Animal Farm

cOSIMO CAFORIO 5 A LSA

aNIMAL FARM

One of the most famous novels of the twentieth century, a great metaphor for every totalitarian regime. The inspiration for this work was born from a very concrete episode: "One day, while I was walking along a narrow path, I saw a child of perhaps ten years old who was holding the reins of an enormous draft horse, and every time it tried to turn around, the child whipped it. At that moment I found myself thinking that if certain animals were aware of their strength, we would no longer have any power over them, and I also think that men exploit animals in a very similar way to that in which they enrich the proletariat". - George Orwell This is how Animal Farm comes to life.

George Orwell, pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair (1903–1950), was a British writer, journalist and essayist. Born in India to an Anglo-Indian family, he grew up in England and studied at Eton, but did not continue to university. In his youth he worked as an imperial agent in Burma, an experience that made him critical of colonialism. He took part in the Spanish Civil War fighting against fascism, an experience that marked him deeply. As a convinced socialist, after becoming aware of the Stalinist totalitarian drift, he embraced a violent anti-Sovietism, from which his most famous works were born, Animal Farm (1945, also available in the EU) and 1984 (1949).

Who is the author ?

England had ambiguous relations with the USSR: in the 1930s suspicion prevailed, but during the Second World War the USSR and England were allies against Nazism. Precisely for this reason, publishing an anti-Soviet work in 1945 was difficult: Orwell challenged the dominant opinion, highlighting the contradictions of the Stalinist regime while the Soviet Union was still seen as a “heroic” nation. Only with the beginning of the Cold War was his message fully understood and recognized as a profound criticism of totalitarianism in all its forms.

George Orwell wrote Animal Farm to denounce Soviet totalitarianism and the degeneration of the Russian Revolution. Through an allegorical fable, he criticizes the way in which power, even when born with ideals of justice and equality, can turn into oppression. In fact, the animal characters represent historical figures.

why did he write the work?

Chapters of the novel

10

The animals of Manor Farm listen to an old pig called Old Major, who gathers all the animals of the farm to tell his vision of a society in which animals live free from the oppression of humans. He denounces the exploitation by the owner, Mr. Jones, and invites them to rebel. He teaches them a revolutionary song, "Beasts of England", which everyone is enthusiastic about. Finally, Mr. Jones, awakened by the noise, fires a shotgun and scatters the animals.

Chapter 1

• Old Major: the old pig represents both Karl Marx and Lenin, the thinkers and ideologists who inspired the Russian Revolution.
• The Mr. Jones factor: represents Tsar Nicholas II, who lives in abundance and indifference to the difficulties and sufferings of workers.

( These commandments represent the fundamental principles of communist ideology ).

Seven Commandments of Animalism

1. Anything that walks on two legs is an enemy. 2. Anything that walks on four legs, or has wings, is a friend. 3. No animal shall wear clothes. 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5. No animal shall drink alcohol. 6. No animal shall kill another animal. 7. All animals are equal.

After Old Major's death, the animals begin to organize themselves secretly, led mainly by Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer, the most intelligent pigs. An ideology called Animalism is born, based on Old Major's ideas. The rebellion breaks out sooner than expected: Mr. Jones neglects the farm, and the animals, hungry, rebel and chase him away. They take control of the farm, which they rename "Animal Farm". The pigs begin to organize the new society and write the Seven Commandments of Animalism on a wall, which represent the principles of equality between all animals.

Chapter 2

• Napoleon and Snowball represent Soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky, respectively. The rivalry between Napoleon and Snowball reflects the conflict between Stalin and Trotsky in the leadership of the Communist Party.
• Squealer represents the figure of the propagandist and spokesman of the regime. He is an intelligent pig and skilled in using eloquence and rhetoric to manipulate the masses and convince them to support the actions of corrupt leaders. He distorts the truth and changes speeches to justify the decisions of the dominant pigs and maintain control over the animal population.

The animals begin to work hard to keep the farm going, now self-managed. Everyone cooperates, even though the pigs do not physically work, but are involved in organizing and managing. Snowball creates committees and tries to teach the animals to read, but only a few learn to read well. The Seven Commandments are simplified to the maxim: "All animals are created equal " (and then even more succinctly to "Four legs are good, two legs are bad "). The pigs begin to take milk and apples for themselves, claiming that they are good for their health, otherwise the farm would fail. Squealer, with his persuasive way, convinces the other animals that this is right.

