The Fall of the Soviet Empire - Research Paper Example

First Number Given the fall of the Soviet empire, has Animal Farm lost its relevance as a political allegory? The primary aim Orwell was addressing was against overtime built ideological background struggle in Europe following the last century events, these were the notorious communist revolution that dominated Russia and the progress of fascism in Germany, Spain and Italy has resulted in full-scale war. Many writers at the time were split due to this conflict as well as the rest of the public, although Orwell was already disillusioned the acts of communism operating under Soviet leader by the name Joseph Stalin, under his rule communism dominated the affairs and was ruling through hypocrisy and tyranny. His regime mistreated people especially those who disagreed with his way of doing things, later adopted ruthless and cruelty to be a method within the Russian Monarchical government before the revolution. By 1944 Orwell was through with his book but majority of individual especially in the larger United States and Western Europe were not willing to hear the dark side history, apart from Stalin being their ally, to many politically, he was a hero as well as role model In 1945 when German was defeated, the real relationship that existed between her previous allies during the WW2, for instance Britain and USA drastically changed. The Soviets who were viewed as heroes, they were no more, instead, they were looked at as oppressor especially those countries they invaded and finally occupied in part of Eastern Europe, by 1948 the Soviet army went ahead and blocked the roads leading to Germany capital city Berlin by then, the city was surrounded by the troops from Soviet that were controlling the East Germany. The city had no option but to divide into two, western under Allies as the Eastern part of Soviets, the supplies were flown by air and other necessities. A well known British politician by the name Winston Churchill said, Europe now is divided by one thing. “Iron curtain” this kind of state was known as a cold war, this is a term said to have been used first by Orwell. But in late 1989 the wall that was constructed by the Soviets was smashed to the ground by the Germans as the Soviet Union disintegrated down in 1991. The Soviet system used not to be very powerful or rather long lasting as it is suggested by Orwell (Kort 35) Allegory as used by Orwell Animal farm is classified both as a fable and an Allegory. This story fits the description of allegory due to its use of fictional characters and even events that are representative of people and events of the real world. Therefore, the Animal Farm has not lost its relevance as a political allegory what ‘so ever. The fact that it uses animals to do this is what gives Animal Farm its definition as a fable. This story is based on a group of animals that takes over the farm on which they have been living. This farm is clearly made out to be Russia and the humans and animals meant to represent real people who were caught up in the revolution going on at the time. Some of the animals in this story bear very close parallels with actual and concrete people while others are crafted to generalized primary classes present in the population at the time. However, this above description answers this question so perfect; what value does Animal Farm have other than being an amusing fable of outdated socialistic ideology? As an example Snowball and Napoleon cause one to think of Joseph Stalin and Leone Trotsky the two Soviet leaders. The use of pigs to represent the personalities combined with actual things that happen that bear striking resemblance to the thing going on in the real world in events in the Russian Revolution clearly exemplifies this. Another example on the flip side is Boxer the cart horse who is used to represent the Working Class in more than any one individual. The dogs and sheep are the other animals in the story that are used as a means to describe the different aspects of society at the time rather than particular individuals. Orwell was neither the only nor the first to allegory in his writing as a means of criticizing social and political events. It would seem he borrowed a leaf from one of his favorite writers known as Jonathan Swift who had in the past used a much similar approach in order to make an expression of his views concerning politics in the 18th century in his famous book titled “GULLIVER’S TRAVELLS”. Orwell was in a position of insight as far as the use of fables involving animals as a means of highlighting human life was concerned. It is a very useful form of writing which allows for the writer to be more focused on the very essence of the without getting caught up in the details having to be factual (Orwell 4-50). Farm life At the beginning of this fascinating story what later becomes known as the Animal Farm starts out being referred to as Manor Farm under the ownership of one Mr Jones. The events begin to unfold one night after a boar who is nearing his demise has a dream that he wishes to share with the animals so they all meet at the barn after Mr and Mrs Jones have retired to bed. Among the animals in attendance are the motherly mare Clover and the cart-horse Boxer; three dogs Jessie, Bluebell and Pincher; Benjamin the donkey; Muriel the goat; Mollie the beautiful but foolish mare; Moses the tame raven; the cat and mix of other farm