Similarities Between Animal Farm And Dystopian Society

Humans have basic needs which include food, water, and shelter. They also have base emotions and instincts, which are the very things that create humanity. However, these needs and emotions are easily manipulated, a theme prevalent in George Orwell’s 1984 and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. While these two stories have dissimilar plots, they have one common theme; the destruction of the individual through manipulation. The use of fear and hunger, in both 1984 and Lord of the Flies helps each government to eliminate the individual; in turn creating a mob mentality and a future in which no individuality can survive. In George Orwell’s 1984 and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the manipulation of human needs and emotions by the

Animal Farm by George Orwell which is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and the film adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984, which is set in a futuristic dystopian society, directed by Michael Radford uses Symbolism, foreshadowing and irony to convey the central ideas of power, politics, control, fear and they both also portray the dangers of totalitarianism. 1984 follows one main character (Winston) which shows how the society is being controlled whereas Animal Farm does not follow one character specifically. Though there are differences, Animal Farm and 1984 use the language techniques of symbolism, foreshadowing and irony in very similar ways.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses satirical allegory throughout his novel to present the pessimistic view of human nature. The animal fable is used to demonstrate the issues of unfair treatment, exploitation and inequality in society. It is evident that this irony is particularly evident in the ending of both novels (Gulbin 88). The satirist irony is directed on the events of the Russian Revolution and on the totalitarian regime. Orwell uses political reason with creative reason to show his negative belief that people only change the dictators though revolutions but the systems stay the same. It is only a dream that people can gain a classless society through revolutions. Orwell believes that everyone wants equality, yet it is in one's nature as human beings to obtain power.

People are intrigued by a book through its content. However, when a reader can relate to the book, it reminds them of their own life story. This is exactly what Orwell did when writing Animal Farm. He created the book to open people’s eyes and see what was really going on in front of them. Animal Farm intrigues so many people because though it is a fiction book, it is based on true events that happened in Russia. Animal Farm, a book based on Stalin’s Russia, can be interpreted in several ways: the similar characteristics between Stalin and Napoleon, the animal parallels, and the parallel between Stalin’s Russia (USSR) and the Animal Farm.

Although there are a few differences between Animal Farm and the Holocaust, my dystopian novel based off of the Russian revolution compared to the entirety of the Holocaust, are very similar in many different ways. Both showed terrible, worst case scenarios, hoping to make a form of a "perfect society" through totalitarian control. A few ways they were similar include, having a dictatorial leadership, murdering large masses of innocent people, and the special treatment to a specific group.

In a dystopian society, everything may seem fine and normal, but underneath all that is an unstable society that may crumble with the right spark. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury are two characters who have to face the dystopian world and the nature of humankind. Although, a quest is actually depicted in both, as the characters undertake similar journeys of self-knowledge. In Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the dystopian traits where the boys are deserted on a sterile island show that they are slowly turning into savages and plotting against one another due to the destructive society that they are in. Meanwhile,

Animal Farm is a written allegory story by George Orwell. The novel is about what happened during the political time of Russia; the Bolshevik Revolution and show the betrayal of Joseph Stalin. This novel shows a lot of symbolism throughout and the main one is how Napoleon and Joseph Stalin are similar.

People interact together to create a society. And within that society, a political system is formed to regulate and govern. However, when that society corrupts, who is to blame? The leader? Political system? Or the people? William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies believes that the defects of society are caused by the defects of human nature, and the society must depend on ethical maturity of individuals. The novel demonstrates the defects of an individuals’ human nature corrupting society through Ralph’s failed civilization, Samneric’s fear, and Roger’s natural evil.

The emotional behavior and irrationality of human nature guarantees that any society created by people will be plagued with defects and flaws, particularly the disownment of logic and reason. This is due to the reality that people act on emotion and instinct rather than on logic and rationality, causing humans to be, by nature, corrupt and narcissistic. As a result, people are inclined to fulfill their selfish desires, causing them to reject order and democracy, and instead embrace the development of chaos and anarchy. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies documents the story of a coalition of schoolboys, stranded on an island, and how the society that they form devolves into turmoil. Evaluating how Piggy is rejected due to his unseemly appearance and ideas, his respect for order and peace in contrast with the boys’ lust for destruction, as well as Piggy’s attempts and overall

During the year of 1945, when George Orwell published his novel Animal Farm, the world was in the midst of witnessing shocking events: the suicide of Hitler, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and the surrender of Germany to end the second World War. Coming out of one of the most horrific ages of our time, the common people were shocked at the human potential for destruction; Occurrences such as the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, the widespread bloodshed of World War II, and the atomic bombings revealed a degree of damage thought to be unimaginable to humanity. This shock to humanity fueled a heated debate between the opposing political structures of capitalism and communism. Orwell examines the human greed for power that ultimately defeats the potential

The Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 started when Mao Zedong (the leader who created and led the revolution) wanted to create an anti-capitalist nation, and to punish who were against his revolutionary ideals and beliefs according to the article “Cultural Revolution in China”. The novel Animal Farm by George Orwell portrays a farm turning to a new structure of life, which is Animalism. Although the novel is usually linked to the Russian Revolution of 1916 because of the illusion of events and characters, however, it’s not the only revolution to be compared to. The Chinese Cultural Revolution parallels the novel in a hostile dictator, obedient soldiers, and an attacked leader.

Honore de Balzac once said “Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on it can ever turn it into a fact. This quote connects to the theme “With power there’s never true equality.” Because although equality should be a given, while there is power present in society, it will never happen. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel about a farm that is overtaken by its animals. They assign one pig, Napoleon, to power. He began to only benefit the pigs and the other animals were often oppressed. “Mouseland” by Tommy Douglas is a story about cats leading a town of mice, and making rules that only benefitted the cat, and endangered the mice. The common theme in both these stories is similar to the theme the quote presented, “With power there’s never true equality.” The authors of both Animal Farm and “Mouseland” use the narrative techniques of conflict and characterization to illustrate political messages about power and equality.

Literature is said to be the mirror of a society and one of the major functions of it has been to make people aware of their surroundings as well as themselves. While many writers of today might digress from the true purpose of writing, the classics have always held a special place in what may be called as the awakening of the individuals. In this context, George Orwell’s Animal Farm- A Fairy Story, which is a dig at the then contemporary political scenario is one of the finest reads of 20th century that grips the readers from the very start and provides a terror inducing outlook to the world we live in. Written in a third person narrative, the book talks about a dystopian society where pigs become the ruler and create slavery like conditions for the other animals. One of the most enthralling elements of the novel is its timelessness and a universal appeal. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that the book is a touchstone to understand what kind of government one is living under.

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible to say which was which.” Orwell wrote Animal Farm as an allegory based on problems resulting from the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses tone, characterization, and stylistic elements to show that people in power use manipulation to stay in power.

George Orwell includes a strong message in his novel Animal Farm that is easily recognizable. Orwell’s Animal Farm focuses on two primary problems that were not only prominent in his WWII society, but also posed as reoccurring issues in all societies past and present. Orwell’s novel delivers a strong political message about class structure and oppression from the patriarchal society through an allegory of a farm that closely resembles the Soviet Union.