Symbolism and Interpretation in Animal Farm Essay - 808 Words

Symbolism and Interpretation in Animal Farm When Orwell published Animal Farm in 1945, a popular belief held that the Soviet Union was an honorable nation. Orwell hoped to write a novel that exposed the murderous truth of the Soviet System; he employed allegory to show a truth that remained unclear to many. As an allegory on early 20th Century Russia, ANIMAL FARM introduces its audience to a wide array of characters--each serving as a symbol. The table below provides a list of fictional characters, events, and items from the film ANIMAL FARM, and the real-life counterparts they appear to represent. Consider how each character could also be interpreted to have a larger, broader meaning. Farmer Jones : The farmer stands†¦show more content†¦Trotsky was eventually killed in Mexico by the Russian internal police. Napoleon: Not as clever as Snowball, Napoleon is also cruel, selfish and corrupt. Napoleon is most clearly representative of Joseph Stalin, who, like Napoleon, ruled with an iron fist and killed all those who opposed him. On a deeper level, he represents the human weaknesses which eventually undermine even the best political intentions. In much the same way that Napoleon used the dogs - and Squealer - to control animals, Stalin used the KGB and cleverly worded lies (called propaganda) to control his people. Squealer: This pig is an extremely persuasive speaker. Squealer convinces all animals to follow the revolution; he could turn black into white. Squealer is believed to represent Stalins propaganda machine. Many identify Squealer with Pravda, the Russian newspaper of the 1930s. Pigs: Orwell has chosen the pigs to represent the Communist Party loyalists. In the early years of the revolution they were concerned with the welfare of the common workers; as time passed, however, they began to take advantage of their role as leaders. By films end, the ideals of the revolution have been sacrificed, and the pigs are indistinguishable from the farms original masters. Dogs: The dogs constitute the pigs private army; the pigs used the dogs to maintain a climate of terror which silenced all opposition to their rule. TheShow MoreRelatedSymbolism and Allegory in Animal Farm1657 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolism and allegory in three aspects of Animal Farm : Old major, The Windmill and The Seven Commandments George Orwell uses symbols throughout the novel Animal Farm to show how the upper class groups use manipulation to their advantage. Animal Farm in simple terms is the allegory of a revolution gone sour. Animalism, Communism, and Fascism are all the symbols which are used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their greed and lust for power. As Lord Acton wrote: Power tends to corrupt; absoluteRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm942 Words   |  4 PagesGeorge Orwells Animal Farm (1945) is an illustrious political novella which delineates the fact that the Utopian Ideology of communism is not perfect. Orwells eagerness to express his view on the Russia n Republic led him to produce his satirical and metaphoric masterpiece; Animal Farm. The fictitious text based on the events manifest in the Russian Revolution show how communism fails as power corrupts minds, displayed in the novella with Animalism. Napoleon, the main protagonist portrays theRead MoreElements in George Orwells Animal Farm861 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm, written by George Orwell, depicts a group of animals who plot to destroy their master, Mr. Jones. The oldest and wisest pig on the farm, Old Major, told the other animals a story about a revolt called, The Rebellion. 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George OrwellRead MoreAnimal Farm And 1984, By George Orwell1936 Words   |  8 Pagesoppressive powers, such novels include Animal Farm and 1984. He wrote Animal Farm in 1944-1945 at the tail end of the WWII, his inspiration came from the revolutions in Russia, the result of that was the USSR, which divulged the country into a totalitarian regime. This was accomplished by manipulating socialist ideas of equality among the working class to oppress its people and maintain power. This created the basis for Animal Farm where many of the animal characters have direct correlations to peopleRead MoreA Marxist Critical Approach to Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Essay example1597 Words   |  7 Pagesonly think they are†. Wolfsheim states that he prefers not to â€Å"get mixed up† in deaths, and this has possibly been a policy based upon the changing mind of society, as he references that he would be â€Å"determined to come...as a young man†. Marxist interpretati ons clearly aid understanding here, as Wolfsheim sincerely believes that he has made a conscious decision to abstain, whereas in actual fact, the change in class system and the decline of society has been to the detriment of integration, thus resultingRead More Cultural Change and Survival in Amish Society Essay5626 Words   |  23 Pageshas not only survived but has grown and flourished while surrounded by a culture that would seem to be so detrimental to its basic ideals. The Amish, through biological reproduction, resistance to outside culture, compromise, and a strong ethnic symbolism have managed to stave off a culture that waits to engulf them. Why study the Amish? One answer would be, of course, to learn about their seemingly pure cooperative society and value system (called Ordung). From this, one may hope to learn how to