Animal_Farm_by_George_Owell

The duty of all writers is to engage their readers so that they can enjoy and relate to a situation. George Orwell’s Animal Farm, is a political satire written in the form of an allegory which reflected the events leading up to and during the Stalinist era in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Joseph Stalin was a corrupt leader who was protected by propaganda. Stalin used threats and other methods to make the people of Russia vulnerable. The novel addresses not only the corruption of the revolution by its leaders but also how wickedness and greed can destroy the possibilities of a Utopia. Orwell was for democratic socialism, and it was not until after he escaped the Spanish civil war that he was inspired to write Animal Farm, therefore then written so that animal farm was a microcosm of the USSR. Through the use of character actions, emotive language and character dialogue, Orwell exposes and warns readers that absolute power corrupts absolutely and mocks the cruel events that followed Stalin’s role. Orwell positions me to see the results feel sympathy towards the people at the time of the revolution and to see how easily people can become corrupt. In Soviet Russia there was a terrible issue that involved propaganda. The people, who lived through the Stalinist era, were vulnerable towards this as Stalin used propaganda against them. Stalin was high in power and was afraid to lose his position. Orwell uses the device of character actions to reflect real life events in soviet Russia, with the animals on animal farm. “When they had finished their confession the dogs promptly tore their throats out and in a terrible voice napoleon demanded whether any other animals had anything to confess... ‘no animal shall kill any other animal without cause.’...somehow or other the last two words had slipped out of the animals’ memory.” P.56-61. The animals that lived on animal farm lived under fear of their leader. Napoleon became so corrupt in his power that he became paranoid of his followers gaining more power. Napoleon made any animal that seemed a threat to his power, “confess” to crimes that they didn’t commit. Although it was long until the animals started to figure out that killing another animal was against one of the 7th commandment. This is when Napoleon used propaganda to cover up his actions. Orwell perfectly reflects the real events that took place at the time Stalin was in power. Stalin killed anyone he thought was a threat to his power and made people confess to things that had been false. I feel a strong sadness towards the animals on animal farm and I can see through Orwell’s techniques that with absolute power, it corrupts not for the benefits of the people but for the benefit for the individual in power. Orwell warns readers not only how Stalin became corrupt in power but also how easily people get caught up in what they have. Napoleon uses every weakness that the animals have, against them so that he can be get the benefits from the results. Through the use of emotive language, makes readers see how easily the animals are manipulated on the farm. “A cry of horror burst from all the animals. At this moment the man on the box whipped up his horses and the van moved out of the yard. All the animals followed, crying out at the tops of their voices. The van began to gather speed. Clover tired to stir her stout limbs to gallop and achieved a canter...the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.” P.82-84. When Boxer, one of the strongest animals on the farm, the animals go into sudden shock and try to stop boxer from being taken away. The sentences are strong and short, making me as a reader feel more intense with the moment. I then feel a strong sadness when I found out the money that was given to Napoleon for selling boxer was used for alcohol and shows he is greedy. Orwell warns his readers that about the strong betrayal that Stalin had on Russia. Stalin also was a selfish character who used the money of the country for his own benefit rather than for the country. It makes me feel slightly angered that the animals on animal farm (the people of the USSR) could not do anything to prevent their leader from becoming corrupt in power. In Animal Farm, Orwell has a lot of symbolism and representation. Although the ending of the book Orwell puts the nail in the coffin by completely destroying the animals chances of a utopia. Through character dialogue, Orwell exposes the last event that destroys any of the hope the animals may have had left. “There was nothing there now except a single commandment. ‘It reads ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.’ “P.90. Through the dialogue of one of the wisest animals on the farm, Benjamin, Orwell exposes that Napoleon has changed all the commandments to suit his own needs. Napoleon completely destroys the concept of animalism, and has made it become more of a dictatorship. This reflects the real events that occurred within the USSR during the revolution of Russia. Stalin did not need to address this but he broke all the rule that applied to communism and made the USSR a dictatorship. As I read this, I feel a strong sadness, that there was no hope at all for the animals to live in a utopia. Orwell exposes and warns the readers that all hope is lost for those who follow a leader who is corrupt. Through these devices of Character actions, emotive language and Character Dialogue reflect the events leading up to and during the Stalinist era. It is evident that Orwell’s best intention was to warn not only the people who lived under Joseph Stalin, but also the people of today. The main idea that Orwell is trying to expose to readers is that absolute power, corrupts absolutely and that it is easy for a leader or a person in authority to manipulate and destroy the people’s original intentions. Everyone has their Price, but is the nature of man to want more then is way above satisfaction level.