Animal Farm And The Russian Revolution Analysis

The Russian Revolution and related major historical events is the context of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, originally published in 1945. An allegorical novella and a work of political satire that is more critical of totalitarianism regimes than it is of ideologies such as communism, it has a plot which is a figurative representation of real life events of the Russian Revolution. As these events unfold, the Tsarist autocracy of the Russian Empire is overthrown and leads to a transfer of power: the rise of the Soviet Union established by the Bolsheviks. This essay outlines how in Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution of 1917, both the February and October Revolution, the concept of “power” changes as it is wielded by different figures or characters
To begin with, the owner of Manor Farm, Mr. Jones, has direct control over his farm animals at the start of the novel, similar to how the Russian autocracy had absolute political power before the revolution took place. Tsar Nicholas II was an incompetent ruler - in Animal Farm he is portrayed as careless and a drunkard, who does not remember to “shut the pop-holes when he locked the hen-houses for the night (1.1 (page number))” - the last Tsar of the Russian Empire inherited his power and status from his father because he was a Romanov. Also believed to have been ordained by God, he had the capacity to appoint ministers and reject duma proposals, and could command the military however he wished. Also in Chapter 1 of Animal Farm, Old Major the boar has power among the animals, which he uses to call a rebellion against Jones and tyrant man: “The life of an animal is misery and slavery. (pg number)”. Old Major, who is well respected, calls for the animals to unite and they
Snowball as a disciple of Old Major wants to accomplish an equitable classless society, one without aristocracy. All animals are universally equal, with only some leadership that has naturally fallen on pigs Snowball and Napoleon. Animal Farm at this point is close to anarchy or the utopian envisioned by Old Major; the farm runs smoothly and each animal works according to his own needs, food is abundant--but only for a temporary time period. During the Battle of Cowshed against Jones and other men, also the 1917 October Revolution, Snowball uses his power and his adeptness in planning tactics to lead the animals to victory. In Russian history, this event resembles the coup carried out by the Bolsheviks to oust the unpopular and despicable Provisional Government who did little for the people. However, after Lenin’s death, Trotsky/Snowball finds himself involved in a power struggle with Stalin/Napoleon due to their different political views and often being in disagreement. Unfortunately for Snowball, Napoleon had personally reared the pups in secret to become his own guard dogs and they chase Snowball away whilst he assumes command, like the KGB “Cheka” who eliminated anybody that Stalin deemed a threat. Furthermore, Stalin or Napoleon would adopt Trotsky or Snowball’s ideas as his own and power changes as it becomes more absolute; the pigs who call themselves the “mindworkers” are suddenly more