How Does Orwell Use Satire In Animal Farm

George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ was written during a time of political turmoil, that is, during World War Two. Orwell, disillusioned by the brutal dictatorship he believed the Soviet Union had become; considered it an appropriate time to write an allegorical and dystopian novel. The genre of an animal fable or ‘a fairy story’ to comment on his frustration of the events leading up to and after the 1917 Russian Revolution would be easily understood by the masses. It is “a satirical tale against Stalin,” whereby Orwell uses his wit to draw attention to the wider issues in the society of his time.

Firstly, Orwell creates satire in his novel by using anthropomorphism to give human traits and characteristics to the animals. He used this technique
to give emphasis on the satire he was trying to produce to the readers. This technique is also effective in terms of making the novel more humorous and witty, in order to critique the events of communism and its leaders. For example, “Word had gone out during the day that Old Major, the prize white boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals.” Old Major symbolises two figure of the Russian Revolution; Karl Marx who was a German Philosopher and Vladimir iiych Lenin who was the Russian Revolutionary Leader. Another Example, “Napoleon was a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker but with a reputation for getting his own way.” Napoleon Symbolises the figure of Joseph Stalin; the cruel and arrogant dictator at the time. As described in the previous quote, he was a large, fierce-looking person who possessed no mercy nor compassion. Therefore, George Orwell has effectively used anthropomorphism to give the traits of the figures of the Russian Revolution to its applicable animals.

Secondly, Orwell creates satire in his novel by using mockery to ridicule the obnoxious events of the Russian Revolution.
George Orwell has applied mockery to his satirical novel as he had an exceptional understanding of the misuse of communism to the many aspects of people’s lives. The use of mockery in the novel has further evaluated Orwell’s use of satire to critique the major figures of the Russian Revolution; such as Joseph. For Example, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” is an illustration of the pigs’ use of language to gain control over the inferior animals. This was the final reduction of the previous seven commandments established from the end wall of the big barn. George Orwell has effectively mocked Joseph Stalin and his followers by outlining their immense desire of corruption, power and authority over all people. Another example, “The animals were hard at work building yet another windmill,” symbolises the pigs’ willingness and superiority to make the animals work harder for their own gain and expansion. The main aim of the windmill labor was to increase the pigs’ power and money. From the symbolic point of view, the windmill represents the advancing projects that were evolving during the Russian Revolution. George Orwell has once again used mockery to ridicule Joseph Stalin and his followers, by raising their overall consensus of over-powering and corruption over their own community. Therefore, George Orwell has successfully
used mockery to ridicule the obnoxious events of the Russian Revolution.

Thirdly and finally, Orwell creates satire in his novel by using Dramatic irony to demonstrate the lack of knowledge the people of Russia possessed compared to the the leaders of the communist party. He has also applied Dramatic Irony to illustrate how different classes of hierarchy evolved during the Russian Revolution. This application also demonstrates how the Russian population followed all they were commanded, through propaganda by the communist party, without undergoing the exact implications and turmoil that would result of them. Orwell has shown the allegorical propaganda through Squealer, Napoleon’s right-hand commander. Squealer symbolises the propaganda that always cleverly answered the animals’ doubtful matters through the sliest and most-cunning solutions. For example, “I was at his bedside at the very last, and at the end, almost too weak to speak, he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished,” said Squealer following Boxer’s death. When Boxer was sold to the glue factory, the animals were forced to believe through Squealer, that Napoleon had referred him to the hospital to be treated. However, Boxer was actually sold for a case of whiskey for the pigs. Orwell has effectively showed the affection and skill propaganda carried, to persuade the public of a specific matter during the Russian Revolution. Therefore, Orwell successfully creates satire in his novel, by using Dramatic irony to demonstrate the lack of knowledge, the people of Russia possessed compared to the leaders of the communist party.

In conclusion, George Orwell effectively creates a satire of the events of the 1917 Russian Revolution. His use of techniques, such as; Anthropomorphism, Dramatic Irony and mockery has further evaluated the events he was satirising. Orwell has also successfully used his wit to draw attention to the wider issues in the society of his time.