animal farm and russian revolution essay

Russian Revolution in Orwell’s “Animal Farm” Essay

Introduction, stalin’s totalitarian rule, works cited.

Two major revolutions that occurred in Russia in 1917 largely shaped further development of the country and its global political position. In March 1917, the communists managed to remove Tsar Nicholas II fro the throne, and in November 1917, the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government, finally changing the country into a communist state and creating the U.S.S.R. Later, the U.S.S.R. developed into a totalitarian state under the rule of Joseph Stalin. Orwell’s allegorical work Animal Farm serves to highlight the key aspects of the Russian 1917 revolution and Stalin’s harsh role that followed suit.

The key long-term cause of the 1917 Revolutions was the class system that existed in the country under the monarchy. Until 1861, the vast majority of the country’s population were peasants that were owned by the affluent upper class. In 1861, they were freed but remained poor nonetheless. The industrialization created a new class – the working men – who were heavily exploited due to the harsh economic conditions. Their working and economic conditions were significantly worse than in other countries, which led to protests and increased the people’s dislike towards the monarchy (Goff et al. 139). In Orwell’s Animal Farm , the monarchy is represented by Mr. Jones, whereas most of the animals represent the working class or the peasants. By portraying the society in this way, Orwell highlights the inequality and oppression that were characteristic of the Russian society of the time.

Another significant long-term cause of the Russian revolution was the tsar’s military failures in Japan and the events of the Bloody Sunday, which showed Nicholas II as an unstable ruler. He was unable to address the people’s struggles and did nothing to support the low and middle classes, which led to public disapproval of his rule and the monarchy in general. Similarly, in the Animal Farm , Mr. Jones fails to fulfill the need of his animals and care for them while reaping the benefits in the form of money and food. The old Major’s words serve to outline the conflict between the monarchy and the Bolsheviks: “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing […] Yet he is lord of all the animals” (Orwell 2). The development of the Marxist ideology that would treat all human beings as equal and abolish class distinction was exactly what the society of the time was willing to create.

The main short-term cause of the revolution was the World War I (Hodge & Cambridge par. 5). The war resulted in significant demographic and economic struggles that further impaired the position of poor peasants and the working class. The peasants were especially outraged at the military losses, as farming without young working men was barely possible, while the working class was upset at the closing of the Putilov plant in February 1922. Orwell shows farm animals experiencing the same problems that were pertaining to Russian society of the time, including poverty and hunger.

Both the long-term and the short-term causes of the revolution contributed to the public outrage and diminished the people’s belief in the monarchy. People wanted to build a new society, one that Orwell represents in the Major’s animalism teachings. Marxism became the primary ideology behind the revolution as it stressed the idea of all men being equals and deserving equal rights. Using this idea, Lenin and Trotsky were able to gather supporters in order to overthrow the monarchy and the temporary government, just like old Major and Snowball did in the Animal Farm . However, the idea of a Marxist state soon developed into a totalitarian rule once Joseph Stalin (Napoleon) came to power.

After Lenin’s death and the extradition of Trotsky from the country, Stalin took sole control of the U.S.S.R. (Goff et al. 147). Unlike Lenin or Trotsky, who were genuinely invested in the Marxist ideology, Stalin sought to increase his personal power and abolish all opposition. This is described in the Animal Farm through the image of Napoleon and his dogs. Orwell’s description of nine enormous dogs driving Snowball out of the barn is a metaphor of Stalin’s opposition with Trotsky that ended in Trotsky’s exile in 1940 (16). The dogs are then used by Napoleon to silence any opposition and hunt down animals that do not obey his rule, just like Stalin’s repressions in the U.S.S.R. worked to support the new totalitarian rule. Stalin’s ascend to power largely relied on the success of the Communist ideology. However, whereas Lenin and Trotsky convinced people that Communism would bring freedom from oppression and establish equality, Stalin’s rule was centered around power, not equality or freedom. Stalin’s repressions served to hold the opposition in fear and to avoid political competition, thus supporting the formation of the totalitarian state.

Overall, the Russian 1917 Revolution was a crucial step in the country’s development, as it marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a Communist rule. The reasons for the revolution included poor economic conditions, poverty, hunger, and the loss of people’s faith in the monarchy. People believed that Communism would bring freedom and equality; however, Stalin’s rule was famous for repressions that served to support totalitarianism. Orwell’s Animal Farm is useful in studying the causes and development of the 1917 Revolution in Russia. Through metaphors, Orwell highlighted the failures of both the monarchy and the Communist rule, thus contributing to the exploration of the revolution.

