Animal farm and russian revolution
Napoleon was developed to share personality traits and characteristics with Joseph Stalin. They were both brutal oppressors, who employed cunning, devious and forceful methods to achieve their purpose. They abused propaganda to manipulate their subjects, and used the secret police as a means to eliminate their opponents: in Animal Farm, Napoleon used The Dogs to chase away Snowball, whereas Stalin used The KGB to infiltrate and destroy Trotskyist groups. The dictators also adopted some of their opponents’ ideas and claimed them as their own: Napoleon ordered the construction of the windmill, while Stalin inaugurated the Five-Year Plans to achieve rapid industrialization, both ideas which they vigorously opposed when first brought up by their opponents. The close similarities between the two revolutionary leaders mark George Orwell’s successful characterization [CliffNotes, n.d.].
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Napoleon in Animal FarmJoseph Stalin of the
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INterpretation
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
It is human nature to seek power, and many may go as far as exploiting those who are weaker than them or disregard what is right and wrong in order to rise to the top. In Animal Farm, George Orwell effectively uses Napoleon’s character to illustrate that many dictators employ cunning and unfair methods to gain and maintain power.
Throughout the novel, Napoleon works behind the scenes and canvasses support for himself in a secretive and devious manner, which the animals do not recognize. For instance, he teaches the sheep to bleat out the slogan, "Four legs good, two legs bad" [p31] whenever Snowball is about to score a point against him. By silencing his enemy, Napoleon makes himself the only viable leadership option. He also uses the dogs to drive his opponent away, proclaiming himself as the new leader of the animals. These examples parallel to Stalin during the Russian Revolution, as he also used deceit and his secret police to pass an order of banishment against his rival Trotsky. Through his satirical writing, Orwell indirectly criticizes the Russian Revolution. He uses mockery, ridicule, and other humorous techniques to emphasize dictators’ absurd, yet effective use of power. In this way, he draws attention to the wrongful means through which dictators desire, gain, and maintain power [Naeem, 2010].
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Unfortunately, the subjects under both Revolutions do not realize their dictators are using unfair methods to gain power. In Animal Farm, Napoleon justifies the changes made in the Seven Commandments and fabricates lies about their opponents to make it seem rational to the animals. As a result, they accept his leadership, but are unaware he is becoming a manipulative dictator. Similarly, Stalin also adopted the method of falsifying facts in order to gain the population’s support. This illustrates how dictators are devious animals who keep their subjects in the dark, fooled and blinded without knowing they are being taken advantage of.
corruption of ideals
George Orwell conveys the message that power can never be divided equally, but can only be corrupted. Under Napoleon’s rule, Old Major’s dream of a classless society where everybody would be equal and free shatters; the reality is the terror and poverty of dictatorship in which some individuals are "more equal". Throughout the novel, Napoleon pretends to implement Old Major’s ideals, but is clearly corrupting them, as shown through the change of commandment from “All animals are equal” to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” [p90]. Though the idea of “more equal” is completely absurd, the pigs do not question its inherent contradiction, but continue to envision themselves as this privileged “some”. Orwell created Napoleon to address not only the corruption of the revolution by its leaders, but also how ignorance, greed and myopia destroy any possibility of an utopia.
Orwell’s characterization of Napoleon is intended to degrade Stalin in our eyes. The author wrote in such detail to open the eyes of his readers to the truth about Stalin and expose how dictators corrupt power and pervert ideals. Through mockery, ridicule, and clever writing, Orwell successfully achieved his objective. |
Name
Napoleon, “President of Animal Farm,” is the main antagonist of the novel. His name originates from the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, whom George Orwell considered to be an “oppressive power seeker and dictator” [CliffNotes, n.d.]. Napoleon Bonaparte was a military and political leader, who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution.
By corresponding Napoleon’s name with Napoleon Bonaparte’s, Orwell hints the character’s tyrannical and oppressing attitudes towards his subjects. This technique also reinforces the idea that Napoleon not only resembles Joseph Stalin, but many dictators in history - this clever and accessible novel is aimed to attack dictatorial governments and totalitarian regimes in general.
By corresponding Napoleon’s name with Napoleon Bonaparte’s, Orwell hints the character’s tyrannical and oppressing attitudes towards his subjects. This technique also reinforces the idea that Napoleon not only resembles Joseph Stalin, but many dictators in history - this clever and accessible novel is aimed to attack dictatorial governments and totalitarian regimes in general.
Stereotypes of pigs
In Animal Farm, George Orwell represents Joseph Stalin through an allegorical image of a pig. Through the existing stereotypes of this animal in popular culture, he intends to portray the greed, laziness and viciousness of this tyrannical ruler of the Soviet Union.
Pigs are stereotyped as “dirty”, as their sties are usually covered in mud and feces, which they do not seem to mind at all - they are still “as happy as pigs”. Their filthy qualities parallel Stalin’s “unclean” methods before and after his rise of power. He manipulates deceit to control those under him, and corrupts power in order to maintain his leadership status.
Their “greedy” behavior is also seen from the way they devour food put in front of them. This stereotypical behavior of pigs represent Stalin’s hunger for power. Establishing authority and possessing control was his main priority during the Russian Revolution, which led him to murder millions of his own subjects when they presented the slightest pretext of disloyalty.
Orwell’s use of stereotypical traits of pigs allow the reader to easily recognize the characteristics which Stalin and Napoleon share. He warns us about the dangers of dictators, which he has successfully accomplished through the “beastly” image of a pig. In this sense, he is both educating the reader and writing to future generations.
Pigs are stereotyped as “dirty”, as their sties are usually covered in mud and feces, which they do not seem to mind at all - they are still “as happy as pigs”. Their filthy qualities parallel Stalin’s “unclean” methods before and after his rise of power. He manipulates deceit to control those under him, and corrupts power in order to maintain his leadership status.
Their “greedy” behavior is also seen from the way they devour food put in front of them. This stereotypical behavior of pigs represent Stalin’s hunger for power. Establishing authority and possessing control was his main priority during the Russian Revolution, which led him to murder millions of his own subjects when they presented the slightest pretext of disloyalty.
Orwell’s use of stereotypical traits of pigs allow the reader to easily recognize the characteristics which Stalin and Napoleon share. He warns us about the dangers of dictators, which he has successfully accomplished through the “beastly” image of a pig. In this sense, he is both educating the reader and writing to future generations.
citations
BBC. (n.d.) Joseph Stalin (1879-1953). Retrieved 3/29/2013 from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stalin_joseph.shtml
CliffNotes. (n.d.) Animal farm: Critical essays: The russian revolution. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/animal-farm/critical-essays/russian-revolution.html
Naeem, M. (2010) What is meant by satire? In what sense is animal farm a satire and what does it satirize? Retrieved
4/1/2013 from http://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.hk/2010/10/what-is-meant-by-satire-in-what-sense.html
Orwell, G. (2008) Animal farm. London: Penguin Books
Yemenici, A. (1997) Animal satire in animal farm. Retrieved 3/29/2013 from
http://www.theorwellreader.com/essays/yemenici.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stalin_joseph.shtml
CliffNotes. (n.d.) Animal farm: Critical essays: The russian revolution. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/animal-farm/critical-essays/russian-revolution.html
Naeem, M. (2010) What is meant by satire? In what sense is animal farm a satire and what does it satirize? Retrieved
4/1/2013 from http://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.hk/2010/10/what-is-meant-by-satire-in-what-sense.html
Orwell, G. (2008) Animal farm. London: Penguin Books
Yemenici, A. (1997) Animal satire in animal farm. Retrieved 3/29/2013 from
http://www.theorwellreader.com/essays/yemenici.html