George Orwell’s famous allegory of Animal Farm is an expose of the atrocities that occurred after 1917 Russia. Published in 1945, Animal Farm contradicted the usual procedure when writing a political satire, as it was written while the event was still in progress. This made it very hard for Orwell to get his work published because it was- ‘unsavory’ to depict Joseph Stalin as a pig.
Orwell wrote Animal Farm to ‘pull back the curtain’ on the events taking place in Russia at the time.In doing this, he revealed characteristics and behaviours of those involved with the revolution, and commented on types of human behaviour. Orwell procreated this through the portrayal of figures from the Revolution as animals, this is most prominently seen in the characters of Napoleon and Squealer. Napoleon Napoleon is the pinnacle of avarice (excessive greed) and corruption in Animal Farm. Napoleon is the vehicle for which Orwell used to reveal and provide commentary on Joseph Stalin, the totalitarian ruler of Communist Russia.
Orwell portrays Stalin through the figure of Napoleon throughout the novella, thus is most prominent when Napoleon modifies the Laws of Animalism for his own selfish desires. The laws of Animalism were- “a set of rules by which all animals would live” they were pure and good before Napoleon modified them, “ No animal shall kill any other animal” became “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause”. This Law was modified so Napoleon could execute the animals that were supposedly in league with Snowball, “A pile or corpses lay at Napoleons feet”.The stench of blood filled the air which was unknown to the animals since Jones‘ day” As the novella progresses, more and more laws are modified until it reaches the most revered and last standing pure law of Animalism- “All animals are equal” becomes- ““All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” Many similar events occurred in Russia as Stalin became more and more corrupt just as Napoleon did. Stalin became more like the Tsar, this is portrayed in Animal Farm through the growing similarities between Napoleon and Jones.As well as providing commentary on Stalin, Orwell also uses Napoleon to commentate on types of human behaviour, specifically greed.
Orwell shows through Napoleon the dangers of greed and avarice and the negative effects it has on society “Their lives now, they reasoned, were hungry and laborious” the animals were overworked, treated with cruelty and used like they bore no purpose except to fund Napoleons exploits. Orwell has used Napoleon very effectively to serve his purpose of revealing to the world the atrocities committed by Joseph Stalin and commenting on avarice in people and how it negatively affects society. SquealerSquealer has been used by Orwell to portray another significant figure from the Russian Revolution- the ‘Pravda’. The ‘Pravda’ or ‘Truth’ in english was a newspaper issued by the corrupt, totalitarian government of Russia. Squealer is the mouthpiece of Napoleon, just as the ‘Pravda’ was the mouthpiece of Stalin, feeding the bourgeoisie lies and half truths, manipulating them. Squealer is clever, cunning and manipulative, he twists his words to make them more appetising to the other animals.
Squealer is sent out by Napoleon to smooth things over with the other animals, usually when Napoleon has performed one of many atrocities.A prime example of this is the episode with the milk and apples, “ We drink this milk and eat these apples for YOUR sake! ” This was said when the pigs wished to eat and drink the milk and apples. Squealer turned a situation of which the other animals were doubting the decisions that were being made, into a state of affairs where the other animals were in support of the movement “the birds did not understand his big words, but agreed happily”. Squealer also often used the threat of Jones returning to the farm, to control the other animals into conforming to Napoleons unfair, totalitarian, selfish ways.The ‘Pravda’ newspaper also manipulates the views of the population but in reference to Stalins actions rather than Napoleons. The name ‘Pravda’ or ‘Truth’ is a name that conveys contradiction and irony as the newspaper tells anything but the truth.
Whilst commenting on the ‘Pravda’, Orwell also commentates on human behaviours, through Squealer he is commenting on manipulative people and how talents should be used for the greater good. Squealer possesses the talent of speaking, he could have used his talent for the good of the Farm, but instead used it for his own and Napoleons gain.Orwell is showing the reader how destructive and influential speaking can be, choose your words wisely. Conclusion Orwell used all of the animal figures to great effectiveness, portraying the characteristics and actions from Russian history and transforming these animal figures in order to serve his purpose of revealing what occurred during the communist regime. Animal Farm has served as an educational tool in order to inform the next generation about the dangers of tyrannical leadership.
Perhaps this was Orwell's driving purpose, to care for the young of society, and play his part in not allowing these terrible deeds to go unnoticed.