Goff, Richard, et al., The Twentieth Century and Beyond: A Global History . 7th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Hodge, Mark, and Elle Cambridge. “Red Revolt: What Was the Russian Revolution of 1917, Why Did It Happen and Who Were Trotsky and Lenin?” The Sun . 2017, Web.

Orwell, George. Animal Farm . 1945, Web.

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• "Animal Farm" by George Orwell
• The Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Lenin’s ‘The State and Revolution’
• The History of Russian Revolution
• East European Studies. Soviet Union in the '20-30s
• Overview and History of Communism: New Socialist System After 1917
• Joseph Stalin's Political Rise and Fall
• Stalin’s Rise to Power: Historical Events and Politics of the Figure
• Historical Roots of Native Americans' Repressions
• Long-term impact of the revolution on economic development
• The Brazen Desire to Succeed
• The Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer and Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book by Maxine Hong Kingston
• Shakespeare “Richard II” and “Henry IV”
• Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov & Camus’ story The Guest
• Analysis of Two Anne Frank’s Entries

Historical Context

Animal farm, by george orwell.

George Orwell’s 1945 novel ‘Animal Farm,’ is a political fable that satire’s on communism that turned out to be a dictatorship. The novel is based on the Russian Revolution of 1917.

About the Book

Article written by Mizpah Albert

M.A. in English Literature and a Ph.D. in English Language Teaching.

The major cause for the revolution lies in Czar Nicholas II’s failure to solve his country’s economic suffering caused by his mismanagement and decision to go to war with Japan and communism’s promise to do justice.

Orwell, being a socialist himself, believed that for the well-being of the people the government should be on top of everything and ensure that everyone is provided equally. Having spent much of his time with the working-class people of England, along with his experience of the Spanish Civil War, Orwell believed that socialism is the key to fight against capitalism. Thus, he writes “Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism” in his essay “Why I Write.”

History behind Animal Farm

Orwell conceived the idea of ‘ Animal Farm ’ when he was thinking of a way to best communicate his opinions on socialism and Stalin. The concept of Socialism is examined in many nonfiction works of George Orwell . On contrary, in this allegorical novel, he satires the false notion or belief the Russian Revolution of 1917 created among the people.  They believed that Russia was stepping towards socialism for millions of poor and oppressed Russians, but he felt that the U.S.S.R. was progressing towards the opposite: the totalitarianism. 

The novel presents subtly, how a group of Animals (citizens) of a farm (nation), eventually led into a terrible life ruled by a totalitarian regime , when they had the promise for freedom and equality. He has given a model for a “socialism gone wrong” for the animals in the novel reflect different kinds of humans and their struggles for freedom and power.

Initially, in 1917, it looked as if Karl Marx’s dreams have become a reality. For, after a politically complicated civil war, Tsar Nicholas II, the monarch of Russia, was forced to give up his throne and Vladimir Lenin, a Russian intellectual revolutionary, seized power in the name of the Communist Party (Snowball being on top after Mr Jones was overthrown). The new regime brought the land and industry controlled by the private under government supervision.

As a first step in restoring Russia to prosperity and to modernize the nation’s primitive infrastructure, electricity was brought to the countryside (Snowball’s idea of building the windmill). After Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin, gained power and banished Trotsky. He accumulated power by exercising brutality on his perceived political enemies and overseeing the purge of approximately twenty million Soviet citizens. Gradually, his desire for power turned him into a dictator than a communist leader, as depicted through the character Napoleon in the novel.

Publication – Earlier Rejection

In the beginning, Orwell faced a lot of issues getting the manuscript published . Mainly, it was because of the fear that the book might upset the alliance between Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Since the book was written towards the end of the Second World War, it became clear to Orwell that anti-Soviet literature was not something which most major publishing houses would touch that includes his regular publisher Gollancz.

Four publishers refused to publish ‘ Animal Farm ‘ before it was published by Secker and Warburg in 1945. Finally, on August 17, 1945, ‘ Animal Farm ‘ was published in England, followed by a year later in the United States by the Harcourt Brace & Company.

