preview

The Themes Of Symbolism In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Decent Essays

George Orwell’s allegory of the farm animal’s triumph in Animal Farm to the Russian Revolution in both totalitarian manner and results exposes how absolute power destroys equality and results in unfettered totalitarian rule. Orwell’s satire of equality demonstrates a leader’s methods of ostracization of opposing parties and use of propaganda to dominate a society, self-interest infiltrating a role of leadership causing a polity to turn totalitarian, and ability to force harsh conditions on the working class. George Orwell’s Animal Farm unveils the reality of spiteful human nature and corrupt societies through insightful characterizations and conveys negligent leaders’ oppression of oblivious followers through apprehensive moods and interwoven symbolism.
George Orwell’s deliberate contrast of characters through details of the animals’ dialogue and actions provides evidence as to why human nature does not allow for a utopian society. The distinct disparity among Napoleon and Snowball causes them to engage in conflict and create a divide in their developing nation. Orwell portrays Napoleon’s selfish methods as nefarious, which causes the audience to feel uneasy about his morality and the future of the farm under his supervision: “[Napoleon] walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of [Snowball’s] plans and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out without uttering a word” (Orwell 55). As Napoleon sabotages the gracious flow of improvements to Animal Farm, he poses an explicit distinction between Snowball’s efforts to improve Animal Farm, and his goal of authority over the farm. Animal Farm’s narrator provides insight on how Napoleon, a totalitarian leader, manipulates the other farm animals in his rise to power:
“By the time [Snowball] had finished speaking, there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and, casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, nine enormous dogs

Get Access