Animal Farm

Written by George Orwell

A book for readers in grades 8 and up reviewed by Amin

    

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a seemingly simplistic tale of a group of farm animals who revolt against their owner, Farmer Jones. After the animals take control of the farm through inspiration by the teachings of an elder pig named Old Major (who dies before their revolt), they establish order amongst themselves under the self-proclaimed rule of two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. When conflict between the two leaders breaks out (as their leadership priorities are different from one another), Napoleon's right-hand man, Squealer, banishes Snowball and leaves the animals to suffer under Napoleon’s pure dictatorial rule.

Animal Farm is such an amazing piece of literary history with powers of allegory on full display. It illustrates a representation of Communism in Russia. Old Major represents Karl Marx, Napolean represents Joseph Stalin, and Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. The rest of the pigs represent the bourgeois while the horses and other hardworking animal represent the laboring class.

The book is a full-circle story of irony in the sense that Napoleon begins dressing as Jones and essentially makes the farm what it initially was at the beginning of the story. This can be similarly said about Russia's stagnation, since they transformed into a Communist society with one, all-powerful dictator to “rule them all.” This was at the expense of all the human effort it took to “change” the system for the betterment of the people.

Anyone who has an interest in politics, history, Russia, political systems, or even the “classics” should read Animal Farm. It is a relatively short read for such an impactful and masterfully written story.