1_Animal Farm

1_Animal Farm

1. Historical context

   • Written in the style of a child novel, but heavy political influences within the narrative. Both children and adults can read it at different levels
   • Mainly allegorises the rise to power of the dicator Joseph Stalin and his curropt and opressive rule of Soviet Russia
   • George Orwell was a democratic socialist (meaning he supported political democracy)- his critique of Animal Farm is not of the Marxist ideology underlying the Revolution but rather the corruption of that ideology by later leaders, for example, Napoleon who was based on Stalin
   • The overthrow of Farmer Jones by a democratic coalation of animals quickly gives way to the consolidation of power among the pigs who establish themselves as the ruling class of the new society. This miroring the Communist Party consolidating their rule over Russia and the division between Trotsky and Stalin and Stalins ousting and murder of Trotsky

2. Charecters

   • Pigs
     • Old Major
       • Marx or lenin
       • Serves as the source of the ideals that the animals continue to uphold, despite pigs being led by Napoleon progressively warping them to their own selfish ends. Orwell highlights the fact that Old Major had a life that is long and seemingly free from the terror he describes to other animals. Creating a seemingly false sense of brotherhood
     • Napoleon
       • Stalin, the second leader of the russian revolution
       • The leader of the pigs after ousting Snowball, a corrupt and an opportunist who rules over the animals with fear and oppression. Although always present at the earlier meetings of the state he never contributes to the formulation of Animal Farms ideologies. Napoleon never cares about Animal Farm only the power he has over the other animals. He exiles Snowball and takes complete control of the farm. Whenever moving around the farm he would have his puppies, that he trained, with him at all times for protection. He has Squealer re-write the history of the farm to make himself look like the hero of the revolution. Later in the novel, he kills anyone who confesses to having done anything wrong. This is the same as Joseph Stalin, who Napoleon represents. Stalin didn't gain power until much later after the revolution. He exiled Trotsky, who represents Snowball. He had a secret army called the NKVD, which is symbolised by Napoleon's puppies. He had the Russian media alter the view of him more
     • Snowball
       • Leon Trotsky, one of the oringinal revolutionaies. Although less problamatic than Stalin (or Napoleon), was not without moral flaws and his failure to remove Stalin from power proved to be his downfall. Orewell states throughout the text you can't get rid of government corruption by electing people with good morals to power because its power that corrupts
       • Challenges Napoleon for control over Animal farm, he is intelligent and idealistic which proves his downfall, despite having loyalty of the animals, his persuasiveness is no match for Napoleons brutality and is chased by the dogs that Napoleon raised as his personal gaurds.
     • Squealer
       • Russian Media
       • Continually distorts reality to fit theneeds of Napoleon. Squealer basically brainwashes the other animals to believe Napoleon. Orwell used him to show how politicians use media to manipulate people. For example to first inspire people to revolt and then inspire everyone to fight in the wars
     • Minimus
       • The pig who writes patriotic songs for Napoleon. It is evidence of napoleon/Stalin's more controlling power. The "Animal Farm" song replacing the beasts of England demonstrates the change of Old Majors animalism to Napoleon's idea of animalism
     • Young Pigs
       • Complain about Napoleons take over the farm who are then executed by Napoleon for their opposistion to his power
       • Represent those who were violently against Stalin and were often killed by his authorative rule in Russia
   • Humans
     • Mr Jones
       • Tsar Nicholas II
       • Unkind and often abusive farmer who ran Animal Farm before the rebellion, would indulge himself with alchohol and food while the animals almost starved to death
     • Mr Frederick
       • Farmer of Pinchfeild stern but untrustworthy. Was originally worried that the animalism would spread to his animals
       • Hitler
     • Mr Whymper
       • Human soliciter that Napoleon hires to make contact with other animals
       • Capitalists who did business with the slavic state, who helped spread the rumours and conveniantly heard nothing when violent things were happening
     • Mr Pilkington
       • Farmer of Foxwood, more gentlemen like farmer and is on bad terms with Mr Frederick
       • Represents Capitalist governments of UK and US
   • Horses
     • Boxer
       • Tireless worker who supported the pigs but is betreyed despite his loyalty. Worked the most on the farm
       • The working class who trusted Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin but continued suffering and being opressed under Stalins rule
     • Clover
       • Female Working Class
       • Same as Boxer although senses hypocripsy
     • Mollie
       • Mollie was always pamapered by mister Jones she was given ribbons and Sugar lumps
       • Avoids work on the farm amd complains after the revoltion about the luxuries she once had
       • Left the farm to live with humans a few years after the revolution
       • Represents the bourgouis/ aristocrats of Russia who fled a few years after the revolution
     • Benjamin
       • Donkey that did not feel pride form the revolution and thought that life would be unpleasant regardlessof who is in charge
       • Was intelligent enough to know what the pigs were doing but did nothing to stop it
       • Represents the educated people in russia aka the intelligentsia
   • Birds
     • Pigeons
       • Flew out and spread the idea of animalism to other farms
       • Represent the comintern who spread communism around the world
     • Hens
       • Black Minorca Pullet
         • The leaders of the hens resistance who tried to thwart Napoleons wishes to sell their eggs
         • Represent the Ukrainien peasent leaders during the Ukrainien resistance
       • Peasant farmers, Ukrainien peasants
       • Napoleon tells the hens to surrender their eggs. The hens attempt to resist but are starved into submission
     • Moses
       • Was Mister Jones' "pet" that fled once the revolution happened, then eventually returned but did no work
       • Represents the Russian Orthodox Church, that was overly present during the tsarist regime but during the communist revolution, it was not allowed. Then Stalin realised how religion could be used to manipulate people
   • Other Characters
     • Muriel
       • Old goat who is known by all the animals
       • Only besides the pigs and Benjamin that can read
       • Reads the commandments for Clover.
       • Represents the minority of working class who are educated enough to decide things for themselves and see critical and hypocritical flaws with their leaders
       • Not charismatic or inspired enough to take action agaimst the pigs
     • Cat
       • Represents the shady members of society; conmen, circus fol and gypsies
       • The cat doesnt actually participate in the revolution, before the revolution, or after
       • Does join in on the Battle of Cowshed
     • The Sheep
       • Shout easy slogans such as "4 legs good, 2 legs bad"
       • Napoleon trained them to be a form of propaganda
       • Represents the masses of people who blindly accept anything political leaders say
     • Rats and Rabbits
       • Were considered non-comrades before therevolution
       • Represent the theives and beggars of society

