Symbolism and Literary Techniques in George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

Animal Farm is an allegory novella describing and revealing what Orwell thought wrong with how Russia went from it's previous form of ideology to communism.

Animal Farm is a novella written by George Orwell in 1945. This particular story by George Orwell reflects on the events leading up to and during Stalin era in Russia. During the time he wrote, the work of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto was being followed by the Russian leaders, and some of Marx’s ideas can be found in the way George Orwell’s character, Old Major, expresses the way animal’s future should be.

Orwell uses irony as one of his methods to direct his satiric attack on the totalitarian regime. Before Old Major dies he warns the animals about mankind, “Man serves the interests of no creature except himself…. All men are enemies….And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him…. Do not adopt his vices…. And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannize over his own kind …. All animals are equal” (Orwell 10-12). Old Major intentions were to tell the animals about the bright future they would have after the rebellion over man. He claimed that no animal should take more power over another and that all the individuals of the society had an equal say in their actions as a community. This is important because he is explaining the importance of not resembling man once the animals rebell. Unlike man, he spoke to the animals about equality and advised them to not abuse their individual power. However, the pigs undergo a change throughout the book, and start to live in the farmhouse, adopting human vices. Later on in the plot the animals peer through a window, “the creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which” (Orwell 141). The pigs actions towards the end of the book contradict Old Major’s words of advice. This is ironic because Old Major was a prized boar, and his mindset was on a society with equality, which the pigs agreed to. But after the rebellion the pigs started becoming more and more like the humans that once used to rule. Napoleon insistence that the

Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. The concept of ‘Animalism’ that had come to “Old Major” (pg. 1) in a dream is representative of Marx and Communism. Napoleon is much like Joseph Stalin. Each animal or type of animal represents a person from the events of the revolution. “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” (pg. 97), Communism is all about how everyone is equal, much like Animalism, however in both cases certain people have come out on top and made life a living hell for everyone of lower classes. Both concepts started out as utopic ideas but turned into dystopic realities for both the animals and humans. There is quite a distinct connection between the events of Stalinist Russia and during the book of Animal

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.

George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, was his very first piece of political writing. On the surface, this novel is about a group of miserable and mistreated farm animals that overthrow their neglectful owner; they take control of the farm. However, it too is a political allegory mainly focusing on the Russian Revolution. Orwell wrote Animal Farm in response to what had occurred in the Russian Revolution. Seeing how the people were being manipulated over for their freedom, he decided to write about these events through farm animals. The author's purpose for writing this novel is to warn his audience that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutly. Orwell's intent in fusing political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole, was truly

Animal Farm is an allegory of the period in Russian history between 1917 and 1944. It is a satirical story written in the form of an animal fable. In writing Animal Farm as a fable, George Orwell is able to present his subject in simple symbolic terms by treating the development of communism as a story that is taking place on a single farm with talking animals. The characters of Animal Farm represent figures in Russian history during the Russian Revolution. Places, objects, and events of the Russian Revolution are also symbolized in Animal Farm.

The story of Animal Farm is not just one of a talking pig who takes over a farm. Rather, the tale seeks to show the fear factor in which the citizens under Joseph Stalin’s totalitarian government lived with. George Orwell, in Animal Farm uncovers the truth about how the people under Stalin’s rule were constantly threatened to be killed if they did not dedicate their lives to helping Stalin with his plans. As Napoleon, an allegory for Stalin, takes control of the farm, animals lose their lives, are manipulated to fight the humans and are living in constant fear of getting killed.

Throughout Animal Farm, George Orwell uses symbolism to create a figurative level to this novella. On a literal level Animal Farm is about animal on a farm rebelling against their human authoritarians, and living their life on the principles of animalism. On a figurative level, it

George Orwell¹s story, Animal Farm, is a satire of Soviet Russia. In a more general sense, however, the story traces the rise and fall of any totalitarian regime. All of the animals on Animal Farm somehow contribute to either the creation, destruction, or temporary success of the totalitarian government. The original goal of the Animal Farm society is a socialist society, but it turns bad.

Animal Farm is an allegorical tale written by George Orwell in 1917. Animal Farm seems superficial at first, seeming to be an insubstantial tale centring on talking farm animals. Animal Farm in fact displays significant moral dilemmas on and issues, through Orwell’s perspective, on particular people and events throughout the duration of the Russian Revolution. However Animal Farm is not simply about the Russian Revolution it also presents how the flaws of humanity power can corrupt one’s mind. Napoleon, in particular, symbolises this concept as his initial lust for power escalates until he distinguishes himself as superior to the other animals before he explicitly mistreats those who were initially seen as his equals.

The novella ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, is an allegory, because while the pigs and dogs may have started out trying to make things better, they ended up making things worse then they had been before. Little hidden meanings, to show the negative aspect when taken too far. Some examples are: Manor Farm is allegorical of Russia, Mr Jones - the farmer, is Czar. Snowball, the pig is the intellect of the operation, the dogs in the barnyard are police squad. Boxer, the horse is your average Joe, or the working class. My take on this story's message, is in reference, to what I believe to be the most famous line in the entire story “ All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Basically stated, you have to be careful when you are trying to change things, otherwise you might become the thing you are trying to fight; communism in this setting, and that power manipulates for its own means.

Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell and the book reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.

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.

Finally, Orwell uses different stylistic elements to enhance elements of manipulation in the story. George Orwell uses dramatic irony to show the impact manipulation has on the animals. Boxer gets hurt and is being taken to the horse slaughterer. Squealer reassures the animals that Boxer is just going to the hospital to heal and will return back to Animal Farm healthier than ever shortly. This dramatic irony is being used to ‘manipulate’ the other animals. Since Squealer is a pig, he is already raked above the others and given absolute power. It turns out that Boxer was in fact taken to a “Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler.” However, the other animals could not comprehend this due to their lack of literacy skills. Next, Orwell uses verbal irony to enhance the way manipulation is portrayed in the story. All animals are given certain rules that they are required to follow in the beginning/making of Animal Farm. For example, on the first day of Animal Farm, one of the rules they were given was “No animal shall sleep in a bed.”