Orwell's attack on Stalinsm and....

[Mark]

When first published, Animal Farm was seen as a direct attack on Stalinism and the communist regime in Russia. In even a cursory reading, one can see direct parallels in the novel to actual players in Russian history. Is it your opinion, however, that Animal Farm is necessarily a rejection only of Communism? Against what other systems or situations are Orwell’s observations applicable? Question issued by the publisher: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

[Mark]

Orwell aimed Animal Farm at Stalin, but his ultimate target was totalitarianism. And that can take many forms. Totalitarianism is a form of government that demands complete subservience to the state. If we broaden the definition just a little, totalitarianism can also apply to religion (Raven does no work and promises Sugar Candy Mountain when the animals die) and capitalism (the eggs never hatch, they go to market), for which Orwell clearly expresses disdain in Animal Farm, dismissing them as systems that exploit and mislead people.