Literary Analysis Essay on George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

Introduction

Writers use literature to point out the wrong in society by use of various techniques. Most of the literary work point out at the social ills and try to make changes for the good of everyone in the community. There are various literary techniques applied by different writers and social commentators to point out the wrong politely. An excellent example of literary work that criticizes the then communist society is George Orwell's The Animal Farm. From the analysis of the play, George Orwell uses allusion, allegory and satire to point out the wrongs that existed in the firm controlled by perceived communist animals.

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Written in 1945 after the end of World War Two, the novel Animal Farm is a commentary of the evolution of Russia from the Czarist era to the then Communist rule. The story begins with a pig character is known as old Major in Mr Jones' Monar Farm describing his dream world where all the animals will be free from human tyranny. Soon afterwards, old Major dies, but his vision inspires other animals to pursue his philosophy. When Mr Jones forgot to feed the animals, a revolution ensues. Two characters, Napoleon and Snowball are instrumental in what goes on in the firm. The rebellion is successful, at least at first and all the animal meet to talk about the policies guiding them. When Jones and other men came back to reclaim the firm they are tactically defeated thanks to Snowball's techniques. The animals spend much of the following year constructing a windmill (Orwell & McCoy 13). Napoleon thirst for power is high, and he turns into a dictator. Through his iron rule, Napoleon makes life for other animals hard, save only for pigs.

The first instance of allegory in the book is in the character of old Major whose dreams were a bit strange to the animals. Old Major is Karl Marx whose book, The Communist Manifesto criticized capitalism and how they preyed on weaker animals. Karl Marx's book inspired the Russian Revolution in 1917 after his death. The same case is evident in the animal farm where a speech by old Major inspired animals to revolt against Mr Jones. The flag in animal firm is the same as the flag used during Soviet Communist revolution. Snowball in animal firm represent Leon Trotsky during the Revolution who wanted to spread communism to other parts of the world. This claim is depicted by his attempt to spread the revolution gospel to other neighboring farms. The Jones' family, owners of the firm, represent the last empire of czar who was cruel to Russians and beat them up for submission. The neighboring gentle owner of the firm represents the West led by US and the UK. Hitler is portrayed in the animal farm by Mr Fredrick whose actions are shrewd and always accusing others (Jasim, & Fatima 44).

The other aspect of literary technique in the book is satire. The entire book is a political satire that mocks the Russian Revolution. George Orwell satirizes the characters during the Bolshevik Revolution by calling then pigs. Satire in the animal firm is evident the misuse of power and the prevailing political ideology in a beast fable. The main characters in the book are animals, but they all fail in their duties like human beings. The animals in Orwell's novel begin a political ideology which fails as pigs view themselves as superior to other animals. With the backing of the dogs, these pigs live in luxury while subject the rest of animals to some forms of slavery. Pigs, like humans, interact towards the end of the novel making it hard for other animals to distinguish between the two. Also satirically exposed in the story is the wanting levels of corruption and perversion which is in a sense at attack on Stalinist Soviet after the end of Bolshevik Revolution.

Conclusion

In sum, George Orwell uses both satire and allegory in the novel to point out at the ills in both the communist and capitalist society at the time. The book is inspired by the dream of Karl Marx and how the Soviet Union followed the communist philosophy dictated in the book blindly. The author criticizes Russia for blind loyalty by using animals. Pigs are used as the main characters in the book to point out the glutton nature of communist society. Even the human characters in the book represent individuals who did not care about the well-being of others. The aspect of the society George Orwell focuses on in the book is political facet. Orwell discusses the prevailing political situation and how leaders take advantage of the others in the name of ideology. Russian leaders after the Bolshevik Revolution did not achieve much as promised. The then leaders, however, insisted on the need of spreading the philosophy to other parts of the world arguing that it is the best. Capitalism is also captured as the best option as evident in Mr Pinkington's firm where fair opportunity was available to every animal.

Works Cited

Jasim, Majeed H., and Fatima H. Aziz. "Propaganda in George Orwell's Animal Farm: An Allegorical And Satirical Study." ADAB AL-BASRAH 66 (2013): 1-38.

Orwell, George & McCoy, Jason. Animal Farm. (2012). Victoria Park, Australia Association for the Blind of W.A. 2012, eBook