Animal Farm Allegory to the Russian Revolution
Animal Farm - Allegory to the Russian RevolutionThe content of the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell is satirical to the Russian Revolution. The narrative is developed by means of an establishment of events that correlate directly to changes that occurred in Russia [mainly] in the early 1900’s. The events and characters in the book are comparative to important figures and affairs in the Russian Revolution. Although Orwell wrote the book to clearly reflect that distinct era, this novel can also be viewed as an allegory on any revolution Through this generalized approach to the presentation of the novel, Orwell creates a more identifiable way in which to explore the happenstance of the Russian Revolution, while simultaneously creating a completely individual train of events. The novel takes place on a farm called “Manor Farm”. In the initial stages of the book, the power over the farm is directly in the hands of a certain “Mr. Jones” who in recent times has taken up alcohol consumption. Mr.Jones is parallel to Tsar Nicholas II as suggested by his antipathy toward his people (the farm animals, in Jones’ situation) and his denial of the current bureaucratic state. Before his abdication in 1917 (as is parallel to Jones’ escapement from his spiteful farm of animals), the Tsar is known to have partaken in excess alcohol consumption along with his men. It was for this same reason that Jones has lost control of the farm, which initiates the ideal of revolution to the animals. Old Major stirs the other animals by showing his disagreement as per Jones’ selfish method of running the farm. As quoted in the book, “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving and the rest he keeps for himself.” Jones was the evil in capitalism and the animals reason for revolt. In a broader sense, he is symbolic of motive for change in any situation where that action is believed to be required. Old Major is the elderly boar and philosophist of the farm animal population. Although only in the novel for a short period of time, his role is very significant. He was the introducer of a new set of values and the a system labeled as “Animalism”. Major corresponded to the important historic figure Karl Marx, who is renowned for his introduction of communistic beliefs to the people through various articles of text famous for their economic and philosophically revolutionary content. As is similar to Old Major, Marx’s ideas were mainly blind sided by people during his life and were not truly considered until after his death in 1883, and before any actual “revolution”...
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