George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegorical tale of revolution and regime change. In many ways this is a story which has seen itself played out over and over again in history. Much of the familiarity of the story comes from the pages of our history classes as we have seen this happen in the nations of the world many times before. More disturbingly, however, is the fact that much of the familiarity of this story is not merely something we’ve read in our history classes but it is something we are reading in our daily news currently.
The scene is set at the Manor Farm somewhere in England which is owned and operated by Mr. Jones, a reprobate drunk of a farmer who does not properly care for his animals. The animals long for a better life than this which they are living which so often is hard, hungry and short. Old Major, a respected and prize winning boar on the farm calls the animals together and lays out a dream he has had, which he takes to be prophetic, and inspires the animals to believe that one day the beasts of England would rise up and overthrow their oppressors and become their own masters. This revolution which was sure to occur would lead to a golden age of equality for all animals, peace and prosperity.
At this point in the story the reader cannot help but align with the animals who, of course, deserve so much better. Major’s speech sets out a vision for the animals that truly sounds wonderful, a thing to be strived for and it settles down into their heart. Eventually Major passes aways but his words do not and when there came a day when the drunken farmer forget to feed his animals altogether they take matters into their own hooves. As they break into the storage bins the farmer and his hands come to beat the animals into submission but, instead, they are met with a frenzied attack by the animals. The seed of Major’s rebellion has finally taken root and the animals overthrow their oppressors.
Elated by their victory the animals seek to start living out the dream of Major and seek to treat all animals with respect and equality. Even so, due to the fact that the animals were not equally intelligent the more intelligent animals, namely the pigs, graciously stepped forward to organize the farm and make sure everyone was treated fairly. The farm adopted the name Animal Farm, and the way of life they now lived was called Animalism. To help the animals live out the principles of Animalism, and to ensure that no atrocities would ever occur again as had under farmer Jones, the pigs codified Animalism into seven basic laws.
During the early period of Animal Farm things go pretty well. The seven laws of Animalism, when followed, really do guide the animals in a way of profitable and peaceful living. Not everything is easy, having to learn to do things on their own, but the work that is done is honest and all do their part so it was good. Over time, however, things begin to shift and the pigs begin to take a more and more dominant leadership role. Two pigs in particular take leadership roles, Snowball and Napoleon. Furthermore the pigs themselves do no labor on the farm but they take the position of administration of duties because of their higher intellect. It was also the pigs who put forth new resolutions in the regular meetings and who eventually designate the harness room for their own use as headquarters.
Eventually it was noticed that the milk which was being produced was disappearing and eventually it was found that it was being used by the pigs and although this did not set right with the other animals at first, Squealer, another pig who had a way with words and the ability to make things sound however he desired, was able to convince them that it was actually to everyone’s benefit that the pigs drink the milk. In addition to this when the new puppies were born, and after they had been weaned, Napoleon took them away from the mothers assuring them that he would see to their education personally.
Eventually there was an attempt by Mr. Jones to take his farm back. The animals charged to battle although some were injured and one life was lost, they were able to drive back the enemy under the leadership of Snowball. After the battle Snowball was awarded Hero First Class for his heroic efforts. A major victory for the animals this was a watershed moment for Animal Farm and a historic moment to be remembered.
As time progressed at Animal Farm the disagreements that had been long standing between Snowball and Napoleon grew more sharp. There was a windmill project that was created and led by Snowball, which was adamantly opposed by Napoleon, which was meant to bring many conveniences to all the animals. A day came wherein Snowball and Napoleon were at the regular meeting with the animals debating the issue of the windmill in which suddenly a ferocious pack of dogs burst in and chased Snowball off the farm. It eventually became clear that these were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken from their mothers to educate.
From this point on changes continued to occur gradually but steadily to the way things had been. The regular meetings were cancelled, there was no more discussion to be had between the animals about what should be done, Napoleon would tell them what was best. The dogs would growl into submission any who dared to show any dissent. Eventually Napoleon would order that the windmill should be built and eventually it would be spun that it was really his idea originally anyway. Snowball was said to have been a traitor who did not fight valiantly as they recalled but rather was in league with Mr. Jones all the while.
On and on the changes came, and the less intelligent animals were often made uncomfortable by these changes and thought that they were not in accord with either history as they recalled it or the laws of Animalism. Even so, Squealer was always able to assure them that they had not remembered correctly what really happened or what the laws of Animalism really said (most of them couldn’t even read it, after all). Even when some of them would check the laws it was noticed that indeed the pigs were right, it said what they were saying, not what the animals had remembered.
All of these changes progressed and the animals were always assured that everything the pigs were doing was really for the benefit of all the animals and that all the animals were equal. The animals thought they remembered better times and having had more food in the past, but they were constantly assured that they had never had it so good as they did now. Eventually Napoleon and the pigs moved into the farmhouse and Napoleon was himself rarely seen and always guarded by the dogs when he was.
In the end there came a day when the humans came and met with Napoleon in the farmhouse and the animals spied through the windows to see them not as enemies but as friends. And it had come to the point that the animals who looked at Napoleon could hardly discern whether or not the pigs were still animals or whether they were people. Somehow, over time, the pigs had taken over Mr. Jones spot and yet they were far worse than he had ever been.
This sad allegory is much like what we have seen in history and eerily like some of what we see today in our own country. From instances like the Hitler Youth who were taken from parents and brainwashed to obey a tyrant, to the rewriting of history, to the use of propaganda to convince people that everything is really for their benefit, this is how regime’s rise to power. It usually starts with a vision of a better life and often that better life seems to occur at first but gradually things begin to shift. The ignorant masses who do not know the law or history for themselves are powerless to stop what occurs before their eyes. Those who do have the wherewithal to read between the line and see what is happening are often ruthlessly suppressed.
We’ve heard it said that those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. I have once read something equally true, and ever more terrifying, which said that those who do know history are doomed to watch in horror as everyone else repeats it. Orwell’s book ought to be read and reflected on as we see things gradually changing in our own country because I fear that America is on a dangerous trajectory in many of the same ways that are laid out here in this book. As our political leaders promise a better tomorrow, “free healthcare” and “equality” for all, do these things (specifically the way they define them or suggest that they may be attained) really lead us to freedom and equality or to quite the opposite?
