Book Review: Animal Farm by George Orwell

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which” (page 95)

George Orwell

George Orwell was the pseudonym that Eric Blair, an English writer and journalist wrote under. I will refer to him as George Orwell, as that is more recognized in the literary world. He was active during the 1930s and 40s until his untimely death in 1950. It was at the age of 46 that Orwell suffered a rupture in the lungs which ultimately led to his passing. His most notable work is a dystopian novel by the name of Nineteen Eighty-four, published mere months before his death. The novel has overshadowed some of his other non-fiction works, such as The Road to Wigan Pier, in which Orwell expresses his favour of socialism. 

Orwell was a very political person which is reflected clearly in his writing. In Nineteen Eighty-Four he takes a clear stance against totalitarianism, as he saw that many parts of the world were steering towards either the far right or the far left. He criticised communist factionalism through his novella Animal Farm. This novella garnered him fame during his lifetime and its popularity continued after his death.

Summary of the Novella 

Animal Farm, originally named Animal Farm: A Fairy story, is a beast fable; a tale that features talking animals as the main focal point. Fables are normally written for children and have a significant moral embedded within the story. However, Animal Farm is a bit different; it is a satirical novella that represents a certain political standpoint. It was published in April 1945, just before the end of the Second World War in Europe. Orwell was strongly against Stalin and the Soviet Union and Animal Farm depicts the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the transition into the Stalin era. 

“un conte satirique contre Staline”

Translation: “Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin” (Orwell's description of Animal Farm) 

The novella begins with a Lenin and Marx-like figure, Old Major, who holds a speech to all the farm animals that sparks a conflict which later turns into a revolution against the humans. He teaches them a revolutionary song called the “Beasts of England” which is later made into their national anthem. The two pigs Snowball and Napoleon assume power after the death of Old Major. Together they rally their troops and revolt against their inslaver, Mr. Jones. The animals capture Manor Farm and rename it Animal Farm. The pigs, the smarter creatures, undertake to teach the less fortunate animals. They also create seven commandments which derive from Old Major's principles:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon 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 any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

(page 16)

The farm runs smoothly for a while but little by little the pigs start to accumulate more power. The clever Snowball constructs a plant to build a windmill as a way forward to modernisation. However, Napoleon disagrees and banishes Snowball from Animal Farm. He claims that Snowball was a sworn enemy from the start and that from now on he would be the farm's sole leader. Everything goes downhill from here, the animals work harder than ever on smaller and smaller rations. Napoleon, with help from his right-hand man Squealer, spread propaganda about the once-trusted Snowball. The pigs alter the seven commandments ever so slightly to fit their needs as they move into Mr. Jones' old farmhouse. As the pigs start to resemble humans more and more, no one dares speak up because of the purges against Snowball's supporters. 

In the end, Napoleon and the pigs show their true colours and intent. They change the seven commandments into just one: 

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” 

Most animals from the revolution are dead or have forgotten the differences between the past and present. A new age is brewing; one of terror and fright. 

Thoughts 

This is a considerably short novella, only spanning 95 pages in total. It has a lot of symbolism and the reader can easily visualise the different animals’ roles in the story. It’s depicted as a very plain and simple story at its core, but Animal Farm holds a lot of depth. I enjoyed this tale because of its simplicity, it needn't be any longer since it is of the utmost quality. 

I read this for school and therefore I spread out the amount of reading, so that I wouldn’t forget what had just happened, but on my second time reading it I read it in one sitting. I recommend and enjoyed the latter a great deal more. You get the whole picture when you read it in one go and it’s easier to recall the previous events. That is what makes this novella so brilliant; the fact that Orwell wrote it with such intent. Every single event is notable and can be linked to the end or start of the tale. The irony is definitely visible and I think that Orwell opposed tyranny in a clever yet comical way.

“Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short” (page 3, Old Major)