Satire is used to criticise humanity’s creations, creating a mutual understanding between composer and audience. Through the use of literary devices, the flaws and hypocritical stances are identified within each text. This notion is explored in George Orwell’s allegory ‘Animal Farm,’ which is an allegorical representation of the Russian Revolution, illustrating flaws in our society with a mixture of black humour and critical attitude. The flaws of the human condition corrupt the dreams of Old Major. Napoleon and Snowball originally strive to fulfil Old Major’s dreams but due to the self centeredness of Napoleon, among others, the tenets of Animalism are systematically undermined throughout the novel.
This is what causes the animals to rebel. “At last they could stand it no longer”. Now I am going to talk about a power struggle which took place between two of the main characters, snowball and Napoleon two very intelligent pigs. Ever since the taking of the farm there has been ongoing argument between these two as to what changes should be made around the farm. One argument that stands out the most in the novel and eventually decides who will win the power struggle is the debate over the windmill.
He uses many themes to convey his main points to this allegory, such as corruption, abuse of power and social order. The corruption of the self-appointed authorities of Animalism is also a crucial theme portrayed in Animal Farm. At the beginning of the story, we find the pigs in much the same predicament as the other animals on the farm. They are all exploited ruthlessly by an authority which cares little for their plight. Playing a leading role in the ensuing revolution the pigs find themselves with more and more power over the trusting and naïve population of Animal Farm.
‘Animal Farm’ written by George Orwell is a novel where George uses the technique of allegory to demonstrate a series of events that took place during the Russian Revolution in 1917. These events are compared to events that take place in a farm, such as events that arise when the animals in the farm go against Mr Jones, the owner and operator of the farm, and events that arise due to conflicts within the animals. The start of this novel serves as the start of a circle, because of which it is easy to foreshadow how the book will end. Basically via the use of Animalism, George shows how those that revolt eventually turn into a similar rule as the one they were rebelling against, and so the cycle of oppression goes on. The description of Mr Jones’s activities in the first paragraph foreshadows the activities that the pigs indulge in later in the book.
The author describes Snowball as “a more vivacious pig” that is “quicker in speech and more inventive” than Napoleon, meaning that Snowball has great speaking skills that help him win the attention and loyalty to his fellow animals and exhibits innovative ideas that may help the farm both economically and socially (Orwell 12). Although Snowball has certain flaws such as allowing the creation of a greatly divided social hierarchy, he attempts to create animal rebellions throughout the countryside in other farms and better living conditions for the animals. However, these qualities fail Snowball and allow Napoleon to take complete control of the farm. When Snowball proposes the idea to create a windmill for electric power to the farm, his speech “conjured up images” in the animals “of fantastic machines which would do their work as they grazed in their fields,” and his words brought “astonishment,” hope, and motivation to work to achieve a dream (35). Snowball tries to use peaceful ways to run the farm, but Napoleon’s brutal, relentless rule proves to prevail after Napoleon commands his secret dog police to chase
Squealer is in Animal Farm to illustrate the effect propaganda has on the masses, and how the masses easily change their minds. The allegory fits because the way Napoleon tyrannizes his people without opposition is similar to Stalin's regime. Squealer employs techniques from the entire spectrum of propaganda. He uses confusing vocabulary, impenetrable statistics, and limits the terms of any debate. HE uses glittering generalities, like "freedom" (from Jones) and "justice" (against Snowball).
ANIMAL FARM IRONY ESSAY Animal farm is a classic portrayal of how power can affect the goals and hopes of society. Animal farm, a story by George Orwell begins with a revolution, and a lot of hopes for a perfect society being developed by the animals, by kicking off the humans from the farm. But slowly, the leading officials “the pigs” get a taste of power, from then things began to change. A very important part of the novel is the irony George Orwell used to make this novel what it is. In this story, irony is used to show lack of equality, no matter what the original intent was, can result in oppression.
The barn is a symbol because this was the place the pigs painted the seven commandments and then added their revisions, which represents the collective memory of a modern nation. The pigs did this to create Animalism and to ensure that the pigs would continue to rule over all of the animals. The working-class animals would puzzle over the changes but accept them. If the working-class believes history of lies from their oppressors, the will be less likely to question oppressive practices. The windmill is a symbol of the pigs’ manipulation of the other animals for their own gain.
TOPIC CHOICES FOR UNIT 1 ENGLISH 2013 SAC 2: CREATING AND PRESENTING (Choose one topic only) Prompt: “It is said that power corrupts but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible” (David Brin) IMAGINATIVE WRITING 1. Choose an event or experience during or after the events related in Animal Farm. Write about it from one character’s point of view. 2. Write your own fable (with animals as characters).
Snowball’s control of Animal Farm is seen as decent, whereas Napoleon’s is corrupt. Snowball actually contributed as a political head with ideas to improve Animal Farm. He “buried himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. He was indefatigable at this.” –pg 19. Snowball devoted time and effort for the success of the other animals.