Download Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm
by George Orwell
A story of power,
corruption, and
greed
What’s this all about?
• Allegory: story told on 2 levels: literal and
symbolic
• Fable: story that has a moral/lesson AND
animal characters acting like humans
– “Goldilocks and The Three Bears”
– “Three Little Pigs”
– “Tortoise and the Hare”
• Animal Farm is an allegorical
representation of Russia from 1917
to 1943. During this time period,
Russia endured a corrupt
government that abused its power.
• The Czars (Kings/Queen), were
tyrannical dictators.
• Karl Marx wrote The Communist
Manifesto- which promoted equality
for all citizens and the elimination of
the class system.
• In Russia, by the early 1900’s, the
writings of Karl Marx, increasing
economic hardship, and the
injustices of the Czar inspired
widespread revolt and led to the
Russian Revolution.
• Czar Nicholas II was overthrown. The
Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin
overthrew the provisional
government.
• Lenin tried to rebuild the country.
When Lenin died, a power struggle
for the control of the country took
place.
The two Contenders for
leadership:
• *Trotsky was a popular and
charismatic leader, famous for his
impassioned speeches.
• Stalin, a man of few words,
preferred to consolidate his power
behind the scenes.
• After Lenin’s death in 1924, Stalin
orchestrated an alliance against
Trotsky.
• In the following years, Stalin
succeeded in becoming the
unquestioned dictator of the Soviet
Union and had Trotsky expelled first
from Moscow, then from the
Communist Party, and finally from
Russia altogether in 1936.
What did Trotsky do?
• Trotsky fled to Mexico, where he was
assassinated on Stalin’s orders in
1940.
How did Stalin maintain
power?
• Stalin held “Show trials”– trials
whose outcomes he and his allies had
already decided—to rid the
Communist party of Trotsky’s
followers, and any individual who
opposed the Stalinists.
How did this impact Russia?
• As the Soviet government’s exonomic
planning faltered and failed, Russia
suffered under a surge of violence,
fear, and starvation. Stalin used his
former opponent, Trotsky, as a
scapegoat to blame for the failures.
Trotsky became a common national
enemy and thus a source of negative
unity.
• Uses an indefinite setting so we can
apply it to many different situations
past and present
Specific Character Allegories
• Old Major – Lenin
• This is the wise old pig who
gives a grand speech at the
beginning of the book. He sets
the stage for the Rebellion –
but dies before it happens.
Napoleon
• This pig is one of the ones who
steps up to take Old Major’s
place after his death.
• He is quiet-yet forceful in
getting his own way.
• Napoleon is most like STALIN
and other dictators.
Snowball
• This pig also struggles to get the
leadership of the farm after the
death of Old Major.
• Snowball is an excellent
strategist and has lots of energy.
• Snowball is LEON TROTSKY
Squealer
• This pig is an excellent talker.
• He is a manipulator and is used to
persuade the animals to believe the
‘big lie’
• Squealer is our internal propaganda
Farms/Farmers
• Animal Farm – Russia
• Pilkington of Foxwood – the English
gentleman of England – perhaps
Churchill?
• Frederick of Pinchfield -Definitely
Hitler of Germany
Farmer Jones
• Jones is the corrupt, evil human –
who neglects his animals and farm
because he drinks
• Jones’ power can be seen as Czar
Nicholas II, as he stands for the
decline of a government through
mismanagement and corruption
The Pigs
• Lead the rebellion. They take on
the same power and characteristics
as the human masters.
• They represent corrupted human
leaders: The Bolsheviks
• The Bolsheviks led the overthrow of
the capitalist Russian government –
only to become the new masters.
Mollie
• This horse loves luxury and
represents the materialists
• They are the Russian nobles who left
after the Revolution
Boxer and Clover
• These horses represent the suffering
uneducated working class
• They are patient and decent, but
not bright
The Rebellion– Russian
Revolution
Moses
• A Raven who is known as Jones’
special pet
• Moses represents religion/organized
religion.
• He is the Orthodox Church (or
Rasputin)
The Dogs
• The means used by a totalitarian
state to terrorize its own people
• They are the secret police (KGB)
The Pigeons
• These guys spread the word of
Rebellion beyond the farm.
• They are the Communists who
spread the doctrine of the
revolution beyond the
boundaries of the Soviet Union.
• They are external propaganda.
The
END