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Animal Farm by George Orwell is the epitome of an extended metaphor. Throughout this novel, the fable presented is in constant comparison to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Instances surface outlining the quintessence of revolution through emblematic characters. From Squealer symbolizing a propaganda machine to Napoleon standing as dictator, the novel follows a revolution from inception to demise.
Originating as a archetypal farm, Manor Farm is governed by Mr. Jones- a symbol of the fatally-corrupt governments ripe and vulnerable to revolutionary ideologies. Old Major is introduced as a highly respected, but sick and dieing pig- the more intelligent of the animals on the farm. He can be compared to Karl Marx through his influential and persuasive means that eventually sparked revolutionary thought in the common people. Upon his demise, the plot truly begins. Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon unite as an authoritative power gaining support through promising to work toward Old Major’s vision. Throughout the course of the novel, tensions grew between Snowball and Napoleon until eventually Napoleon evicted Snowball from the farm using his personally trained dogs, symbolizing the Gestapo.
After Snowball was driven off the farm, a few critical events occurred. Napoleon rose to unopposed power. He began forcing his influence on the animals of the farm, building his power as an absolute authority figure while hiding behind lies of his selfish motivation being for the good of the farm. Through further actions such as changing the very documents laid down during the birth of the rebellion, appending his own ways on the Seven Commandments, Napoleon’s control and grip on the animals tightened. The namesake of Napoleon becomes increasingly ironic as the reader develops a connection between the pig and Napoleon Bonaparte of France and his dominating control.
Squealer is the pig who constantly convinces the animals of the farm that they are superior to their old position being governed by Mr. Jones. He keeps the peace and ensures the animals that Napoleon is indeed doing the right thing. Squealer symbolizes the propaganda machine of a rebelling country such as Russia in 1917. All the animals hear is the good being done by Napoleon, so they give their unquestioned consent to his ways. At one point, Napoleon announces the uncovering of an attempted plot of rebellion against him and has a few animals executed, inciting fear in the animals, driving them farther under his control, very similar to the methods executed during the rebellion in Russia.
As the novel draws to a close, Napoleon begins straying further from the ideological ideas presented by Old Major at the beginning of the novel. He becomes power hungry and leads the animals into a death spiral. They begin running short of food, but keep up an illusion of prosperity to the outside world, much like how rebellious countries have done in past historical times. At the conclusion of the novel, Napoleon invites some humans over for dinner and refers to the other animals as a “lesser class.” The animals outside look into the house through the window, and realize in a moment of complete horror, that they cannot tell the difference in the pigs’ faces and the humans’ faces.
November 17th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
your analysis was quite useful to me in college.
November 26th, 2006 at 9:44 am
im going to use this summary in the class in my college hahaha see you teachers!
November 28th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Could someone at least add some imagery concepts of this novel?
December 12th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
sure hey whats up party people whoa!
December 14th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Let me just say that this is possibly the worst analysis i’ve ever read on animal farm. How can you even call it an analysis without so much as mentioning Stalin? And the Gestapo was german, the dogs represent the KGB not the gestapo. And furthermore this story is not a critique of the russian revolution, it’s a critique of the stalinist regime.
George Orwell himself was a democratic socialist and had some if not profound respect both to Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. Absolutely, the rebellion in the story represents the revolution, but the story talks about so much more. To write a review of animal farm without mentioning Stalin or Trotsky is an insult to George Orwells fantastic political satire.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Gestapo??? You must be joking.
Catherine,
“had some if not profound respect both to Marx, Lenin and Trotsky”. I believe you to be very wrong
January 8th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
right…
gestapo…?
ok…
and orwell believed in the ideals of communism but
wasnt fond of lenin or trotsky becuase trotsky ordered some rebelling sailors to be shot and lenin wasnt perfect and killed a few to many innocent people but did respect marx “LEGEND” becuase he was a great guy. marx hated capitilism and what communism turned into by stalin mostly anyways orwell was an anarchist
January 18th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
ohkay
January 25th, 2007 at 9:57 am
thanks this was very useful for my exams
thanks
March 7th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
i reckon this site sucks
March 11th, 2007 at 11:30 am
ha??dat was just a summary… u did not even talk about Stalin
March 11th, 2007 at 11:31 am
ha??u did not even talk about Stalin…its just a summary
March 11th, 2007 at 11:32 am
wers the analysis??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
March 14th, 2007 at 4:17 am
pigs rule at all times like me.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:27 am
i help reall especially to a political science students
March 27th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Catherine, i’d just like to say..that was a fantastic piece of writing..:) u owned the author
oi..who eva wrote this, mention STALIN and TROTSKY!
March 30th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
A nice Story
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:15 pm
using it for 8th grade class thanks
April 13th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
All of you people think yourselves so smart, dont you. Animal farm is a satirical novel written by Eric Arthur Blair, it is about the stalin era. Not a single one of you new that. I went to Yale, you people are unintelligent and crude if your to tenacious to see the error of your ways. The dispicable rubbish that is your writing is not fit for a childs story book. With you the earths intelligents fades.
April 13th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I am very familier with the farming industry. My father had many animals on his farm especially pigs and goats. Farms are a dextromental part of economy.
April 26th, 2007 at 3:08 am
Haily Bowser must have worked as a janitor at Yale because her spelling is appallllling. Get a grip lady!
April 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I thought Animal Farm was a pornography movie??
April 26th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I’m In 8th grade by the way
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:15 am
hey i jsut need a bibliography of Animal Farm, can anyone help?
May 14th, 2007 at 10:22 am
‘yo’, please, you are degrading the purpose of this site.
and no animal farm is allegory based upon the russian revolution.
dumbass.
May 14th, 2007 at 10:27 am
And hailey bowser, do you think that rubbing it in that you have a degree at harvard makes you more significant?
You’d think someone as ‘smart’ as you would learn a thing or two from the book itself.
May 14th, 2007 at 10:29 am
KUDOS TO ROSS. :]
May 28th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Haily lol dubs tf wtf bbl nrk nty nnf plz
May 29th, 2007 at 9:06 am
lol Haily y u stab me?
May 29th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Haily y u stab me?
May 29th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Anonymous- rofl more like lolonymous
October 15th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
catherine is a nerd
November 12th, 2007 at 7:05 am
hey, that helped me a lot…a little bit of symbolism would have rocked my world…well, thanks anyway
November 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
….and I beleived that’s a very interresting story…….
December 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
y’all people need some help and animal farm is not a pornography movie, stupid!!
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
i need the critical conclision on the characters of animal farm.
is there any1 who can help me?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I Think, İt’s Very Nice…
February 19th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Thanks for this it helps alot for my 8th grade class
March 13th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
^ ^
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thanks for no help?
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April 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
:d
April 13th, 2008 at 10:37 am
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August 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
thanx so much!!!!!!
dude why do ppl have to leave such dumb comments? get a life and quit being rude all the time. You didn’t have to read this if you are SO Freaking smart Miss.Harvard………..geez get a grip is right.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
thanks yOU
July 12th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
thanks man
September 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
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September 6th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
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September 21st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Great article, i really liked the book. The interaction between pigs, humans and other animals. It’s great food for though, your review and analysis is very good, i think i’ll go read it again!
December 16th, 2009 at 12:39 am
Good!
February 10th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
That helped me a lot a little bit of symbolism would have rocked my world.
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:47 pm
love you
May 16th, 2010 at 2:08 am
reading newspaper and im gonna show to him an article, like i passed the bar exams.
May 16th, 2010 at 5:07 am
Thank you for the perfect subject