrade Napoleon - we have won every inch of it back again! (Orwell, 105)." Another example of Squealer's great speaking capabilities is, "Squealer was able to convince them that this was not the case. It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in (Orwell, 66)." Squealers job is to diffuse situations with only words, and to make sure all of the animals stay under control at all times and are calm. He will strive for this even if it means lying to his comrades. The second theme, the dangers of ignorance is present when, "At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paintbrush, and an overturned pot of white paint. … None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant (Orwell, 108)." And, ""Four legs good, two legs bad!" (Orwell, 63)." Both quotes show that due to the ignorance of the animals and their over-trusting, they do not always fully understand the gravity of the situation they're in.

The purpose of Animal Farm is to show how easy it is to transition from a peaceful democracy to a tyranny by use of well-worded propaganda. Squealer, Napoleon's advocate, twists situations to benefit Napoleon by relying on the animal's clouded memories of the past. He utilizes this mental fog by reaching into the minds of his comrades with words and replacing the truth with lies that enhance Napoleon's image for the better.

In all, Animal Farm is the story of animals who fought for their freedom, only to end up farther back than when they had first began.

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Dec 06, 2012 Zack rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Over all I found that this book is an exact mirror to what will/has happened to Russia under communism. The entire book was a wonderful display of how a good idea goes’s bad fast. The entire part of when Napoleon takes over and has his rules enforced is a complete parallel to what happened under communist leadership.

In the Book, the old farmer is abusive of the animals and is cruel on purpose. He forces the animals to do as he wished or else and finally the animals rise up against him. Thus begi...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Jan Gloster rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you want to read a critically acclaimed novel that keeps your mind churning with questions towards the government and its numerous affects on society, then animal farm is the right choice of book for you. While reading, I had to stop and write down all of the questions on a separate piece of paper in order to fully comprehend the underlying message in the book.Although Animal Farm uses personification to portray real-life dictators through the animals in the book.

One of the main themes that...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Jackie Daggers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: unpopular-opinions

This review is not to talk you out of liking or reading Orwell, it stresses looking at Orwell under a different lens. We're taught in high school that Orwell/Blair was a deep, well-intentioned man using his literary skills to bring attention to social issues via his dystopian works. In reality, he's an imperialist, he's incredibly racist, and it's all the in black and white in every page of his books. You're taught to look deeper into his work than you should. A lot of it is lost to the modern a...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Mary Overton added it · review of another edition

From the introduction:
"Having been among the bullies and among the bullied at different times of his life, Orwell had an innate understanding of what Nietzsche called the 'master-slave' relationship. He knew that there are guilty thrills to be obtained from domination, and he also realised what few people fully appreciate - that there are also guilty thrills to be had from subjecting and abasing oneself. These books can be read, independently of their time and place, as a strong preventive medic...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Abe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Somehow I missed reading these in school. My loss! What amazing books, particularly given that they were written 65 years ago. I certainly understand why they are considered classics, and I suspect they will remain that way for a long time to come.

Animal Farm, a parable in a novella, is a timeless description of the corrupting influence of power, and the ability of a ruling elite to consolidate it (to the ultimate ruination of all). The use of animals in place of people is really quite brilliant...more Somehow I missed reading these in school. My loss! What amazing books, particularly given that they were written 65 years ago. I certainly understand why they are considered classics, and I suspect they will remain that way for a long time to come.

Animal Farm, a parable in a novella, is a timeless description of the corrupting influence of power, and the ability of a ruling elite to consolidate it (to the ultimate ruination of all). The use of animals in place of people is really quite brilliant for a number of reasons. It makes the story independent of time and place, and thus timeless. It avoids embarrassing or angering any real political people or groups. And it makes it a little more palatable for a younger audience, and these are certainly lessons that should be taught in high school.
While not horribly profound, it makes its case quite clearly and believably, and I really enjoyed it.

1984, on the other hand, pulls no punches, and is probably the most dystopian book I’ve ever read (post-apocalyptic books like The Road are a different genre). The story was of course well-known to me, but since it’s a book that most folks read early in life, I figured it was written towards a younger audience and sugar-coated things a bit. No chance! A world where all your actions, down to eye movements, are tracked and can get you killed; where human relationships have been stripped of emotion and meaning; where the elite are fully privileged and the rest have next to nothing; where a state of war is constant and cynical. And naturally the protagonists are unsuccessful in their attempts to change or escape it. I found it interesting that Orwell chose to have it take place in such a near future, although he must have realized that degree of change in that short a time would not be realistic. I suspect he felt that the warning shot he wanted to make would be more effective this way. Although it may have been written with an eye toward the recent world war and the encroaching Soviet empire, it is completely timeless in its vision. The fact that the futuristic aspects of the society don’t hold up well (i.e. it’s not much of a success as science fiction) is basically irrelevant.