Frederic Warburg also faced pressures against publication, even from people in his own office and from his wife Pamela, who felt that it was not the moment for ingratitude towards Stalin and the heroic Red Army, which had played a major part in defeating Adolf Hitler. When Orwell submitted the manuscript to Faber and Faber, where T. S. Eliot was the director, he rejected stating that they would only accept it for publication if they had some sympathy for the viewpoint “which I take to be generally Trotskyite”. Though Eliot praised the book to be of “good writing” he declared that he found the view “not convincing.”

Preface to Animal Farm

In his “The Freedom of the Press,” proposed preface to ‘ Animal Farm ,’ Orwell indicates that despite the number of published books in the U.K. was quite low due to the war, and people were yearning for more books, his book was still rejected by publishers. He describes how the British press was controlled by wealthy men and the government. “I can see now ….Any serious criticism of the Soviet régime, any disclosure of facts which the Soviet government would prefer to keep hidden, is next door to unprintable.” By expressing his concerns, he asserts that writers and novelists have the right to defend themselves and their Ideals, just as Russia has the right to defend its own belief in communism.

Illustrated Editions of Animal Farm

Following the first edition, in 1945, Orwell wrote to Frederic Warburg expressing his interest in pursuing the possibility of the political cartoonist David Low illustrating ‘ Animal Farm .’ In spite of David Low declaring the book to be “an excellent bit of satire … it would illustrate perfectly,” nothing came out of this. Also, a trial issue produced by Secker & Warburg in 1956 illustrated by John Driver was abandoned. In 1984, the Folio Society published an edition illustrated by Quentin Blake.  Following this, in 1995, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first edition of ‘ Animal Farm ’, an edition illustrated by the cartoonist Ralph Steadman was published by Secker & Warburg.

Lasting Legacy

George Orwell is often recognized as a leading exponent of twentieth-century English prose and one of the most influential satiric writers. Even after decades, wide ranges of his works are within the reach of the general reader, and they are read and analyzed by scholars and critics from different approaches.  One of the reasons for the lasting appeal of his work lies in the qualities of its prose. Though he is recognized more as a political writer, his mastery of style cannot be denied, for they testify for his excellent quality.

Despite all the odds, George Orwell faced before publishing ‘ Animal Farm ,’ it still remains one of the best political tales of all time. Since its publication in 1945, the novel retains its freshness in the realm of time which can be read generation after generation . In 2005, Time magazine chose it as one of the 100 best English-language novels. Also, the book ranks at 31 on the Modern Library List of Best 20th Century Novels.

About Mizpah Albert

Mizpah Albert is an experienced educator and literature analyst. Building on years of teaching experience in India, she has contributed to the literary world with published analysis articles and evocative poems.

George Orwell

George Orwell is remembered today for his social criticism, controversial beliefs, and his novels ' Animal Farm ' and '1984'.

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Explore ten of the most interesting facts about Orwell’s life, habits, and passions.

Orwell's Best Books

Explore the nine books George Orwell wrote.

Democratic Socialism

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Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. George Orwell

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Animal Farm

George orwell, everything you need for every book you read..

Animal Farm depicts a revolution in progress. Like all popular revolutions, the uprising in Animal Farm develops out of a hope for a better future, in which farm animals can enjoy the fruits of their own labor without the overbearing rule of humans. At the time of the revolution, all of the animals on Mr. Jones ’s farm, even the pigs, are committed to the idea of universal equality—but these high ideals that fueled the revolution in the first place gradually give way to individual and class-based self-interest. Animal Farm thus illustrates how a revolution can be corrupted into a totalitarian regime through slow, gradual changes.

At first, the revolution creates the sense that there could be a bright future in store for Animal Farm. Old Major makes a number of objectively true points in his speech to the animals, such as that Mr. Jones is a cruel and unfeeling master who cares little or not at all for their wellbeing, and that humans themselves don’t produce anything (like eggs or milk). The Seven Commandments that Snowball and Napoleon come up with in the months after are similarly idealistic, and, in theory, lay the groundwork for a revolution that truly will elevate individual workers above horrible, totalitarian leaders like Mr. Jones. Indeed, when the rebellion surprisingly happens, things initially seem as if they’re going to go in a positive direction for everyone: there are debates among the animals, animals have the ability to propose items for discussion, and every animal participates in the working of the farm. Best of all, the animals pull in the best and fastest hay harvest that the farm has ever seen, suggesting that their revolution has benefits in addition to freeing them from a cruel situation under Mr. Jones. It seems possible that they’ll truly be able to make self-government work.

