George Orwell's Animal Farm: Former Soviet Union

Animal Farm

In Animal Farm, the author has created an environment similar to that of the former Soviet Union. The main character Napoleon is a representation of Joseph Stalin, former leader of the USSR. Napoleon like Stalin rises to power through a revolution.
In the book the revolution takes place because the animals feel they are being oppressed by the humans. This idea is spread by Old Major, the wisest of the animals. He orders a meeting and there he preaches about the harsh treatment of the animals and that they need to rebel. The animals Napoleon and Snowball spread the idea of Animalism just the way the idea of Communism was spread in the USSR. The animals are soon "brainwashed" by this idea and will do anything to see that their
plans are accomplished. In the novel the animals are originally tricked into believing that once they over throw the present government (the rule of the humans) and switch to their Animalism government that they will be able to live a happy life from then on.
The original idea of animalism is representing communism, a government type in which all are equal and there are no social classes. The novels animalism is just like communism in the fact that in the beginning of the take over everyone is equal. The animals write the Seven Commandments which state the rules for their society. The idea of animalism is a good one, but like communism will never work because just like in history one rises to power and becomes a power-hungry leader. This leader is Napoleon, he is often troubled by Snowball the other pig put in charge of the rebellion. Napoleon starts to crave the power he has but still he wants more. Just as Stalin did with Trotsky, Napoleon has him run off the farm and from their lives for good. With his power secure Napoleon becomes a dictator. In my opinion I think that the animals approach their government the wrong way, just like I think our class is doing. The animals try and do it as fast as they can, they don't look down the road and see what is in store for them in the future. I think that they should have put more thought into who would lead and if one got out of hand what will be done to protect the security of each individual
animal. Napoleon's dictatorship is another governmental idea that is seen throughout the novel. Napoleon realizes the fellow animals' incompetence and uses it to his advantage. He treats all the other animals like dirt. He alters the commandments, so that he may do what he pleases. His dictatorship mirrors many of the dictators this world has seen as in Hitler, Saddam, and Castro. He executes all those who appose him. He rules Manor Farm with an iron fist. Just like history has shown us, a government that is led by a dictator will eventually all come crashing down. This is a fact mainly because one who is given power will never be satisfied with what they have. I believe that the animals should have realized what was going on sooner, if they would have then the might have had a chance to stop Napoleon before he grew too powerful. In my opinion I believe this novel and its consequences could in fact happen to our government that we are setting up in class. I think that we may have a good idea of what we want but we are trying to put it up to fast. I feel like our individual voting rights are being jeopardized by those who are hungry-power and want things done their way and no one else's. The society exposed in animal farm is a very real thing. It has happened many times in the past and if the world does not take caution, it will happen again. Our freedoms like Animal Farm's Seven Commandments must be protected at all costs we cannot let anyone put those in jeopardy.