3. Places

   • The Soviet Union
     • Animal Farm
   • Russia (name before the rev)
     • Manor Farm
   • England
     • Foxwood
   • Germany
     • Pinchfield
   • Europe
     • Willingdon
   • The World
     • England
   • Heaven
     • Sugar Candy Mountain

4. Things I should probs know

   • Animalism
     • Communism
   • Old Majors dream
     • Communist Manifesto
   • Windmill
     • Stalins five year plans
       • The windmill promised to make the animal lives better just as the five year plans but when the windmillneeded to be rebuilt was just like how Stalin kept on churning new plans
   • Drinking of Alchohol
     • Intoxicating effects of power
   • Hoof and Horn
     • Hammer and Sickle
       • The sickle is the tool of the peasants and the hammer is the tool of the working class so it is like communism is the unification of both classes
   • Animal Committes
     • Soviet Comittes
   • "Animal Farm" song
     • National Anthem of Soviet Union/ Evidence of Stalins more controlling power
       • Animal Farm song replaces Beasts of England shows how Stalin altered Marx communism to fit his idea of communism
   • "Comrade Napoleon" song
     • Replaces "Animal farm" song as Napoleon becomes more powerful
     • The song glorified Napoleon and praised Napoleon for all the farms successes even though he had little or no role in them
     • Is painted in the barn opposite the commandments
   • Old majors skull is just like Lenins body

5. The Seven Commandments

   • Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy
     • Four legs good, two legs better
       • Napoleon begins to trade with humans
       • Squealer walks on hind legs
       • Humans visit Animal Farm
   • Whatever goes upon 4 legs or has wings is a friend
     • Dogs attack Snowball
     • Dogs attack Boxer
   • No animal shall wear clothes
     • Napoleon puts on Mr Jones' hat
     • Pigs put green ribbons on Sunday similar to Mollie
   • No animal shall sleep in a bed
     • - With sheets
       • Pigs sleep in the farmhouse bed with sheets which is still a human action
   • No animal shall drink alchohol
     • - To excess
       • The pigs drink beer and whiskey
   • No animal shall kill any other animal
     • -Without cause
       • The pigs sent Boxer to his death
       • Napoleon kills many in the great purges
   • All animals are equal
     • - But some are more equal than others
       • This was always a problem as the pigs were more intelligent than the others
         • Thus inequality arose
       • Pigs take milk and apples
       • Pigs get up an hour later
       • Rations are later reduced except for pigs and dogs

6. Themes

   • Power
     • Pigs claim their goal is a farm where everyone is equal and everyone supports eachother
     • Power soon seems to be too much for a pig and small privelages blooms into full scale coruption
     • Pigs begin to resemble humans they were trying to replace
   • Lies
     • The pigs lie to other animals convincing them that certain events did or did not occur
     • They decieve them in the present trying to covince them that the situation is better than it really is
     • They lie to them about plans for the future, telling the animals their dreams will come true
   • Foolishness
     • Foolishness is found in the lowerclass animals who have a life of hardship because their lack of intellect
     • They fail to recognise
       • Horrible nature of their opression
       • The greed of the pigs
       • The worsening of their lives
   • Dreams, Hopes and Plans
     • Animal Farm is allegory for criticism for all utopian ides in general
     • As time goes by the Old Majors dreams seem more impossible
   • Violence
     • A tool of political opression
     • Violence is used as a threat, to kill and to exile people
   • Pride
     • Pride is used to unite the animals
     • Napoleon learns how to use the animals pride as manipulation
     • The animals are too proud of their Animal-run farm they are blind to the fact it is corrupt
   • Other themes
     • Corruption of socialist ideals in the soviet union
     • Societies towards class stratification
     • Danger of a naive working class

7. Allegory

   • Revolt against farmer Jones allegory for the 1917 Bolshevik revolution
   • Battle of cowshed pararell to Allied invasion of rusia
   • "Four legs good, two legs bad" gets changed to "two legs better" shows betrayal of original ideas