However, the novel also offers early clues that corruption begins to take hold on Animal Farm long before Napoleon takes drastic steps to turn it into a totalitarian state, even when by most metrics, things seem to be going smoothly and fairly. For instance, it’s not an accident that only the pigs and the dogs are the ones who become fully literate. While to a degree, this becomes a chicken and egg question (in terms of which came first: literacy or corrupt power), the fact remains that the only literate creatures are the ones who ultimately seize control. Further, even idealistic Snowball insists to the other animals that because the literate pigs are “mindworkers” engaged in figuring out how exactly to run the farm, they need the entire crop of apples and all the cows’ milk. This power shift takes place during that first exceptional hay harvest, making it clear that things aren’t as rosy as the hay yield, and the increased productivity it suggests, might lead one to believe.

The corruption doesn’t end with the theft of milk and apples; by the end of the novel, the pigs sleep in the farmhouse, have a school for their pig children, drink alcohol, and consume sugar off of the Jones’s set of fine china—all things initially forbidden in some form in the original Seven Commandments. However, one of the most corrupt things that the pigs do is to modify the Seven Commandments to effectively legalize whatever it is they decide they want to do, from drinking alcohol to sleeping in beds. This corruption is something that most animals don’t notice, while those that do are either cowed into pretending that they don’t notice or executed for expressing concern. This combination of fear and unthinking trust in leaders, the novel suggests, is one of the most important elements that allows corruption to flourish.

Though the animals’ rebellion began as one against humans and everything they stand for in the animals’ eyes—greed, alcoholism, decadence, and cruelty, among other vices—it’s telling that the novel ends when animals, led by Clover , cannot tell Napoleon and his pig cronies apart from the human farmers who came for a tour and dinner. With this, the novel proposes that revolution is something cyclical that repeats throughout time. Because of corruption, those individuals who are powerful to begin with or who overthrow cruel and heartless leaders will inevitably come to resemble those former leaders, once they understand what it’s like to occupy such a position of power. In this sense, Orwell paints a grim view of revolution as a whole, as Animal Farm demonstrates clearly that even when the ideals of a revolution may be good, it’s all too easy to twist those ideals, fall prey to corruption, and poison the movement, harming countless powerless individuals in the process.

Revolution and Corruption ThemeTracker

Revolution and Corruption Quotes in Animal Farm

“Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings.”

“Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.”

“Remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”

“Comrades!” he cried. “You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.”

“I have no wish to take life, not even human life,” repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears.

At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.

“No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?”

“Napoleon is always right.”

“Comrades, do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!”

If a window was broken or a drain was blocked up, someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it, and when the key of the store-shed was lost, the whole farm was convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well. Curiously enough, they went on believing this even after the mislaid key was found under a sack of meal.

If she herself had had any picture of the future, it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip, all equal, each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the weak [...] Instead - she did not know why - they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes.

At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint. [...] None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.

Besides, in those days they had been slaves and now they were free, and that made all the difference, as Squealer did not fail to point out.

Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.

“Four legs good, two legs better !”

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

'Animal Farm' Themes and Symbols

Political allegory, totalitarianism, corruption of ideals, power of language.

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a political allegory about revolution and power. Through the tale of a group of farm animals who overthrow the owner of the farm, Animal Farm explores themes of totalitarianism, the corruption of ideals, and the power of language.

Orwell frames his story as a political allegory; every character represents a figure from the Russian Revolution. Mr. Jones, the original human owner of the farm, represents the ineffective and incompetent Czar Nicholas II. The pigs represent key members of Bolshevik leadership: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, and Squealer represents Vyacheslav Molotov. Other animals represent the working classes of Russia: initially passionate about revolution eventually manipulated into supporting a regime that was just as incompetent and arguably more brutal than the previous one.

Orwell argues that any revolution led by a small, conspiratorial group can only degenerate into oppression and tyranny. He makes this argument through the allegory of the farm. The revolution begins with firm principles of equality and justice, and initially, the results are positive, as the animals get to labor for their own direct benefit. However, as Orwell demonstrates, revolutionary leaders can become as corrupt and incompetent as the government they overthrew.

The pigs adopt the human ways they once fiercely opposed (drinking whiskey, sleeping in beds), and they make business deals with farmers that benefit them alone. Meanwhile, the other animals see only negative changes in their lives. They continue to support Napoleon and work harder than ever despite the decline in quality of living. Eventually, the promises of heated stalls and electric light—what they've been working for all along—become fantasy.

