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Animal Farm

George Orwell

Start date: August 15, 2016

Finish date: September 14, 2016

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Why we're reading this: First in the Polls, by an English Author, Political satire
[close] First in the Polls, by an English Author, Political satire

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Dec 04, 2012 midnightfaerie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

An Animal Tale of epic proportions, Animal Farm is yet another creative way an author has found to express his political beliefs. Orwell, completely against Totalitarianism and all it encompasses, uses animals to show how power can corrupt when left to its own devices. The story is about an animal farm that is tired of the terrible treatment they receive from Jones, the drunk owner of the farm. One day after another binge, he forgets to feed the animals and having had enough, they rebel. They at An Animal Tale of epic proportions, Animal Farm is yet another creative way an author has found to express his political beliefs. Orwell, completely against Totalitarianism and all it encompasses, uses animals to show how power can corrupt when left to its own devices. The story is about an animal farm that is tired of the terrible treatment they receive from Jones, the drunk owner of the farm. One day after another binge, he forgets to feed the animals and having had enough, they rebel. They attack the humans and chase them off of the land, claiming it for their own. In the beginning, they declare "All animals are equal", and strive to live up to their noble intentions. But, as Orwell demonstrates, some aren't content to live in equality and scheme to find ways that elevate themselves to power. The pigs, being the most intelligent, with the ability to read, are the ones that vie for the power, some being more obvious in their scheming than others.

Later on, the rules end up changing and their motto becomes "All animals are equal, some just more equal than others." The pigs, which end up walking on two feet, imbibing in alcohol and trading with other humans, break all the rules that were first established and live a life of luxury, off of the other animals hard work. In the end, the animals can't tell the difference between the pigs and the humans anymore.

There has been much discussion on whether this book was an allegory or even a representation of the Soviet rule, but whatever the case, the message is clear, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I don't think anyone can disagree that this extreme case of Totalitarianism is bad. The debate comes in when we look at whether this would be the case if people were left to their own devices without government or rules initially. Would we feel the need to create rules? To enforce them? To elect a leader? Why couldn't the animals all live peacefully as they were? The answer is simply because now they have to take care of themselves, whereas they didn't before. Now it's their responsibility to feed themselves and that requires work and organization. But couldn't we find an efficient method of creating rules and doing the work? I don't think that this situation would always turn out this way. Who's to say we wouldn't elect someone like Old Major, someone with equality and fairness as his core beliefs? I'm not sure this extreme result would always be the outcome.

That aside, I actually found the crow the most intriguing part of the story. I have to admit I had never heard what Animal Farm was about, so it took me a bit into the story before I realized the significance of the name Napoleon for the conniving pig. Once I did, it was easier to recognize the significance of the crow's name, Moses. Moses was the one character outside of it all. One that didn't seem to buy into the rebellion. Instead he preached about "Sugar Candy Mountain", that wonderful place in the sky where the animals could have peace and rest. Obviously this bird represented religion and/or the church, but what exactly was Orwell trying to depict with this? Was it that, if the animals had only listened to Moses more, they would have found the happiness and peace they were searching for? Or was it a means by which the pigs used to distract the animals from questioning their motives? I'm still not sure. After reading some other reviews, a third and interesting hypothesis has been brought up. That Orwell is trying to depict how when Old Major is first speaking about his ideals in the barn, and Moses is asleep, that the church was asleep when Communism first came into the picture? I'm not sure, but it's an interesting argument to be sure.

I must also note, that it must be said, that Orwell is confusing and sometimes contradicts himself when trying to come across with his beliefs. He's been stated as saying he's a "democratic socialist", yet is against totalitarianism. The definition of socialism is "a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole." And it seems to me, that the animals start out with the utopia of socialism and it ends up being totalitarianism. So, to me, it almost seems as if he is saying that socialism, left in it's perfect form to do as it will, will eventually turn into a totalitarian regime. Which, to some aspects, I agree with. I very much enjoyed Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, and felt that book held that belief as well. But with Animal Farm, I think there's a fine line between socialism as a general good and socialism as seen from Marxism (the stage following capitalism on it's way to becoming communism), and sometimes it's unclear as to which thought Orwell is adhering to. But that could be a whole big debate, and I'm just not willing to turn this into a political debate.

Also, a short note on the movie with the Jim Henson muppets. Nothing short of amazing. The movie was a great representation of the book, entertaining and disturbing. I also love how the muppets can look so real and disgusting at the same time.

In the end, I found the book delightful, and a refreshing change at depicting political agenda. I think it raises more questions than it answers, and it's definitely a classic. It's original, has a huge following, it's been around for a while, and it's controversial. Highly recommended.

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