Literary Criticism of The Animal Farm by George Orwell - Essay Example

Literary Criticism of The Animal farm Table of Contents Table of Contents Summary 2 Comparisons between Napoleon and Snowball 2 The relevance of the novel setting 4 Themes in the Animal Farm book 4 Symbols in the Animal Farm novel 6 Summary The Animal Farm novel by George Orwell, born Eric Blair Arthur is an allegorical book published in 1945 in which the author presented the aspect of totalitarianism that existed during the upsurge of the Russia’s Soviet Union (Orwell 7). The novel makes use of animals that represent the various faces of individuals present during the cold war. Ideally, the uprise witnessed in the animal farm by the animals is an illustration of the revolt against the Russian communist ideology. However, the novel presents a contradicting side of the animals in the farm as they had the ability to participate in decision making by way of voting. Comparisons between Napoleon and Snowball As part of the leadership, there are two leaders whose ideals differ as one is corrupt while the other is a subtle leader. The two leaders here are Napoleon and Snowball that are a depiction of Stalin Joseph and Trotsky Leon. Ideally, the two leaders were always on contradicting sides in terms of leadership strategies that led Napoleon to dismiss Snowball in order for him to adopt dictatorial leadership. The two leaders of the animal farm had nothing in common except that were both astounding leaders. One of the principal differences between Napoleon and Snowball was the fact that Snowball was a better speaker and had convincing power as compared to Napoleon. He was compassionate and offered support to the animals contrary to the treatment of Napoleon to the animals. This aspect made Snowball a hero as he acted on the belief that all animals in the animal farm had a right to equality (Orwell 8). On the hand, Napoleon was a cruel dictator whoruled through intensecorruption whoseinterest was in making the pigs in the farm more comfortable without having regard for the other animals. He did not adhere to the seven commandments neither did he abide by the teachings by Old Major in which he instilled fear among the animals in the farm as his rule was fierce. Therefore, Snowball was a believer in democratic communism while Napoleon was a strict believer in dictatorial rule. During the existence of Snowball, the animal farm witnessed development, peace, and flourishing in which he sought to make the farm better than during the reign of farmer Jones. However, Napoleon’s rule presented aspects of slavery to the animals in which he incorporated this aspect without the knowledge of the other animal subjects (Rodden 316). Remarkably, Napoleon’s dictatorial rule was successful as compared to the communal leadership by Snowball as the farm became productive the same as the time that Farmer Jones was in control. Napoleon was a cunning leader as he led the animals in the abolition of the human rule then changed after they had achieved their freedom from the humans. He eliminates Snowball as he sees him as an impediment to the success of the farm. In essence, he negated the concept of communism as he viewed it as an aspect of backwardness and underdevelopment. His cunning ways also lead him in to constructing a windmill that Snowball had designed while he was alive in order to show to the animals in the farm that he was equally as good as Snowball had been to the animals. Napoleon also spreads propaganda to his own advantage as compared to Snowball who believed in honesty and truthful leadership (Rodden 318). Further, Napoleon orders for the merciless killing of animals after he amends the seven commandments that negated alcohol consumption and murder. The animals experience torture as a way of confessing their offenses within which the trained dogs owned by Napoleon execute the killings (Sapakie10). The collapse of the windmill intended to make the animals work lesser is a chance that Napoleon uses to cast blame on Snowball meaning that he applies all manner of schemes in order for him to stay in power. He is a power hungry leader as compared to Snowball whose intentions earned him remarkable repute among all the animals in the farm. Initially, the two leaders have a striking similarity as they both strive to make the welfare of the animals better and significant. The relevance of the novel setting Arguably, the representation of the animal farm is an excellent setting for the development of the novel as an animal’s farm has all manner of animals present. Principally, an animal farm has a blend of animals that have domestication capabilities as compared to wild animals in the wild where it is survival for the fittest in the cruel jungle. The animals in the farm agree to fall under single ruled leadership from the time of Farmer Jones to the time of Napoleon and Snowball. In a different setting, the development of the plot action would not have had any relevance, as there would be no way to present the arguments. Themes in the Animal Farm book In the Animal Farm novel, there exist a number of themes presented by Orwell. First, the clearest theme present in the novel is the theme of leadership and corruption in which the main characters presenting it are Napoleon and Snowball. Evidently, the book portrays how power may corrupt a society as when the animals took over leadership of the farm the pigs felt that they were more superior to the other animals. Another theme dominant in the novel is the lies