Animal Farm suggests that totalitarianism and hypocrisy are endemic to the human condition. Without education and true empowerment of the lower classes, Orwell argues, society will always default to tyranny.

The pigs’ descent into corruption is a key element of the novel. Orwell, a socialist, believed the Russian Revolution had been corrupted by power-seekers like Stalin from the start.

The animals' revolution is initially led by Snowball, the key architect of Animalism; at first, Napoleon is a secondary player, much like Stalin. However, Napoleon plots in secret to seize power and drive Snowball away, undermining Snowball's policies and training the dogs to be his enforcers. The principles of equality and solidarity that inspired the animals become mere tools for Napoleon to seize power. The gradual erosion of these values reflects Orwell’s criticism of Stalin as nothing more than a tyrant hanging onto power through the fiction of a communist revolution.

Orwell doesn’t reserve his vitriol for the leaders, however. The animals representing the people of Russia are depicted as complicit in this corruption through inaction, fear, and ignorance. Their dedication to Napoleon and the imaginary benefits of his leadership enable the pigs to maintain their hold on power, and the ability of the pigs to convince the other animals that their lives were better even as their lives become demonstrably worse is Orwell’s condemnation of the choice to submit to propaganda and magical thinking.

Animal Farm explores how propaganda can be used to control people. From the start of the novel, Orwell depicts the animals being manipulated by common propaganda techniques, including songs, slogans, and ever-changing information. Singing "Beasts of England" evokes an emotional response that reinforces the animals' loyalty to both Animalism and the pigs. The adoption of slogans like Napoleon is always right or four legs good, two legs bad demonstrates their unfamiliarity with the complex philosophical and political concepts underlying the revolution. The constant alteration of the Seven Commandments of Animalism demonstrates how those in control of information can manipulate the rest of a population.

The pigs, who serve as the leaders of the farm, are the only animals with a strong command of language. Snowball is an eloquent speaker who composes the philosophy of Animalism and persuades his fellow beasts with the power of his oratory. Squealer is adept at lying and spinning stories to maintain control. (For example, when the other animals are upset about Boxer’s cruel fate, Squealer quickly composes a fiction to defuse their anger and confuse the issue.) Napoleon, while not as smart or as eloquent as Snowball, is skilled at imposing his own false view on everyone around him, as when he falsely inserts himself into the historical record of the Battle of the Cowshed.

As an allegorical novel, Animal Farm is rife with symbolism. Just as the animals represent individuals or groups from Russian history, the farm itself represents Russia, and the surrounding farms represent the European powers that witnessed the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s choices about which objects, events, or concepts to highlight are not driven by plot as in narrative fiction. Instead, his choices are carefully calibrated to evoke a desired response from the reader.

Whiskey represents corruption. When Animalism is founded, one of the commandments is ‛No animal shall drink alcohol.’ Slowly, however, Napoleon and the other pigs come to enjoy whiskey and its effects. The commandment is changed to ‛No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’ after Napoleon experiences his first hangover and learns how to moderate his whiskey consumption. When Boxer is sold to the Knacker, Napoleon uses the money to purchase whiskey. With this act, Napoleon fully embodies the human qualities that the animals once revolted against.

The Windmill

The windmill represents the attempt to modernize Russia and the general incompetence of Stalin’s regime. Snowball initially proposes the Windmill as a way of improving the farm’s living conditions; when Snowball is driven off, Napoleon claims it as his own idea, but his mismanagement of the project and the attacks from other landowners mean the project takes far longer to complete than expected. The final product is of inferior quality, much like many of the projects undertaken by the Soviets post-revolution. In the end the Windmill is used to enrich Napoleon and the other pigs at the expense of the other animals.

The Commandments

The Seven Commandments of Animalism, written on the barn wall for all to see, represent the power of propaganda and the malleable nature of history and information when the people are ignorant of the facts. The commandments are altered throughout the novel; each time they are changed indicates that the animals have moved even further away from their original principles.

