At first glance, Animal Farm is just a story about animals taking over a farm. But if you dig deeper, you’ll see that Orwell wasn’t just writing about animals—he was writing about power, corruption, and how revolutions can go wrong. The book is a political allegory, meaning it uses a fictional story to represent real-life events, specifically the Russian Revolution and the rise of dictators like Joseph Stalin.
∆ The Story in a Nutshell:
The novel takes place on Manor Farm, where the animals are tired of being mistreated by their human owner, Mr. Jones. Inspired by the wise old pig Old Major, they rebel and take control of the farm, renaming it Animal Farm. The pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, promise a new society where all animals are equal.
But things don’t go as planned. Over time, Napoleon slowly gains power, gets rid of Snowball, and turns into a dictator. The pigs start acting just like the humans they overthrew, and the famous commandment “All animals are equal” is secretly changed to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
By the end of the novel, the other animals realize that nothing has really changed—they are still oppressed, just by different leaders.
∆ Why Animal Farm is More Than Just a Story:
1. Power Corrupts
One of Orwell’s biggest messages is that power can change people. Napoleon starts as a leader fighting for freedom, but once he gets power, he becomes just as bad as the humans. This reflects what happened in real-world revolutions, where new leaders often become just as oppressive as the ones they replaced.
2. The Danger of Blind Loyalty
The hardworking horse, Boxer, represents the working class—loyal, strong, and trusting. His motto is “I will work harder”, and he believes Napoleon is always right. But in the end, he is betrayed and sent to his death. Orwell shows us how dangerous it can be to blindly follow leaders without questioning them.
3. Manipulation Through Propaganda
The pig Squealer is a master of propaganda, constantly twisting the truth to keep the animals loyal to Napoleon. Orwell uses him to show how governments use media, fear, and lies to control people. This is still relevant today, where misinformation is used to influence public opinion.
4. The Cycle of Oppression
In the beginning, the animals overthrow the humans because they want freedom. But by the end, the pigs become just like the humans. Orwell warns that without true equality and awareness, revolutions can end up repeating the same mistakes.
∆ Why Animal Farm Still Matters Today:
Even though Animal Farm was written about the Russian Revolution, its lessons apply to any time and place where power is abused. Whether it's politics, workplaces, or social movements, the book reminds us to question authority, stay informed, and fight against injustice.
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