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Satirical Allegory In George Orwell's Animal Farm

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Satirical Allegory In George Orwell's Animal Farm
"Unlike the Holocaust, Stalin's murders are forgotten: dust blowing in the wind" (Robert Harris). George Orwell's Animal Farm is a satirical allegory. Rebelling against farmer Jones, the animals of Manor Farm decide to run the farm themselves. After driving Jones out, the pigs declare themselves in charge. Orwell's fictional farm is a representation of the Russian revolution of 1917. The animals represent the main figures in the Russian revolution, namely Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, and Stalin's Propaganda Department, which publicly broadcasts flaws in the ideology of communism. First, Orwell uses Napoleon to talk about Stalin, the Russian dictator. One of the similarities he highlights is manipulation. Napoleon states, "The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare" (31; ch. 3). In saying that they will "watch over your welfare", Napoleon ensures that the animals will trust him. He exaggerates the "day and night" part to make them feel reliant on him. Stalin does this as he convinces the people of Russia that their previous leader was far worse than he. Another similarity Orwell uses is forced labor. He says, "[I]n August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half" (54; ch. 6). Napoleon often plays mind games with …show more content…
Using symbols and extended metaphors, he gives a second meaning to his story. He uses the main characters Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer to represent some of the important people in the Russian revolution. In writing a novel, Orwell brings to light what is actually going on in Russia, exposing Stalin's lies and manipulation. In Russia, just like in the social issues of today, transparency holds the truth and the people who showcase it are the ones to listen
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