• 'Animal Farm' Overview
• 'Animal Farm' Quotes Explained
• 'Animal Farm' Characters: Descriptions and Analysis
• 'Animal Farm' Summary
• Top Conservative Novels
• 'Animal Farm' Quotes
• Bloody Sunday: Prelude to the Russian Revolution of 1917
• Top Books: Modern Russia - The Revolution and After
• Russian Revolution Timeline
• 'Animal Farm' Vocabulary
• 'Animal Farm' Questions for Study and Discussion
• Children's Lesson: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• The Russian Revolution of 1917
• The Crimean War
• Biography of Czar Nicholas II, Last Czar of Russia
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Differences Between Russian Revolution And Animal Farm Essay

The novella by George Orwell, Animal Farm, is an allegory, or a piece of literature with a hidden meaning, of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Animal Farm follows the events of the farm animals and their uprising against the farmer. Despite the obvious differences between, Animal Farm, and the Russian Revolution, they are very much similar. Characters from the novella can be compared to historical figures from the revolution. While the novella is not limited to these characters, these are the most significant.

These characters are: Jones and Czar Nicholas II, Old Major and Karl Marx, Snowball and Leon Trotsky, as well as Napoleon and Joseph Stalin. In addition, certain events of the Russian Revolution can be compared to those of Animal Farm. Czar Nicholas II and Jones The novella is set in England in a normal farm called Manor Farm where the farmer, Jones, lives and oversees the farm and his animals with the help of his workers. Jones treats the animals quite badly, and because of this, the animals want change.

In the actual Russian Revolution (which occurred in Russia and began in 1917), Czar Nicholas II (1868-1918) had total power over his people , who were struggling to survive in the harsh conditions. He was widely unpopular amongst the Russians because of what they had to endure. According to a video narrated by Nate Sullivan for World History, “… he did not have the charisma characteristic of other leaders. Many people felt he was haughty and aloof; many peasants and middle-class citizens felt the czar was out of touch with the realities of their meager existence.

For these reasons, his political power was less than secure. Both Jones and the czar’s rule were one of the reasons why the people/animals rebelled against them. Like the czar, Jones treated his animals unrealistically by not feeding them for days and making them work unreasonable hours with little rest the way the czar did. In his speech, the character Old Major spoke about their exploitation saying, “Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.

Our labour tills the soil, our dung fertilises it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. Old Major can be considered part of the proletariat, as he worked, and also was exploited by Jones. This is similar to what the proletariat thought while under Czar Nicholas II’s rule. Before and during the Russian Revolution, the food shortage was a significant problem the people faced, and was a reason why the people rebelled. Karl Marx and Old Major Karl Marx (1818-1883) is represented by Old Major in Animal Farm. Karl Marx – among many things – was a socialist who wrote The Communist Manifesto, which was a collection of his beliefs known as Marxism. In the novella, Old Major was a well respected boar in the farm.

Old Major has his own beliefs, much like Karl Marx. These ideas were referred to as “animalism. ” Old Major had influenced the animals was through his beliefs. The text states, “[Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer] had elaborated old Major’s teachings into a complete system of thought, to which they gave the name of Animalism. Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. ” In addition, he also proposed the idea of a rebellion to the animals one night after giving a speech on the animals’ struggle.

Another way both Marx and Old Major influence their followers was by talking about a possible revolution. The text says, “ Old Major’s speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. ” Old Major thought the animals suffered too much; they had to work very hard and often were not even fed. He was able to convey his struggles to others who also experienced them, for a more clear picture of their life. Realization motivated them to change their lifestyle. This was another reason why Old Major and Karl Marx are the same: they both thought the proletariat was being exploited.

In Animal Farm, Old Major says, “No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. ” Karl Marx himself suffered greatly, being a working class citizen and little money, and so he also shared these views, and again, made others aware of the misery they lived in. Another similarity between Karl Marx and Old Major was the fact that he died before he could see the change he envisioned, just like Old Major. After writing several books explaining his beliefs, he was disregarded.

According to the text, “Three nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. ” However, Old Major was not disregarded, and many of the animals wanted to recreate Old Major’s dream of a better life for the animals. Karl Marx died years before the revolution began; he never had the opportunity to experience life in a communist government. Leon Trotsky and Snowball Another historical figure that can be compared to an animal from the novella is Leon Trotsky. He is represented by Snowball, one of the pigs.

Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) was a Marxist revolutionary, and politician who was also a great leader and orator. Snowball was one of the pigs who assumed a leadership role after Jones’ defeat. Both were very influential leaders in their revolutions. Both Trotsky and Snowball were leaders. Leon Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army during the revolution, devised plans to take over the government like in the March revolution, and led the Russian Civil War. In the Battle of Cowshed, which is the equivalent of the October Revolution/Russian civil war in the Russian revolution, Snowball leads the way.