animals including pigs, cows, sheep, ducklings and hens (Bloom 56). Major the board announces that before he passes on he would like to share with the farm animals his reflections on life. He states that in simple truth that life as a farm animal is one of slavery and misery. He talks of how farm animals only get enough feed to keep them working until such time that their strength gives out. He says that after they are no longer of use they get slaughtered in a cruel and hideous manner. Major however offers that this no longer has to be the case letting them know that the soil in England is capable of producing more than enough food. He points out that they live a deprived life while they work for food that is then stolen from them by the humans. Major the board states categorically that the animals only real enemy are the humans. He points out that without the humans they would not know hunger and overwork he says that humans are said to be prime consumers of what they have not produced. Major argues that at some point the humans need to be overthrown. There is a brief interruption as Major is interrupted by the emergence of four rats that are soon chased away by the dogs. Major’s views echo loud in the hearts of the animals that they decide that from then on animals would be slaves no more but rather friends and they were determined to be treated as such. In winding up major puts forth a list of guidelines that is to help the animals even after he is gone: anything that walks on to legs is to be considered as an enemy while anything that is on two legs or has wings is deemed as a friend. After the driving away of the evil humans major insists that the animals avoid doing as the humans do by avoiding wearing clothes, living in houses drinking alcohol, smoking, dealing in trade or money and sleeping in beds. Of utmost importance he states that no animal should ever kill another because all animals are equal. Finally major shares of a dream that had come to him and in it he had seen how the world would be when man was no longer a part of it. He also tells of a song “Beasts of England” that had come to him in his sleep. The song describes a bright future where animals are free of the control that man has on them. The animals follow Major in singing the song that causes the Jones to wake up due to the noise that sees the animals’ scurry into their places of sleep. Major is a representation of a combination of Karl Marx the 19th-century author of a work known as the Communist Manifesto and Vladimir Lenin and Das Kapital to form a prophet of a revolution. This is why he is used to bring out the ideas that cause a revolution and action. Major unfortunate do not live to see the fruition of his vision. Three nights after the fateful meeting he passes on in his sleep. It then falls on Snowball and Napoleon to take over the mantle of the cause. Squealer a young pig becomes their primary helper by playing the role of explaining decisions and policies to the rest of the animals. Basing these new ideas on the speech given by Major these then become known as the Animalism. It is the pigs who take the lead and begin to educate the rest of the animals. There are at times forced to argue against what became the old way of farm life such as working loyally for the humans. For example it becomes a hard task to convince Mollie the mare that the ribbons and sugar that she so very much enjoys are a symbol of the dependence she has on Mr. Jones (Kort 23-40). Moses the raven quickly becomes a nuisance for the pigs in their endeavors. Being that he is a pet to Mr. Jones he is considered to be a clever talker and a spy at the same time. He makes claims of knowing of the country in the sky that animals go to after they pass on that is known as “Sugarcandy” Mountain. He tells them that, their animals get to rest and enjoy all their favorite foods. Orwell writes about the hard time that the pigs had in trying to convince the rest of the animals of the non-existence of such a place. Some animals are quick to adopt Animalism such as Clover and Boxer the two cart-horses who become very devout followers of this idea. They act more out of emotional attachment to the ideal rather than out of the understanding of the model itself. Other followers though somewhat mindless in their following are the sheep who enthusiastically beat praise for the ideals. The revolution is quicker and easier than the animals anticipated as it almost falls on their lap. Following his upset caused by losing money in a major lawsuit, Mr. Jones takes to drinking. This causes him to lose interest in his farm that in turn leads to his employees shirking duties. On the eve of Midsummer Mr. Jones gets so drunk that he forgets to feed the animals who in turn break into the store for the feed and help themselves to the feed. Accompanied by four of his men Mr. Jones arrives ready to whip the animals. As a result of hunger and desperation the animals are forced to retaliate. Work cited Orwell, George. Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. London: Penguin, 2003. Internet resource Kort, Michael. The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. New York: Franklin Watts, 1992. Print. Kort, Michael. The Handbook of the Former Soviet Union. Brookfield, Conn: Millbrook Press, 1997. Print. Bloom, Harold. George Orwells Animal Farm. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2009. Internet resource. Read More