The Revolutionary Plague Daniel Berrigan once said, “A revolution is interesting insofar as it avoids like the plague the plague it promised to heal”. The story of Animal Farm by George Orwell tells a revolutionary tale that shares many similarities with this observation. Despite the initial efforts of the animals, the tyrannical leadership that existed before returns with the same issues they set out to confront. Berrigan’s comment ultimately reflects the pattern of history that humans follow and brings light to the many unsuccessful revolutions in history. To begin, though Berrigan’s quote may be brief, one reveals a much more complex meaning upon dissection. When one reads it for the first time, the word ‘plague’ stands out, which one infers to mean the issues which bring about the revolution. He subtly points out the irony of revolutions, as while they are intended to fix certain problems, they ultimately avoid these issues, failing to accomplish anything but a change in leadership. Furthermore, Berrigan uses the word ‘interesting’ …show more content…
The pigs attempt to hide their oppressive nature by calling the animals comrade. However, this phrase carries no meaning, as no mutual respect exists between them. As this dynamic progresses on the farm, Napoleon begins to be glorified in a similar manner to the way in which Mr. Jones experienced glorification previously. The animals easily fall victim to this, as they feel respect by only being called comrade, shedding light on their ignorance. Before the animals know it, the previous commandments are changed to “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” (Orwell 134). This is the final straw in the apparent equality between the pigs and the rest of the animals, as they clearly lack interest in hiding their oppressive
Animal Farm’s Intelligence, Rebellion, & Power The novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell was one of the most popular books of its time. It uses symbolism in many ways. It’s mainly through the characters Napolean, Boxer, and Squealer.
The idea that an outside factor was employed to maintain internal control is also prevalent throughout the text, as “the plague is met by order; its function is to sort out every possible confusion” (page 4). It illustrates that in the face of a crisis, the government can use it as a justification to exercise greater control over individuals by enforcing harsher restrictions and extending monitoring beyond what is considered human norm. This can be further proved as Michel writes, “There was also a political dream of the plague…the penetration of regulation into even the smallest details of everyday life through the mediation of the complete hierarchy that assured the capillary functioning of power” (page 4). It is implied that the authority figures used the plague as a leading force to control individuals' behavior and practices with the aim to develop them into obedient and productive members of society. Michel examines the power structures and disciplinary mechanisms in society as a means of control as opposed to a traditional protagonist, “in which power is exercised without division, according to a continuous hierarchical figure” (page 4).
In the novella, the overthrow of the human oppressor Mr. Jones by a democratic coalition of animals quickly gives way to the consolidation of power among the pigs. Much like the Soviet intelligentsia, the pigs establish themselves as the ruling class in the
In Animal Farm, George Orwell warns how power will often lead to corruption. Napoleon was placed in a position of power after Major died, and he slowly starts to lavish in his power and become addicted to the lush life of a dictator. When Napoleon first becomes a leader, he expresses how everyone will work equally, but as his reign goes on, he shortens the work hours. At the very end of the novel, the observing animals even start to see that pig and man had become the same. The irony present in the above example, illuminates how regardless of how much a ruler promises to maintain equality and fairness, the position of power that they hold, will corrupt them.
Furthermore, Napoleon gives the other animals the impression he was the sole leader of the rebellion on Animal farm and makes Snowball -a leader who wanted what was best for the animals- seem like an enemy who was in cahoots with Farmer Jones since long before the animals took over the farm. Napoleon and Squealer (another “fat cat” pig.) always put the blame on Snowball whenever something went wrong in the farm to avoid having the blame fall on them. Napoleon is an exemplary example of just how selfish and hypocritical people can be in furthering their own aims because he continued to subtly but purposely change the seven rules put in place as the pillars of animalism. For example, Napoleon and the other pigs move into Farmer Jones’s house and sleep in his bed after commanding “No animal shall sleep in a bed”, so he changes the commandment to read “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”.
In a essence Napoleon the pig becomes the persona of “Someone to believe in,” for the animals. After Snowball was chased out, Napoleon most importantly and the pigs become the guidance for the animals lives. “Napoleon is always right”(Orwell 70), said by Boxer the horse, expresses his strong belief in his intelligence and guidance. The more and more, the story progresses, the more religion takes the role of keeping the animals organized and in harmony of the pig’s leadership and system. Although, “The Seven Commandments” start to change, the animals chose to keep following them.
In Animals Farm, there is a pig who’s name Napoleon. This character did not contributed to the society with his actions. In effect, he did not respect the concept of “Animalism” which is the equality of all the animals. He did many actions that broke this conception during the entire story. At the beginning, Napoleon, take the farm with Snowball when the farmer, Mr. Jones, left.
At the start of the rebellion, Manor proclaimed that “Even when we have conquered Man, we must not resemble him or adopt his vices”. However, at the end of the novel, there is no real difference between man and pigs. The pigs dress in Jones’s clothing’s, subscribe to Daily Mirror and even drink with the neighbouring farmers. Napoleon even confirms that the “title-deeds were owned by the pigs jointly”. It finally dawned upon the animals that the utopian life that they envisioned was only a
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is a story to show how absolute power corrupts, just as Stalin’s power did during the Russian Revolution in 1917. In the allegory “Animal Farm” each character represents a political figure from the days around the Russian Revolution. For example, Joseph Stalin is represented by a pig named Napoleon, Squealer, another pig, represents Stalin’s propaganda department, and the dogs represent the Secret Police (KBG). Using the nine dogs that Napoleon raises (intimidation), Squealer (propaganda), and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon was able to gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon at all times are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so that they do not disobey Napoleon.
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the Pigs use their intelligence and ability to be literate to oppress the “inferior animals” and keep them under the Pigs’ control. One of the most iconic quote from this book is on page 53, has portray this idea. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” By saying “more equal” this display how equalness have different levels. The Pigs is able change the Commandments’ original language to justify their wrong doing.
However, as the pigs consolidate power and become more like their human oppressors, the animals' identity as a free and equal society is threatened. “ 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.” (chapter 10). Napoleon developed a sense of superiority over the other animals and orders them to call him by new titles. Nowadays, people call Napoleon "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and pigs call him "Father of All Animals, Protector of the Sheepfold, and other such titles.
The pigs, who are more intelligent, tricked the animals into thinking they have a choice when in reality they do not. Even more, as the story progressed, the animals lost their voice in debates. Every Sunday, the animals held Meetings in the farmhouse to discuss the work and plans for the week.
Animal Farm Literary Analysis The rebellion of Animal Farm was to escape man and his cruel ways, but can they escape the reality of power and corruption? Animal Farm is a novella written by George Orwell. In this book the animal 's desire more freedom than they are allowed. In order to achieve an equal and harmonious society they rebel against farmer Jones. Rather than resulting in a utopian civilization the animals are oppressed by the very pig who encouraged their rebellion.
Government by coalition often fails or one member will find a way to gain an advantage. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which” (139). It is shown how the pigs start out with Old Major's vision, but are exactly like the people (oppressive) by the end of the book. The pigs become like the humans by the end of the novel. Throughout the novel they have revealed similar traits; they want to seize power and maintain control over all the other animals.
Revolutions are fundamentally unavoidable when democracy fails to exist. Revolutions occur when people feel unjust and mistreated. In Animal Farm, George Orwell writes of a revolution by farm animals against their human leader, Jones. The lack of a democracy and harsh inequality is the root cause of this revolution. In December of 2010 large uprisings and revolutions started around the Middle East and Northern Africa known as Arab Spring.