Chapter 3

News of the rebellion spreads to other farms, and the animals in the vicinity begin to dream of similar uprisings. Jones, with other armed men, attempts to regain control of the farm. The animals, led by Snowball, organize a defense plan and win the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball stands out for his courage and is celebrated as a hero, receiving a medal. A sheep is also awarded posthumously. This chapter strengthens the revolutionary spirit, but also marks the beginning of hero worship and militarization, anticipating future changes in power relations.

Chapter 4

• Pilkington represents capitalism and capitalist rulers. He is the owner of Foxwood Farm, one of the farms near Animal Farm. Throughout the story, Pilkington becomes an ally of the pigs, who represent the corrupt leaders of the totalitarian regime.
• Frederick represents Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. He is the owner of Pinchfield Farm, another farm near Animal Farm. Frederick is portrayed as a cruel and ruthless man, mistreating his animals and deceiving other farmers. His relationship with Animal Farm is contradictory, initially appearing as an enemy, but later becoming friends with the pigs, demonstrating the ambiguous nature of political alliances.

The conflicts between Snowball and Napoleon grow, especially over the project to build a windmill, which Snowball proposes to improve the life of the animals. Napoleon is against it, but during a meeting he has him chased away with the help of the guard dogs, which he had secretly trained. From that moment, Napoleon takes absolute control of the farm. Shortly after, however, the windmill project is revived, but now presented as Napoleon's idea. Squealer justifies everything, manipulating the truth and rewriting history in favor of the new boss.

Chapter 5

• Dogs represent the secret police or the army, which are trained and used as instruments of violence to protect the regime and suppress opponents. They are Jessie and Lilla's puppies who are trained by Napoleon to become a coercive force, obeying only the commands of the dominant pigs. Dogs can be associated with the Soviet secret police (such as the Cheka) or the army. Dogs symbolize the use of force to suppress freedom and resistance.
• The windmill is a very important element in the novel: it represents industry and the production of material goods, as well as economic power and prosperity. It symbolizes the promise of a better future and greater prosperity for the animals, with the idea that their hard work can lead to a better life.

The animals work even harder, especially to build the windmill. They also begin trading with humans for the first time, despite it being forbidden by the original princes. The pigs begin to live in an increasingly privileged way, for example by moving into Mr. Jones' house. One day, the windmill is destroyed by a storm, but Napoleon accuses Snowball of sabotage, fueling his propaganda against him. Meanwhile, the animals, despite working harder and harder, continue to believe in the revolution, even if they begin to feel confused and exploited.

Chapter 6

The winter is harsh, the animals suffer from hunger and cold. Famine is felt, but Napoleon orders the outside world to be deceived, making it seem like everything is fine. The animals begin to doubt, but repression grows: Napoleon uses his dogs to punish those he suspects of treason, leading to terrible public executions of animals who “confess” crimes. For the first time, the farm is marked by terror and blood, completely betraying the initial ideals. "Beasts of England" is banned, because, according to Napoleon, the revolution is now complete.

Chapter 7

The animals win the battle, but at a high price. Napoleon still proclaims himself a hero, but his regime becomes increasingly authoritarian.

The animals are increasingly exploited, while Napoleon becomes an almost sacred figure, surrounded by flattery and propaganda. The commandments are subtly changed, adapting to the behavior of the pigs. Napoleon does business with men, first with Frederick, then with Pilkington. When he sells the wood to Frederick, he discovers that the payment is false and this causes a new battle, in which the mill is destroyed by the men with dynamite.

Chapter 8

The situation worsens: the animals are increasingly tired, hungry and disheartened, but they continue to believe in the revolution. Animal Farm is proclaimed a Republic, with Napoleon as president. The horse Boxer, a symbol of work and sacrifice, is seriously injured. The animals believe that he will be cured, but in reality Napoleon sells him to a butcher, betraying his loyalty. Squealer lies, saying that Boxer died in the hospital, receiving loving care. The pigs use the money earned to buy whiskey, while the other animals remain in misery.

Chapter 9

• The manor house symbolizes the power and privileges that elites enjoy in society. While other animals work hard to maintain the farm, pigs take over the luxurious spaces and behave like the humans who previously exploited them.
• Boxer is a workhorse and represents the working class, a tireless worker and loyal to the system. His tragic end reflects the exploitative use of workers by the communist elites.

Years pass. The farm changes, many animals die, and few remember the rebellion. The pigs now live like humans, walk on two legs, and establish friendly relationships with their human masters. The principle “All animals are equal ” is changed to: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Eventually, the other animals watch the pigs and humans feasting together, and they can no longer tell who is who.

Chapter 10

Thank you for your attention