[ European history ] "From Revolution to Tyranny: George Orwell's Animal Farm as a Parody of Human Nature Via the Russian Revolution of 1917"
Introduction
"Animal Farm" by George Orwell, published in 1945, is often interpreted as a satirical allegory of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent rise of the Soviet Union. my analysis will explore how Orwell's novel serves as a parody of these historical events, utilizing direct parallels, symbolic characters, and narrative techniques to critique the corruption and betrayal of revolutionary ideals. This discussion will be grounded in historical context, literary analysis, and Orwell's own political views, drawing on a range of academic sources.
Historical Context and Parody
The Russian Revolution of 1917 saw the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty and the establishment of a Bolshevik-led government, promising equality and justice for the proletariat. However, the ensuing years revealed a stark divergence from these ideals, as the Soviet Union, under leaders like Joseph Stalin, became a totalitarian state marked by oppression and political purges.
Orwell's "Animal Farm" mirrors these events through the lens of a farmyard rebellion. The animals overthrow their human farmer, Mr. Jones, in a revolution mirroring the October Revolution. However, as the pigs, particularly Napoleon (a stand-in for Stalin), consolidate power, the farm descends into a dictatorship eerily reminiscent of the Soviet regime.
Symbolic Characters and Events
Old Major as Karl Marx/Vladimir Lenin
Old Major, the wise boar whose vision of an animal utopia inspires the rebellion, represents both Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. His speech to the animals parallels Marx's "Communist Manifesto," calling for unity against their human oppressors. Old Major's death shortly after the speech mirrors Lenin's death in 1924, which left a power vacuum exploited by more opportunistic leaders.
“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing... All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 5)
This quote captures the Marxist rhetoric of class struggle and solidarity.
Napoleon as Joseph Stalin
Napoleon, the pig who emerges as the farm's dictator, is a clear parody of Joseph Stalin. Like Stalin, Napoleon uses fear, propaganda, and violence to eliminate his rivals and suppress dissent. His expulsion of Snowball (an allegory for Leon Trotsky) mimics Stalin's ousting and eventual assassination of Trotsky.
“Napoleon is always right.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 56)
This phrase, indoctrinated into the animals, reflects the cult of personality that surrounded Stalin.
Snowball as Leon Trotsky
Snowball, the intellectual pig who is exiled by Napoleon, represents Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was a key figure in the Bolshevik Revolution and the early Soviet state but was later vilified and exiled by Stalin. Snowball’s innovative ideas and ultimate scapegoating parallel Trotsky's fate.
“The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 89)
This rewriting of history is akin to Stalin's revisionist propaganda that erased Trotsky’s contributions.
Themes and Literary Techniques
Corruption of Ideals
Orwell uses the gradual corruption of the animals’ original ideals to parody the degeneration of the Soviet Revolution. The Seven Commandments of Animalism, initially pure, are slowly altered to justify the pigs’ privileges, culminating in the famous maxim:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 112)
This phrase exemplifies the hypocrisy and moral decay at the heart of the Soviet leadership.
Propaganda and Control
Squealer, the pig who spreads Napoleon’s propaganda, symbolizes the Soviet state’s use of media to manipulate public perception. His justifications of the pigs’ actions and the constant revision of history are direct parodies of the techniques employed by Stalin’s regime.
“Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” (Orwell, 1945, p. 20)
This appeal to fear mirrors Stalin's justification of harsh policies by invoking the threat of capitalist encirclement.
Repression and Terror
The use of the dogs by Napoleon to enforce his rule represents the NKVD, Stalin’s secret police. The public executions and the climate of fear on the farm reflect the Great Purge, during which millions of Soviet citizens were executed or sent to labor camps.
“The dogs promptly tore their throats out.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 59)
This brutal imagery parallels the terror tactics used by Stalin to maintain control.
Orwell’s Intent and Political Views
Orwell, a democratic socialist, was deeply disillusioned with the Soviet Union, particularly after his experiences during the Spanish Civil War. His purpose in writing "Animal Farm" was to expose the betrayal of revolutionary ideals by totalitarian regimes. In a 1946 essay, Orwell stated:
"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it." (Orwell, "Why I Write")
Orwell's critique is not of socialism itself but of the ways in which it was corrupted by authoritarian leaders.
Conclusion
"Animal Farm" is a sophisticated parody of the Russian Revolution, using allegory to criticize the transformation of noble ideals into oppressive reality under totalitarian rule. Through symbolic characters, events, and Orwell’s incisive prose, the novella provides a powerful commentary on the dangers of unchecked power and the fragility of revolutionary ideals. Its enduring relevance lies in its universal lessons about the corrupting influence of power and the importance of vigilance in preserving democratic principles.
References
- Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London: Secker and Warburg, 1945.
- Orwell, George. "Why I Write." 1946.
- Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
- Conquest, Robert. The Great Terror: Stalin's Purge of the Thirties. New York: Macmillan, 1968.
- Service, Robert. Stalin: A Biography. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2004.
- Trotsky, Leon. The Revolution Betrayed. New York: Pathfinder Press, 1972.
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