Marx and Animal Farm
Cesar Mendez
Professor Zweiniger-Bargielowska
History 101
11 April 2013
Animalism: The Marx of a Beast
When Old Major had a dream, few speculated that it would ultimately turn into a nightmare for the inhabitants of Animal Farm. Old Major fantasized about a free society where animals would live in harmony and where they would work for themselves as opposed to working for free and being deprived of their work by humans who would use it for their own profit. Old Major illustrates the suppression of the animals which strongly resembles the work of Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan when he states, “our lives are miserable, laborious, and short…and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.” (Orwell, 28) Soon after, the animals revolted and seized control of Manor Farm. This led to the creation and eventual abuse of the Seven Commandments of Animalism. The pigs learned to bend the rules in their favor in order to grow their power over the other animals through the use of propaganda. Eventually, the struggle for equality comes to a standstill and ultimately regresses once a power struggle ensues which leads to an autonomous ruler rising to power and imposing his tyrannical rule over his subjects. Regardless of the original intentions before taking over the farm, corruption scars Animal Farm by creating irreparable damage to the ideologies instilled by the fraudulent, once idealistic, pigs. Originally, the Seven Commandments of Animalism strongly reflected the ideas of the Communist Manifesto. They both share the message of equality and distinguishing themselves from anything bourgeoisie. In retrospect, Animal Farm is a solid commendation of Marxist theory by Orwell, but Orwell clearly depicts his stance against the ideologies adopted by Napoleon which were ultimately tainted with despotic fervor. Napoleon progressively distances himself from the founding principles of Old Major as the story moves on, and establishes his
Professor Zweiniger-Bargielowska
History 101
11 April 2013
Animalism: The Marx of a Beast
When Old Major had a dream, few speculated that it would ultimately turn into a nightmare for the inhabitants of Animal Farm. Old Major fantasized about a free society where animals would live in harmony and where they would work for themselves as opposed to working for free and being deprived of their work by humans who would use it for their own profit. Old Major illustrates the suppression of the animals which strongly resembles the work of Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan when he states, “our lives are miserable, laborious, and short…and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.” (Orwell, 28) Soon after, the animals revolted and seized control of Manor Farm. This led to the creation and eventual abuse of the Seven Commandments of Animalism. The pigs learned to bend the rules in their favor in order to grow their power over the other animals through the use of propaganda. Eventually, the struggle for equality comes to a standstill and ultimately regresses once a power struggle ensues which leads to an autonomous ruler rising to power and imposing his tyrannical rule over his subjects. Regardless of the original intentions before taking over the farm, corruption scars Animal Farm by creating irreparable damage to the ideologies instilled by the fraudulent, once idealistic, pigs. Originally, the Seven Commandments of Animalism strongly reflected the ideas of the Communist Manifesto. They both share the message of equality and distinguishing themselves from anything bourgeoisie. In retrospect, Animal Farm is a solid commendation of Marxist theory by Orwell, but Orwell clearly depicts his stance against the ideologies adopted by Napoleon which were ultimately tainted with despotic fervor. Napoleon progressively distances himself from the founding principles of Old Major as the story moves on, and establishes his
References: Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York City: Penguin, 1996. Print.