Summary
Animal Farm, George Orwell's 1945 allegorical novella, remains one of the most influential political satires of the 20th century. Using a farm setting and animal characters, Orwell crafted a biting critique of totalitarianism inspired by the events of the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Though initially rejected by several publishers due to its anti-Soviet stance, Animal Farm went on to become a critical and commercial success. Its themes of power, corruption, and the manipulation of language for political ends continue to resonate with readers today.
Plot
The animals of Manor Farm, led by the pigs, stage a rebellion against their human owner, Mr. Jones. They rename the farm “Animal Farm” and establish a new society based on the ideals of Animalism, with the core tenet that “All animals are equal.”
Initially, the farm prospers under the pigs' leadership as the animals work together enthusiastically. However, tensions soon arise between two pig leaders—Napoleon and Snowball. Napoleon uses force to drive Snowball from the farm and gradually consolidates power for himself and the other pigs. The pigs begin to adopt human behaviors and privileges, modifying the tenets of Animalism to justify their actions. Napoleon uses propaganda and intimidation to maintain control over the other animals.
As years pass, life for most animals on the farm grows increasingly harsh and oppressive under Napoleon's rule. The pigs become more and more like the humans they once rebelled against, walking on two legs and consorting with human farmers. By the end, the other animals can no longer distinguish between the pigs and humans. The principles of the revolution have been entirely corrupted, with the famous commandment now reading: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
Themes
Corruption of power and ideals
The danger of a naive working class
The use of propaganda and manipulation
The abuse of language as a tool for control
The failure of revolution to create true equality
The cyclical nature of history and oppression
Intelligence and education as tools for domination
Setting
George Orwell's Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England in the mid-20th century, during a period that parallels the early decades of the Soviet Union. While the exact date is not specified, the story unfolds over several years, reflecting events from the 1917 Russian Revolution through the 1940s. In this allegorical novel, the farm setting represents Soviet Russia, with the animals standing in for different segments of Russian society.
The primary location is Manor Farm, later renamed Animal Farm after the animals' rebellion. The farm provides a microcosm of Soviet society, with the farmhouse, barn, and fields serving as analogs for government buildings, factories, and agricultural collectives. Neighboring farms like Pinchfield and Foxwood represent other nations that interact with Animal Farm, mirroring international relations with the Soviet Union.
Characters
Napoleon: A large, fierce-looking Berkshire boar who becomes the leader of Animal Farm. He represents Joseph Stalin and uses force and propaganda to gain and maintain power.
Snowball: A clever pig who initially shares leadership with Napoleon. He represents Leon Trotsky and is eventually driven off the farm by Napoleon.
Boxer: A strong, loyal cart horse who represents the working class. He is devoted to the farm’s success and lives by the motto, “I will work harder.”
Squealer: A small fat pig who serves as Napoleon's propagandist, using clever rhetoric to justify Napoleon's actions and changes to the farm's rules.
Old Major: An aged prize boar who inspires the animals to rebel. He represents Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, laying out the principles of Animalism before dying.
Clover: A motherly mare who is close friends with Boxer. She is loyal to Animal Farm but grows increasingly skeptical of the pigs' actions.
Benjamin: A cynical donkey who is the oldest animal on the farm. He can read well and is skeptical of the pigs' motives but rarely voices his concerns.
Mollie: A vain mare who likes ribbons and sugar. She eventually leaves Animal Farm for a neighboring farm, representing those who abandoned Communist ideals.
Moses: A tame raven who spreads tales about Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die. He represents organized religion.
Mr. Jones: The initial human owner of Manor Farm, who is overthrown by the animals. He represents the deposed Tsar Nicholas II.
Quick facts
George Orwell wrote the first draft of Animal Farm in just three months, between November 1943 and February 1944.
The book was initially rejected by several publishers, including T.S. Eliot at Faber and Faber, due to its criticism of Stalin's Soviet Union.
Orwell based many of the animal characters on real figures from the Russian Revolution and Soviet history, with Napoleon representing Joseph Stalin.
The original title was Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, but the subtitle was dropped by US publishers.
During the Cold War, the CIA secretly funded a cartoon adaptation of the book as anti-Communist propaganda.
Orwell was partly inspired to write the book after seeing a young boy whipping a cart horse.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” has become one of Orwell's most famous quotes.
Animal Farm has been banned in several countries over the years, including the United Arab Emirates as recently as 2002.
Orwell's experiences in the Spanish Civil War greatly influenced his political views and the themes in Animal Farm.
About the Author
George Orwell, the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair (1903-1950), was a British writer recognized as one of the most influential social commentators of the 20th century. He is best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, works characterized by his lucid prose, biting social criticism, and opposition to totalitarianism.
Orwell served in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, and lived in poverty, experiences that profoundly shaped his political views and writing. In addition to his work as a novelist, he was a prolific essayist and journalist. His nonfiction writings include Down and Out in Paris and London and Homage to Catalonia. Orwell developed a unique political perspective that was staunchly anti-authoritarian while advocating for democratic socialism. His essay “Politics and the English Language” remains influential for its analysis of the connection between clear writing and clear thinking.
The publication of Animal Farm in 1945 brought Orwell widespread acclaim. This allegorical novella used a farm setting to satirize the events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, cemented Orwell's reputation with its haunting vision of a totalitarian future. The novel introduced concepts like “Big Brother,” “doublethink,” and “Newspeak” that have become part of the cultural lexicon.
