preview

Use Of Satire In Animal Farm By George Orwell

Decent Essays
Open Document

“All animals are equal/ But some animals are more equal than others”(Orwell 80). The absurdity of this statement makes one question how could anyone believe it, even a a few animals that cannot read. However, in context of the rising action, the build up of small rules, it seems to be the best explanation. Eric Arthur Blair, better known as George Orwell, was a writer who used political satires to criticize radical socialist societies. In his most prominent works, Animal Farm and 1984, Orwell contributed to the change in the narrative of oppressive rule, creating obscenely radical societies to warn readers about the danger of totalitarian governments.
Animal Farm, published in 1945, employs the use of satire and an allegory to mock Russia …show more content…

In the novel, Winston Smith, a minor member of the Party, expresses a fear of rats, and as part of his interrogation, O’Brien uses these animals to pressure him to betray Julia and give up something personal. O’Brien explains the process, “[P]ain is not always enough. . .They[rats] are a form of unbearable pressure that you cannot withstand, even if you wished to”(358). The inhumane torture that Winston is threatened with creates a harsh image of communism, using a fear that most people can relate with to purge a forbidden relationship and break off any individual connections. The novel is also filled with betrayal, most notably that of O’Brien who works for the Party, which is revealed when Winston is finally caught and sees the man in his cell (315). O’Brien, previously a connection to the rebelling Brotherhood, becomes a glimpse of the Inner Party who purposely deceives Winston to “cleanse” him when he intentionally acts against the Party. Betrayal and fear induce paranoia in Winston, rightfully so, designing a society that is not healthy. Despite this novel being an extreme exaggeration of totalitarianism, Orwell’s warnings still stand, as individuality and freedom are severed in the body of

Get Access