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Patriotism And Totalitarianism In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Decent Essays

The novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is an allegorical novel meant to tell the events prior to, during, and after the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917. Orwell wrote the novel as a cautionary tale to warn people of the dangers of having a totalitarian government such as the one Soviet Russia had. Orwell also portrays many themes such as the role of religion, tyranny, patriotism, and obedience. George Orwell’s personal experience has greatly impacted the novel. In late 1936, George Orwell and his wife, Eileen, moved to Spain to join the revolution against fascism and work in The Workers Party of Marxist Unification. Orwell’s experience in the Spanish Civil War gave him a first hand look at the events and effects of a communist revolution on a society. Many of the characters and events in the novel are symbolic for historical events and characters in Russia. The Animal Farm represents Soviet Russia after the revolution, and characters such as Mr. Jones, Snowball, and Napoleon represent important figures of the russian revolution. Mr. Jones, the farmer that owns Manor farm, represents the Russian emperor prior to the Bolshevik revolution, Tsar Nicholas II. The animals are the civilians in Russia that are living in poverty and harsh conditions. Old Major represents Vladimir Lenin who started the Bolshevik revolution inspired by Marxist philosophy that the lower class should overthrow the ruling class that oppresses them, regain control of production, and

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