Animal Farm

George Orwell Born in 1903, died in 1950 English novelist and journalist Famous focus: totalitarianism a political system where the state, usually under the control of a single political organization, recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible * *Robert Conquest Reflections on a Ravaged Century (2000) page 74

Orwell’s Life Name at birth: Eric Arthur Blair Born in India, in 1903, where his father worked for the Civil Service, one of the officials who ran India Worked for Indian Imperial Police – made him hate Imperialism 1936 – married and went with wife to fight in the Spanish civil war between the left-wing Republican government and right-wing Fascist rebels – experienced same kind of events that happened during Russian revolution Was wounded and never fully recovered Wanted to write about what he had witnessed – governments taking full control

Background Written during WWII Published in 1945 Critical to the Soviet Union even though they were an ally of Great Britain Considered classic because it examines the methods that unscrupulous leaders use to acquire power over people and how they abuse it. Orwell wrote about the world of politics

Classifications Can be considered:  A Fable  An Allegory  A Satire

Fable A short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters Ex. The Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare Animal Farm: using animal characters, a significant moral is taught

Allegory A story that can be read on more than one level A story that parallels or illustrates another Animal Farm: the story of an animal rebellion on Jones’ farm illustrates the events, individuals and motives of the Russian revolution

Satire A story that attacks a serious issue by presenting it as ridiculous or poking fun at it. A story that mocks human nature and behaviour We recognize ourselves, our behaviour or attitude We chose to avoid it or we learn from it Animal Farm: by mocking the characters in the novel, we recognize our own human frailties

What is it about? Animal Farm satirizes the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union through fable and allegory

The Russian Revolution At the turn of the 20 th century Russia is: Huge Isolated Mostly rural Isolated from Europe Diverse ethnically Total population: 170 million (only 25 in cities)

Peasants in Russia Lots didn’t own land Uneducated, poor No communication or transportation Most are not aware of the world outside of their village and many are not even aware that they live in a country called Russia

“Spoon Carvers” in 1900

Seriously. SPOON carvers.

Running Russia Church -- kept rural population in line Bureaucracy – formal, paper-driven, ineffectual Police – keep the cities in line

Czarist Rule Old fashioned, likes the benefits of being a czar Nicholas II – wants to be more a modern country Dislikes being Czar Wants nothing to do with peasants Alexandra – German-born, disliked by Russians

Industrial Revolution Comes Late Economy expands rapidly but still lags behind the rest of Europe Russia is a backwards agrarian society Intelligentsia, Czar and middle class want to modernize

Marxism/Communism Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The Communist Manifesto, 23 pages long. “Communism” –common ownership

Communism Intended for German workers Class struggle – proletariat vs. bourgeoisie Oppressed vs. oppressors Revolution = classless society ****This revolution will come to the most industrially advanced nations first*****

The Russian Revolution in 12 Concise Points Early 1900’s- population unhappy Czarist rule is harsh WWI makes things worse 1917 Revolution led by Vladmir Lenin takes control of Russia – Czar killed

Lenin dies in 1924 Trotsky and Stalin fight for power Stalin wins, deports Trotsky

Stalin’s Actions Encourages Nationalism Moves Soviet Union into industrialism Seizes land, collectivizes farms Creates Five Year Plan (production targets)

Stalin’s Actions Purges/kills opponents (20 million est.) Controls information Outlaws churches