Joshua Aspiring Journalist

A masterpiece of political fable, George Orwell’s Animal Farm offers a crucial primer for
understanding the machinery of authoritarianism, corruption, and the Soviet myth. Released just two days after the Japanese surrender, Animal Farm was immediately understood not just as a fairy tale, but as a searing exploration of Stalinist Russia and a lasting warning against the manipulation of truth.

Animal Farm tells the story of a group of animals, angry with being unjustly mistreated, who revolt against the farmer’s system. Through a series of strategic exiles and brutal
executions, the pigs, led by Napoleon, swiftly betray the animals’ hope for freedom. The
death of Boxer is particularly notable to readers.

Boxer, a strong horse representing the working class people of the USSR, is sent to the glue factory after collapsing from exhaustion and no longer holding a purpose to the regime. This exposes the carelessness for citizens and the exploitation of unconditional loyalty under totalitarian regimes.

Indeed, these metaphors for people related to the events of the USSR are further explored and are a key example of why Animal Farm holds historic and political significance. For example, Squealer, not representing a single person but the whole propaganda system of the USSR, tells lies and serves as the communication bridge between Napoleon, another pig (who represents Stalin and his authoritarian system), and the Animals of Animal Farm.

It perfectly illustrates how dictatorships manipulate media and truth to maintain power. This idea is further explored through the Seven Commandments. A set of rules set out by the pigs, the Seven Commandments, are often changed to suit the needs of the pigs, such as the commandment “all animals are equal” is adapted to “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” at the end of the novel.

Even further into this topic is the effect of Snowball on the novel. Throughout the first half of the story, Snowball seemingly means well, with few problems in leadership (such as eating apples and drinking milk). However, after a debate on the production of a windmill, Snowball is exiled, just like Trotsky in the USSR. He is thereafter used as a scapegoat, claimed to have blown up the windmill, and having loyalists hidden in Animal Farm. Just like real authoritarian regimes, Snowball is the one being blamed for any and all issues on the farm.

Today, Animal Farm holds immense relevance. From Boris to Thatcher (although not
authoritarian, often regarded as leaders with unethical tactics for power) and Trump to Putin, Orwell proves the horrors of the Authoritarian ideology and even the corrupt politicians we often have in power. We should take on the ideas Orwell has clearly set out to us and use them to build a foundation on which we structure our modern society.