Animal Farm: Cruelty during the Russian Revolution
Taylor Styer
Mr. Schultz
Honors 10th Language Arts
October 17th 2014
Animal Farm Essay
In 1917, a series of revolutions erupted in Russia, resulting in the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas the III and the Tsarist autocracy. The events will spawn the world’s first communist state under Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. In 1945, George Orwell published
Animal Farm, the satirical dystopian novel, to expose the triumphs and flaws of the Russian
Revolution. Each fictional character and setting in the novel represents a real political figure during the Russian Revolution. Orwell displays various forms of irony and reversal, expressing his political views on the use of power during the Russian Revolution.
In the beginning of the novel, the animals of Manor Farm, prompted by the prize pig Old
Major, plan a rebellion against Jones, the human owner of the farm. Three younger pigs named
Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball create the Seven Commandments in which all animals engaging in the revolution must follow. The Seventh and final commandment states “All animals are equal,” (Orwell 43). The Commandments are later changed to one overall rule expressed as
“All animals are equal but some are more equal than others,” (133). This represents a perfect example of verbal irony. The two statements completely contradict each other. Stating “All animals are equal” indicates no animal more equal than another, yet, the pigs have the most power over the farm. Orwell uses this verbal irony showing the pigs, and more prominently
Napoleons use of brainwashing, to accumulate power. Another one of the Seven Commandments
is read as “No animal shall drink alcohol,” (43). The rules become bent, again by Napoleon and the pigs. After their victory at the Battle of the Windmill, the pigs discover a case of whisky in the farmhouse and proceed to drink the alcohol until becoming drunk. The other pigs believed
Napoleon was dying but he really suffered from a
Mr. Schultz
Honors 10th Language Arts
October 17th 2014
Animal Farm Essay
In 1917, a series of revolutions erupted in Russia, resulting in the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas the III and the Tsarist autocracy. The events will spawn the world’s first communist state under Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. In 1945, George Orwell published
Animal Farm, the satirical dystopian novel, to expose the triumphs and flaws of the Russian
Revolution. Each fictional character and setting in the novel represents a real political figure during the Russian Revolution. Orwell displays various forms of irony and reversal, expressing his political views on the use of power during the Russian Revolution.
In the beginning of the novel, the animals of Manor Farm, prompted by the prize pig Old
Major, plan a rebellion against Jones, the human owner of the farm. Three younger pigs named
Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball create the Seven Commandments in which all animals engaging in the revolution must follow. The Seventh and final commandment states “All animals are equal,” (Orwell 43). The Commandments are later changed to one overall rule expressed as
“All animals are equal but some are more equal than others,” (133). This represents a perfect example of verbal irony. The two statements completely contradict each other. Stating “All animals are equal” indicates no animal more equal than another, yet, the pigs have the most power over the farm. Orwell uses this verbal irony showing the pigs, and more prominently
Napoleons use of brainwashing, to accumulate power. Another one of the Seven Commandments
is read as “No animal shall drink alcohol,” (43). The rules become bent, again by Napoleon and the pigs. After their victory at the Battle of the Windmill, the pigs discover a case of whisky in the farmhouse and proceed to drink the alcohol until becoming drunk. The other pigs believed
Napoleon was dying but he really suffered from a