Animal Farm Final Assignment Jonathan Quiñones

Totalitarianism Definition: Totalitarianism is a form of government that permits no individual freedom. It is typically ruled by a dictator who seeks to suppress all people and force them to serve only the government. This form of government is typically run by either a single person or very small group of elites. It is characterized by strong central rule that seeks to direct everyone’s actions. This is a very oppressive government that typically leads to widespread unrest. The success of such a government is entirely dependant upon the leader and the submissive nature of its citizens. Examples: Pg. 122: “…addressing one another as “Comrade.” This was to be suppressed.” - The many plans for suppressing the animals and their rights made in this section of the novel are just the types of tactics that would be used to suppress the citizens of a totalitarian regime. Pg. 82: “He was always referred to in formal style as ‘our Leader, Comrade Napoleon,’…” - This is an example where Napoleon is distinctly behaving as the animals dictator. This is just the type of ruler who would be running a totalitarian government. Pg. 62: “Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?” - This is an example of the pigs using fear of Jones to suppress the other animals and their will. Totalitarian governments often use fear as a tool for controlling its people.

Socialism Definition: Society as a whole owns and controls all products for the benefit of everyone. In this government everyone who works on something also owns it. It is a way for everyone to have a fair share of things. This government type states that no one person should be considered or live any better than anyone else. The downfall is that no one is rewarded for doing any extra work. This breeds a society where everyone is complacent and no one strives for better. Examples: Pg. 114: “The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and living frugally.” - This statement, made by Napoleon on how the other animals should live their life, is just the way socialists believe people should live. They do not believe anyone should desire any kind of luxuries. Pg. 54: “… any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.” - Here Napoleon was declaring that everyone who worked less would receive less food. That is exactly the mindset in a socialist government. No one can work less and receive the same amount of food as everyone else. Pg. 108: “They are taking Boxer to the knacker’s!” - Here, even though Boxer did more work than any other animal on the farm, he is sent away so the pigs can make a profit as soon as he no longer is of use. This is just the type of thing that would happen in a socialist regime. Working any harder than anyone else does not allow you any privileges. You are treated just the same as anyone else in your position would be.

Joseph Stalin Description: Joseph Stalin ran the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and for over 25 years he dictatorially ruled the Soviet Union and transformed it into a major world power. At one point Stalin launched a command economy. This replaced old economic plans and began rapid industrialization. The resulting upheaval in the agriculture caused disruption in food production. This resulted in widespread famine. In the1930s, he launched “The Great Purge.” This was a campaign that sought to purge the Communist Party of “traitors.” Targets were often executed, imprisoned, or exiled. His true history was long untrue and altered by propaganda that made him out to be a much bigger hero than he was. Examples: Pg. 75: “When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess.” - This and Napoleon’s many other executions are very similar to how Stalin executed those whom he believed to be traitors during “The Great Purge.” Pg. 54: “Even so, it was found necessary to leave certain tasks undone. The harvest was a little less successful than in the previous year…” - This marks the beginning of construction of the windmill as well as the start of the shortages in food supply which were both a result of Napoleons decisions. This is very similar to the great famines that arose as a result of Stalin’s economic reforms. Pg. 73: “…Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of ‘Death to Humanity!’ and sank his teeth in Jones’s leg?” - This is one example of the many lies Squealer made to make Napoleon look better than Snowball. This is just like the propaganda put out to make Stalin seem like a hero while he was leading.

Allegory Definition: An allegory is a story that uses fictional characters and situations to convey some specific meaning other than what is literally presented in the novel. Fictions that have several possible interpretations are not true allegories. An allegory must make a clear, specific point through creative rhetoric. This is through the use of symbolic figures and actions. Examples: Pg. 124: “… and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” - Here, the author of the book was clearly using the pigs as symbols for corrupt men of power. That is exactly what allegories do. They use understandable symbols to convey some meaning. Calling a man a pig is always an insult. Therefore, it is unmistakable, just as an allegory should be, that this comparison is being made in this section of the book. Pg. 4: “Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night.” - Throughout this novel, the animals refer to each other as “comrade.” This is a term that was most commonly used in the Soviet Union. This is one clue that the novel is an allegory. Allegories use little clues such as this to hint the reader as to what the true purpose of the writing is. Animal Farm, as a whole, is a novel that should be considered an allegory because it uses the animals as symbols of humanity and the pigs and their rules and regulations as symbols for socialist government and its leaders. This becomes increasingly obvious right up until the very end. The tactics used by the pigs throughout the novel are far too similar to those used by real-life socialist/communist leaders to be a mere coincidence. The author was clearly sharing his view on the evils of socialism. That is an allegory’s purpose; to bring to light some meaning through a creative symbolic representation.