Animal Farm By George Orwell

N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. Old Major is the animal version of V. I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Party that seized control in the 1917 Revolution. As old Major outlines the principles of Animalism, a theory holding that all animals are equal and must revolt against their oppressors, Lenin was inspired by Karl Marx's theory of Communism, which urges the "workers of the world" to unite against their economic oppressors. As Animalism imagines a world where all animals share in the prosperity of the farm, Communism argues that a "communal" way of life will allow all people to live lives of economic equality. old Major dies before he can see the final results of the revolution, as Lenin did before witnessing the ways in which his disciples carried on the work of

Karl Marx’s theories, ideas, and his Communist Manifesto can be refelcted in George Orwell’s character, Old Major. Old Major, also known as Willingdon Beauty, is the first major character in Animal Farm and represents Karl Marx. Old Major is the one who starts the revolution among the animals to overthrow Jones and change their ways of living just like Marx is the one who is credited for starting the communist revolution. Old Major starts his conversation by stating that he had a dream and then continues futhur by telling the animal about how cruel an animal life is and that no animal is free and are being

“In past years Mr. Jones, although a hard master, had been a capable farmer, but of late he had fallen on evil days”(Orwell 38). In Animal Farm George Orwell describes life for the animals on a farm in the english countryside during the mid to early 20th century before, during and after a revolution against their master Mr.Jones in order to represent the russian revolution and describe to people throughout the free world how leaders in both capitalist and communist societies oppress the working class as a result Orwell 's tone throughout the novel is concerned. Tsar Nicholas II led Russia into failure in the Russo-Japanese war as well as World War I and allowed the shootings of over one thousand protesters on Bloody Sunday; these actions inspired Orwell to create a representation of tsar Nicholas II in the character Mr.Jones who is known for being drunk and forgetful.

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the windmill that the animals build symbolizes totalitarian triumph, highlights the novel’s Soviet parallels, and emphasizes various themes and character traits. The windmill reveals the despotic and megalomanic tendencies of the pigs, particularly Napoleon, and the hardworking and naïve nature of Boxer, the horse. It also brings the themes, such as the abuse of language to bolster power, and the danger of a naïve working class, to light.

For my first book report, I was assigned to read the book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. I already had a general idea of what happens in the book, but I didn’t really know completely what it was about. I knew that the animals on the farm rebel against the farmer and the book demonstrated totalitarianism, but I didn’t know much more than that. Everyone I know that has read the book hates it, so I thought I wouldn’t like it either. I had never read any of George Orwell’s books before though, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Old Major's dream of animalism, helped brought by Napoleon and Snowball consisted of “two legs good, four legs bad”. In the Russian Revolution Lenin used Marxism or Communism to the russian people with help from Stalin and Trotsky. Both groups help earn the people's trust by singing songs, making poems, creating awards and building statues. In animal farm Stalin had the “Beasts of England”. Stalin had the “Anthem for the Rebellion”. Scapegoating appeared when Snowball was blamed for the farms problems and when the Russians executed all the Bolsheviks. Both groups had plans for a better life. Napoleon's plan was the building of the windmill. Stalin had a five year plan to help improve the life of the people and provide more jobs which turned out to fail.The people however found themselves in a situation that was as bad or worse than the one they had prior to the revolution that brought Stalin and Napoleon to

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”(Lord Acton). This quote ties the allegory Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution very well. The allegorical fable was written by George Orwell and has many similarities to the Russian Revolution such as ideas, important people such as Karl Marxs and Czar Nicholas II, as well as hatred of the government. Old Major from Animal Farm and Karl Marxs from the Russian Revolution personify each other in many ways. They both are wise and gave important information to their comrades. The story Animal Farm has characters and events that are similar to the ones in the Russian Revolution.

The February Revolution actually began March 8th, 1917 or February 23 according to the Julian calendar that Russia used during that time period. Joseph Stalin was appointed soon after to serve on the Central Committee of the Bolshevik party in 1912 by Lenin who was placed in exile in Switzerland. Stalin became the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1929-53) (Vail 120). Everyone would soon realize that Stalin ruled by terror with many of his own citizen’s deaths during his brutal supremacy. After Lenin’s death Stalin would have potential enemies executed or sent to labor camps.

The past doesn’t define who we are now and who we will become in the future. It

(Orwell,7). Tsar Nicholas’ ministers were untrustworthy, and the “buildings wanted roofing” was as the infrastructures of the country needed improvement, but the ministers were too lazy. “The fields full of weeds” was that the problems were not solved, and “the animals unfed” was that the lower class were not treated well and they experienced tough living conditions. Old Major symbolized Karl Marx because they both dreamed of establishing equality but did not live to see it. Old Major

I. Lenin. Old major thought that all animals are equal and he thought the animals should revolt against farmer Jones. Lenin believed in having Communism. This urges the workers to unite against their economic oppressors. Old Major thinks the animals on the farm deserve more than they are given, he thinks the animals are equal.

Both the novel and Russian Revolution cover the same ideas because of these reasons. In the Russian Revolution an non-responsible leader name "Nicholas the second" or how people those days refer to him as "the Czar" was overthrown by a new leader with better ideas and ways to keep Russia alive. Stalin ruled for a great period of time, and so he got kicked out too, this time by his own people. In Animal Farm an old pig named "Old Major" has a dream about a world where animals rule, there are no differences, all equality, a dream about communism. This same thought applies with the idea of Stalin and his plan in ruling Russia. So when Snowball hears this he and his comrades get ready to attack the government, Mr. Jones (also known as "the Czar"). When he is overthrown Snowball becomes the leader and is betrayed by Napoleon. This event is when Stalin kicks out Lenin. Mendez 3

He rule his farm the way Tzar Nicholas II ruled Russia, as “no animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old” (Orwell 4). The inhabitants of the Manor Farm are terrorized by the oppression Mr. Jones puts on them proven by Old Major’s speech statement: “our lives are miserable, laborious, and short”( Orwell 4). Old Major ,who believed in animalism, is an allegory of Lenin who believed in communism (Rubin 94) but did not stay in power very long because he became ill and died of a stroke. Lenin was responsible for changing Russia into the USSR like Old Major was responsible for changing Manor Farm into Animal Farm. They both established the idea the workers should all be equal and the idea against feudalism.

Somehow I have become a shadow in this afterlife, remaining alongside the other animals, although they are unable to see me. But, there is something that is holding me to remain with the other animals, here at the farm. I want to see what they do, I want to see if they will be able to follow my vision of a farm not run by humans.

Old Major like Karl Marx was wise and respected and is considered the father of Animalism as Marx and Lenin are considered the fathers of communism. Neither Animalism or Marxism was carried out in the way it was originally meant and transformed into something different than it was originally intended.