According to the text, “As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. ” In addition to being the first to attack, he also paved the way, and lead the animals the way Trotsky lead his people. On a much less positive note, Trotsky was exiled by Joseph Stalin in 1928. Similarly, Snowball was banished from the farm by Napoleon in chapter five. George Orwell writes, “At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.

In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. ” In this scene, Napoleon’s guard dogs were chasing him, but it was Napoleon himself who made the order for Snowball to be chased off the farm, and essentially, he banished Snowball. Joseph Stalin and Napoleon The character Napoleon represents the revolution’s infamous Joseph Stalin (1878-1953). Both Napoleon and Stalin used fear as a way to make their people/animals comply with their demands due to their acquired power, and had secret police (dogs). Joseph Stalin instilled fear into his people; he used fear as a tactic to make people obey him.

During his reign of terror, “Millions were killed in forced labor or starved during the ensuing famine,” as Stalin’s biography states. Once in power, Napoleon began to inflict terror upon his followers the way Stalin created a reign of terror in Russia. The novella states, “And so the tale of confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon’s feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood…” Such events created terror amongst the animals, only making them believe they were the problem. This caused them to only try to work harder, and this includes obeying Napoleon’s orders.

Napoleon was also able to ban the animals beloved song, Beast of England, with the power he had acquired. During the time of the revolution, composers like Dimitri Shostakovich, were afraid of making music because of Stalin. According to the text, “[Squealer] announced that, by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon, Beasts of England had been abolished. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. ” Both Stalin and Napoleon wouldn’t have been able to do both inflict terror and prohibit songs, if they weren’t powerful. Both raised to power from the sidelines, and did similar things. In Animal Farm, Napoleon’s reign of terror are also evident.

The dogs that Napoleon had raised had helped him establish dominion over the animals. They were very loyal to Napoleon and responded to a mere whimper. These dogs represent Stalin’s NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennih Del), who were secret police, and known for political suppression. During his reign of terror, the dogs aided Stalin execute people. In Animal Farm, the dogs also helped do this. The author writes, “But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. ” The dogs and the NKVD alike, became an icon of violence and threat to the animals and people.

Other Parallels Between Russian Revolution and Animal Farm In the novella, Animal Farm, another way in which it is similar to the Russian Revolution is the fact that the proletariat acted, and followed through with their plans of overthrowing the bourgeois. In the second chapter, we see the animals become surfeited with the way they were being treated, and they attack the humans. After enduring so much suffering, from hunger and exploitation, the cows acted first. In the actual Russian Revolution, the women began to revolt due to the food shortages.

The text states, “At last they could stand it no longer. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins. ” The parallel is that both female roles took it upon themselves to try and change the way they were living. This was another event that triggered their revolution. After their acts, the revolution commenced. According to the novella, “This was more than the hungry animals could bear. With one accord, though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand, they flung themselves upon their tormentors.

Both in Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution of 1917, the reasons and roles of those involved were the same enough to cause an uprising, as previously mentioned. In chapter nine, the animals are starving through the harsh winter, yet again. The animals’ food rations have been reduced twice, but the work is still there. The animals were rebuilding their windmill in order to generate electricity and have more commodities. Animals like Boxer, offered their strength. This is similar to Joseph Stalin’s Five Year Plan, which was to industrialize to better prepare themselves for possible invasions from the west.

During this time, Stalin demanded the production of materials needed to industrialize. The text reads, “There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm, and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses, so that all the materials for building were at hand. ” The materials to begin building were collected, just like in Stalin’s time when he instructed the workers to collect coal and oils, among other materials, to industrialize Russia. Napoleon and Stalin alike, take complete control over the windmill project.

Ultimately, the novella Animal Farm, is very much like the Russian Revolution of 1917 from their characters, but also events. Historical figures like Czar Nicholas II, Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin, who influenced and took part in the revolution itself, can be recognized in the characters in Animal Farm. In the novella, Czar Nicholas II is represented by farmer Jones, Karl Marx is represented by Old Major; Leon Trotsky is represented by Snowball; Joseph Stalin is represented by Napoleon. Certain actions made by the characters allow the comparison between the character and person to be made.

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Representation of Russian Revolution in The Animal Farm by George Orwell

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Published: Nov 15, 2018

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