ANIMAL FARM: IN DEPTHMarcelo Gonzalez

IDEOLOGY OF COMMUNISM

• Communism is the advocacy of a classless society where all means of production and subsistence belongs to all members of the community

• Marxism- Leninism is the most popular form of Communism• Core belief that a revolution has to take place to overthrow the capitalistic

society • A dictatorship of the proletariat would then follow which would strive to

reach Communism• Support the idea of a one-party state, a government controlled economy,

and internationalism

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

• In the early 20th century, most Russians lost faith in Nicholas II, Russia’s last Czar

• Rampant starvation, weak economy, and government corruption plagued the nation

• The February Revolution and The Bolshevik Revolution • Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin lead the assault and took control of

government buildings and strategic locations• Lenin became the dictator of the first Communist state of the world

RISE OF THE USSR

• The new government made peace with Germany, implemented industrialization, and distributed land

• A civil-war broke out against the Anti- Bolshevik White Army • The Pro Bolshevik Reds defeated the Whites and all anti- socialist groups• The Czar and his family were captured and murdered • In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established• Stalin took power and became sole leader of the Soviet Union

ANIMAL FARM

• Written by George Orwell in 1945• Depicts the events and historical figures that led to the creation of the USSR• Composed as an allegory using a farm setting and farm animals to represent

the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist Era• Regarded as one of the greatest pieces of literature in the modern century

CHARACTERS

• Manor Farm= Russia• Mr. Jones= Czar Nicholas II• Old Major= Karl Marx/ Vladimir Lenin• Napoleon= Joseph Stalin • Snowball= Leon Trotsky/ Vladimir Lenin• Mr. Frederick= Adolf Hitler• Mr. Pilkington= Winston Churchill/ Franklin D. Roosevelt• Animal Farm= USSR

CHARACTERS (CONT.)

• Squealer= Soviet Propaganda• Boxer= Proletariat/ Working Force• Mollie= Bourgeoisie• Dogs= KGB• Hens= Peasant Farmers• Moses= Russian Orthodox Church• Rabbits and Rats= Beggars/ Gypsies

EVENTS

• The Animal Revolt= Russian Revolution• Battle of Cowshed= Red October/ Reds vs. Whites• Massacre of Pigs= The Great Terror• Destruction of the Windmill= Failure of the Five- Year Plan• Battle of the Windmill= Battle of Stalingrad

CRITICISM OF ANIMAL FARM

• Although the novel is met with much praise, criticism has risen regarding Animal Farm

• George Soules regarded the book “on the whole dull…clumsy”• Clive McDaniel III addressed the book as “sabotage”• The main criticism arises from Orwell’s use of farm animals to represent the

historical figures and events of the Russian Revolution• Some claiming that representations are not clear or accurate and others

claiming using farm animals is childish and pathetic

IMPACT OF ANIMAL FARM

• Animal Farm has had a significant impact on today’s society• People viewed Orwell as a genius who saw the “big picture” of

totalitarianism and effectively showed its impacts to the world• Whether he accurately represented the events in his book or not, he has

educated the masses of the consequences of totalitarianism and Communism

• He has turned a broad and complex subject to a simple and straight-forward read

• Intellectuals and casual readers could agree