Orwell was clearly a genius, and it’s a shame he didn’t live longer to write more of these cautionary tales.
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Aug 23, 2011 Karolyn Keith rated it 3 of 5 stars

At first, it had taken me a little while to finally get into this book. In the beginning I did not like it because it seemed to be just another boring book. Yet after the first one-hundred pages, more action began to take place and my interest level raised from not interested to very interested. This book was very good. Often confusing at certain parts, but a good read. After reading this book all I could think was how glad I was to not live in a society like Winston Smith's (the main character)...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved loved this book. I love George Orwell and he really makes you think. This book where the animals take over the farm and the pigs are in charge. At first, the animals are all treated equally and everyone lives in harmony. But soon and slowly, the power gets to the pigs and they start treating the other animals worse and themselves better. The pigs do this very slowly so that the other animals kind of notice but since the pigs are smarter, they are always able to rationalize their behavior...more

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Jan 03, 2010 Taylor Styes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, political

God, what a disturbing book. Yet so true. Animal Farm is a short book, less than 100 pages, but as many books, Steinbeck's especially, have proved that shortness is by no means a sign of a lacking novel-Animal Farm delivers. A "fairy tale"(as Orwell calls it, although there's nothing happily ever after about it) about how Communism doesn't work, this story starts with a farm of animals who feel that they are enslaved and forced to live a backbreaking life just for the benefit of the farm's human...more God, what a disturbing book. Yet so true. Animal Farm is a short book, less than 100 pages, but as many books, Steinbeck's especially, have proved that shortness is by no means a sign of a lacking novel-Animal Farm delivers. A "fairy tale"(as Orwell calls it, although there's nothing happily ever after about it) about how Communism doesn't work, this story starts with a farm of animals who feel that they are enslaved and forced to live a backbreaking life just for the benefit of the farm's humans. They meet in secret, and begin to start a revolution, with two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, leading. They eventually attack the farmers and drive them off, renaming the farm from "Manor Farm" to "Animal Farm", where they vow to all be equal, do work for their benefit, and live a prosperous existence. However, from the beginning, the pigs separate themselves as the intellectuals, and vow to make all the planning decisions while all the other animals work hard for the new "future". All the animals, especially the horses, break their backs harvesting the land, but every animal feels equal, especially in battling to keep the farm for themselves. But then Snowball and Napoleon begin to argue. Snowball wants a windmill to supply power, and Napoleon wants more hard work. One day Napoleon ousts Snowball off the farm, since he has grown power-hungry, and begins to change the principles of the animals to his liking, while relying on Snowball as a scapegoat and using his spinster and propagandist pig, Squealer, to spread lies to the other animals, and reminding them of their patriotism. Napoleon and the other pigs take up residence in the farmhouse with vicious dogs (police/soldiers) guarding everywhere and executing animals that don't tow the line, including poor Boxer, the horse. Because the animals are uneducated and malleable, Napoleon can make them work to death and still make them feel like they're working towards a united goal. Everything ends with the animals continuing their life of drudgery, with Napoleon and his advisors living a life of luxury and having total control. What Animal Farm has become is seen when the first commandment of the animals, written on the barn wall, is changed from "All Animals Are Equal" to "All Animals Are Equal...But Some Are More Equal Than Others", and the last passage-"All the animals looked from man to pig, from pig to man, and then from man to pig again, and realized they couldn't tell the difference." Long live Animal Farm, indeed.(less)

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May 14, 2009 Chad Warner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

These are Orwell's most famous books. Both are dystopian tales of the dangers of a totalitarian government.

Similarities between the books:
The government knows best.
The intelligentsia seize power.
The naive proletariat are oppressed and kept ignorant.
The government bends or breaks its own rules for its benefit.
The government uses propaganda to keep the proletariat in check.
The government rewrites history to prove that it's correct and that life is better with the government than it was before the...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Colin added it

Shelves: q4-2009

This novel is about a farm set in the Stalin era in the years before World War II. It was published in 1945 and later became nominated one of the best novels of the 20th century.
George Orwell has written this book wonderfully. He uses the animals in the story to play the roles of Russian leaders and other people in the era of Stalin. Some of the main characters are: Napoleon, Snowball, Mr. Jones, Boxer, Clover, Mollie, Moses, and too many other important characters to name! The main theme of th...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Asuka rated it 5 of 5 stars

Animal Farm was relatively easy to understand,but has deep meaning. The characters have human traits and represent society very well(considering that they are animals). It teaches a lot about social hierarchy and political tendency. If you liked Lord of the Flies, you will probably like this book too, since it is satirical and explains similar ideas.