anddeceit themes as used by Napoleon in the execution of his dictatorial leadership. Therefore, lies and deceit serve as avenues for the acquisition of more power as the pigs convince the other animals that some events did not occur in order for them to continue exercising leadership. Another theme evident in the Animal Farm book is the theme of foolishness as the other animals fall prey to the lies and deception fed to them by the pigs without having any doubts over the state of their leadership. Evidently, there is the theme of violence within which the animals of the farm used violent tactics to chase away Farmer Jones in order for them to take over power (Glover 34). It is also a tool used to exercise oppression as those that exercised displeasure in the existing rule of law experienced full violence. Fundamentally, these are some of the most domineering themes witnessed and applied by Orwell in the development of the plot. Arguably, Orwell was literature genius as he used the Animal Farm book to illustrate the changing human nature characterized by the acquisition of power. He illustrated some of the aspects that led to the Russian revolt as other felt that had more entitlement as compared to others. The book also gave a depiction of how unkind the human nature may be as despite the efforts and labor that some individuals applied, their efforts received no acknowledgment. Ideally, the author alsoillustrated the level of cruelty experienced during the rue of Stalin, which was ironical as this reign experienced significant growth and development. Although authoritarian, Orwell highlighted the fact that a dictatorial leader may also have remarkable impact on a society as compared to a noble leader whose ideology may be detrimental to society (Sapakie 12). This is visible through the fact that the farm experienced growth after he seized being a symbol of power. This was reflective of the time that Stalin shared power with Leon. The narrative focus used by Orwell is a complex one that an individual that does not have background information on the novel may find it hard to grasp the concept behind its formulation. Therefore, the narrative focus should change in order for it to be simplistic. However, the coded aspect of the message hidden in the plot is a remarkable aspect used by Orwell to depict his discontent with the state of matters in Russia. His objective was to give a reflection and negate the utopian aspect created by bad leadership by formulating literature aspects and tools disseminate his utter displeasure in dictatorial rule. As compared to Hemingway, Orwell gave a complex presentation of ideas and themes in which he used the simplest language. The aspect of simple language is an aspect used to attract a reader into reading the book more without experiencing confusion. Another style used by Orwell was the use of satire in which he presented a historical fact using a farm setting wasin itself a ridicule of the highest manner. The author also used pigs to denote the Russian leaders in which it was distasteful to some critics. Nevertheless, Orwell ensured that the animals he used had relevance to Russian history no matter their level of contribution meaning that no character in the book was seemingly useless and unworthy. On the contrary, his writing style was different as compared to that of Willa Cather an American author that made literal contribution at the same time as Orwell. However, Cather was a subtle writer whose works had no political inclination whatsoever, but dwelled on romance that was not a matter of social relevance at the time (Rodden 317). Principally, Orwell was not conservative politician like Cather as he thought to voice his political concerns through literature. Symbols in the Animal Farm novel The most basic aspect of symbolism is the use of animals to illustrate specific people that existed at the time of the Russian revolution (Glover 2). In essence, Napoleon represented Stalin while Squealer stood for the Russian media used in the spread of propaganda. In the book, Old Major symbolizes Karl Max who was the founder of Marxism ideology. Another symbolic aspect is the use of Boxer the hoarse as a representation of the working class that had less intelligence. The dogs owned by Napoleon were also symbolic of the military police force used in executing Stalin’s orders. On the contrary, the animal farm in itself stood for the Soviet Union that the animals adopted after freeing themselves from the Farmer’s rule (Glover 3). These are a few of the aspects of symbolism used by Orwell to denote actual features and figures. Works Cited Glover B. Animal Farm. Masterplots, Fourth Edition [serial online]. November 2010;:1-3. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2013.Orwell, G. (1999). Animal Farm. Literary Cavalcade, 52(1), 34. Glover B. Animal Farm. Masterplots, Fourth Edition [serial online]. November 2010;:1-3. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2013. Orwell G. CENTER STAGE: ANIMAL FARM. Read [serial online]. April 3, 2009;58(14):6-15. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2013. Rodden J. Big Rock (Sugar)candy Mountain? How George Orwell Tramped toward "Animal Farm.". Papers On Language & Literature [serial online]. Summer2010 2010;46(3):315-341. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2013. Sapakie P. Freud's Notion of the Uncanny in ANIMAL FARM. Explicator [serial online]. January 2011;69(1):10-12. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 11, 2013. Read More