Question

Write a paragraph to provide an example of how Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. Consider the characters and events that George Orwell includes in his novel, as well as people, philosophies, events, and organizations from history. Include evidence from the story as you make your comparisons.

Answer 1

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a clear allegory of the Russian Revolution: Old Major’s vision of rebellion mirrors Marxist-Leninist theory, Mr. Jones represents the overthrown Tsar, and the power struggle between Snowball and Napoleon maps onto Trotsky versus Stalin—Snowball’s energetic plans for the windmill and his role in the Battle of the Cowshed recall Trotsky’s ideas and military leadership, while Napoleon’s secret use of the nine dogs to chase Snowball away echoes Stalin’s use of the secret police to eliminate rivals. Squealer’s constant propaganda and rewriting of the Seven Commandments (for example, changing “No animal shall drink alcohol” to permit the pigs’ intoxication) reflect Pravda and the Party’s manipulation of truth, and Boxer’s blind maxim “I will work harder” and eventual betrayal when he is sold to the knacker illustrate the exploitation of the proletariat. The pigs’ gradual adoption of human habits and the final maxim “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” show how the revolution’s ideals were corrupted into a new oppressive elite, paralleling the rise of Stalinism.