1984 is a more intense,intimidating,and pessimistic novel. In my opinion, BEST BOOK EVER!!! It's about a man who doesn't know if he's sane or not, a...more

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Sep 15, 2010 Aziza rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell have a character name snowball which is a pig. Snowball could be described by many factors of his characteristic. The factors that he carries through are characteristic of rebellious, optimistic and authoritarian. These three factors conclude the majority of his characteristic and psychological way of working. Snowball control over the factor authoritarian because he could be a leader of the animals and handle it in a perfect way, on page 40 “he gave hi...more

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Dec 09, 2008 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I held off on awarding the fifth star to this collection, not because of flaws I found in the writing style, plot, characters, etc., but mainly because of my own frustration at being let down at the end of both stories. I've read "Animal Farm" before, and I was prepared for two very dark tales. This did not prevent me, however, from holding out hope that Winston would prevail in resisting Big Brother and overthrow the whole system with the underground movement. This, of course, was not to be, an...more

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Apr 20, 2012 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

Animal Farm and 1984 are two books that should be required reading for students, politicians and anyone interested in learning more about autocratic political systems. The books are particularly attuned to the evils of totalitarian states and the methods those governments employ to gain and retain centralized power. The writings are similar in content but the mode of information conveyance is quite different with Animal Farm presented as a "softer" story with an almost flippant presentation and...more Animal Farm and 1984 are two books that should be required reading for students, politicians and anyone interested in learning more about autocratic political systems. The books are particularly attuned to the evils of totalitarian states and the methods those governments employ to gain and retain centralized power. The writings are similar in content but the mode of information conveyance is quite different with Animal Farm presented as a "softer" story with an almost flippant presentation and 1984 more attuned to the violent nature of dictatorship and oligarchy. Both books deserve separate attention to explain their specific content, as I will detail below.

Animal Farm tells the story of a group of animals who become disenfranchised with the human farmer and his methods to operate the farm where they live. The animals rebel, the farmer loses, and the farm animals adopt a form of socialism to rule their new domain. The pigs, and one nasty cabal in particular, maneuver themselves into positions of supreme dominance over the other animals over time which leads to corruption and abuses. This book is roughly based on historical facts in Orwell's lifetime of which he was a firsthand observer; think Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. His character projections are not perfect, and it does leave some major archival events out, but he does manage to capture the rise to prominence of power-hungry men and the dangers of unrestricted political power disguised in the name of socialist equality.

1984, while similar to Animal Farm in some content, is a different animal altogether. The book is set in Oceania, a dystopian society where Big Brother and the Thought Police are an omnipresent reality. The protagonist is Winston Smith, an outer tier worker for INGSOC, the political party of the ruling junta. The story follows his travails as he attempts to rebel against a political system that controls every waking moment of its citizen's existence. This story is much more violent than Animal Farm and may induce an actual feeling of fear in some readers. Words such as Thought Police, Big Brother, thoughtcrime (et al) were originally found in this book and have now become part of the common lingo. It can not be stressed enough the importance of this book as relates to its contributions to Western political thought.

These two books should be read to gain a firm understanding of the evils of unchecked political systems born of revolution and disguised as socialism. Both books have a practical relevance to autocratic regimes present in the world today by detailing the methods they employ to maintain the levers of power at the expense of their populations. I read in at least one location that both books are stilled banned reading in some parts of the world ruled by strongmen and small groups of the politically privileged. They are, however, both entertaining just for the telling of their respective tales, if this is your sole interest. I strongly recommend both books. (less)

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Nov 01, 2010 Allyson rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's been almost 20 years since the last time I read the two Orwell works compiled in this volume. I'd lost my conscious memories of most of the details of both stories, but was shocked as I re-read them to realize how much influence they've exerted on my worldview in the years since.

Orwell's critique of the Russian revolution has proven applicable to all revolutions, and the warning he gave early and mid-twentieth century society about itself is as relevant today as it was when he first issued...more

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Feb 02, 2009 Ariel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Animal farm is the story about a group of farm animals that take over a farm and run the farm the way they feel a real farm should be ran; By animals.

Old Major is the head of the Animals on the farm and gathers them about a dream he had. He tells the Animals about his dream and his new philosophy of Animalism
of how Animals are slaves to humans and should rise up and take over. Three days later old Major dies and the Animals decided to do as old Major had told them and
take over the farm as a te...more

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About George Orwell

Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.

Considered perhaps the twentieth century's best chronicler of English culture, Orwell wrote fi...more

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“In that case the current orthodoxy happens to be challenged, and so the principle of free speech lapses. Now, when one demands liberty of speech and of the press, one is not demanding absolute liberty. There always must be, or at any rate there always will be, some degree of censorship, so long as organised societies endure. But freedom, as Rosa Luxembourg [sic] said, is ‘freedom for the other fellow’. The same principle is contained in the famous words of Voltaire: ‘I detest what you say; I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ If the intellectual liberty which without a doubt has been one of the distinguishing marks of western civilisation means anything at all, it means that everyone shall have the right to say and to print what he believes to be the truth, provided only that it does not harm the rest of the community in some quite unmistakable way.” — 5 people liked it

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