Animal_Farm

The book Animal Farm by George Orwell is essentially retelling the story of the development of Russian communism, and the rise of the dictator Joseph Stalin. The events that are described in the book are representative to the historical events of the Russian Revolution. It depicts the struggle for power between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, the failure of Stalin’s Five-Year plan, and also the overthrow of the Russian government. The windmill was put together by the pigs and put together with the backbreaking efforts of the farms other animals, despite the lack of food and sleep. “Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed, but it was cruel work, and the animals could not feel as hopeful about it as they had felt before” (Orwell 84). It was promised to make life easier on Animal Farm, but when quickly destroyed and blamed on Snowball, hope was soon given up. “He declared, so much labor would be saved and the animals would only have to work three days a week” (Orwell 65). This event is a symbolization of Stalin’s Five-Year plan. Just as the windmill was supposed to improve the animal’s life; Stalin’s Five-Year plan was supposed to improve Russia’s industry. After the destruction of the windmill the animals were convinced to build another one, just like Stalin kept putting out new plans, and promising that each new plan would solve Russia’s problems. “The first Five Year Plan introduced in 1928, concentrated on the development of iron and steel, machine-tools, electric power and transport.” The animals believed that the humans would retake the farm, and in fact they were right. Mr. Jones and his men came and attacked the farm, regardless; the animals had formed a battle plan, and the men shortly retreated. “And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat…” (Orwell 58). In the battle only one sheep was killed. “..then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral…” (Orwell 59). The animals made that day a day in history and named it The Battle of the Cowshed. The Battle of the Cowshed is a metaphor for the overthrow of the Czars in Russian government, and the civil war between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks from 1917 to 1923. “The political parties shared the same ultimate goal of overthrowing the existing Czars, they were divided from one another. The Liberals, the Mensheviks, the Bolsheviks and the Social Revolutionaries had different political programs.” Napoleon and Snowball became the two leaders, who eventually began to struggle for power among themselves. Overall, Snowball was a better leader than Napoleon, yet the animals reacted differently to Napoleon than to Snowball. “The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, ‘Vote for Snowball and the three-day week’ and ’Vote for Napoleon and the full manager.’”(Orwell 65). Snowball and Napoleon held a great deal of contrast between the way they each ruled over Animal Farm. “As usual, Napoleon and Snowball were in disagreement.” (Orwell 67). Snowball had all the right ideas, all to better the whole farm. Napoleon, on the other hand, had a habit of stealing other animals’ ideas, then telling the rest it was his and getting credit for it. His ideas only seemed to benefit the pigs and not the animals. This is representing the struggle for power between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. “Trotsky was isolated by Stalin, who used the opposition to Trotsky's belief that socialist revolution had to be exported by the USSR to the rest of the world.” Although Animal Farm is presented as a simple fable, where a group of animals overthrow the farm owner and attempt to run it themselves, it is actually retelling the historical events of the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, Orwell did not only criticize communism, but also the use of propaganda, and people from the Russian revolution, such as Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Works Cited Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Florida: Harcourt Inc., 1996 The History Channel http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/encyclopedia/article_show/Trotsky/m0013361.html Russian Revolutions 1905-1917 http://www.thecorner.org/hist/russia/revo1905.htm Five Year Plan http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSfive.htm