1. The Russian Revolution
Symbolism:
Connections to
The Russian Revolution

2. The story can be read on two levels:
Background
Allegory
Symbolism of Characters
Animal Farm presents a terrifying picture of a world without personal freedom
The story can be read on two levels:
Animal fable
History of Soviet communism
The pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, are symbolic of soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

3. Orwell uses the plight of the Soviet nation as a powerful tool to condemn any political body that seek to gain total control over the masses.
Early 20th Century, a tiny minority controlled most of the country’s wealth
The working class rallied around political philosopher Karl Marx’s doctrine of “Workers of the world, unite!”
Soviet Political History
The Problem
Philosophies of Karl Marx

4. Marx’s Theory
The Russian Revolution
Stalin vs. Trotsky
Marx believed that when all property is commonly owned, everyone is equal.
Communists seized control of Russian and took land and industry from private control and put them under government supervision
After Marx & Lenin’s death there was an ugly struggle for power in Russia

5. Stalin Takes Control
Control through Intimidation
Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky both jockeyed for control of the communist party, with Stalin coming out victorious
Stalin used his power in vicious and often demeaning ways—killing and imprisoning enemies

6. Stalin’s Rule
It is estimated that millions of Soviet citizens were murdered while he was in power
The Soviet government began to crumble; economic plans failed; violence, fear and starvation gripped the Soviet nation

7. Animalism and Communism
No owners, no rich, but no poor
Workers get a better life, all animals equal
Everyone owns the farm
Communism
Wealthy class and working class share and become one
All people equal
Government owns everything, people own government

8. Animal Revolution and Russian Revolution
It was supposed to make life better for all
Life was worse at the end
The leaders became the same as, or worse than the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against
Russian Revolution
Supposed to fix problems from Czar
Life was even worse long after revolution
Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy

9. Old Major and Karl Marx Old Major taught Animalism
Believed animals needed to revolt; even the “lower” animals must come together
dies before revolution
Karl Marx
invented Communism
Believed in the maxim, “Workers of the world, Unite!"
dies before Russian Revolution

10. Napoleon and Joseph Stalin
not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball
cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt
his ambition is for power, killed opponents
used dogs, Moses, and Squealer to control animals
Joseph Stalin
not a good speaker, not educated like Trotsky
Didn't follow Marx's ideas
cared for power, killed all that opposed him
used KGB, church, and propaganda (newspaper, media)

11. Snowball and Leon Trotsky
young, smart, good speaker, idealistic
really wants to make life better for all
One of leaders of revolution
chased away into exile by Napoleon's dogs
Leon Trotsky
other leader of "October Revolution"
pure communist, followed Marx
wanted to improve life for all in Russia
chased away by Stalin’s KGB (secret police)

12. Squealer and Propaganda, Newspapers
big mouth, talks a lot
convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon
Changes and manipulates the commandments
Newspapers
worked for Stalin to support his image
used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin
benefited from the fact that education was controlled

13. Mr. Jones and Czar Nicholas II
irresponsible with his animals (lets them starve)
sometimes cruel - beats them with whip
sometimes kind - mixes milk in animal mash
Czar Nicholas II
a poor leader at best, compared to western kings
cruel and sometimes brutal with opponents
Sometimes kind - hired students as spies to make money

14. The Dogs and KGB The Dogs
a private army that used fear to force animals to work
Protected Napoleon and intimidated any of his opponents
KGB (Secret Police)
not really police, but forced support for Stalin
used force, often killed entire families for disobedience

15. Mollie and Human Greed Mollie Human Greed
was vain - loved her beauty and self
didn't think about the animal farm
went with anyone who gave her what she wanted
Human Greed
some people didn't care about revolution
Often only think about themselves
went to other countries that offered more for them

16. Boxer and the Working Class
strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm
"Napoleon is always right", "I must work harder"
gives his all for the betterment of the farm
Working Class
people believed Stalin because he was "Communist"
many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin a tyrant
abused by Stalin who ignored and killed them

17. Moses and Religion Moses SugarCandy mountain
animals can go there if they work hard
Kept the animals spirits up, despite harsh conditions
Napoleon let him stay because he taught animals to work and not complain
Religion (Communism)
Heaven
Religion was tolerated because people would work
Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions

18. Windmill and Industrial Revolution
the windmill was promised to make the animal's life easier
Shorten work week
Build new windmills
Industrial Revolution
'Five-Year Plan' was supposed to improve Soviet industry and increase production
It would allow the soviets to shorten the work-week
Plan failed miserably
Stalin kept churning out new 'Five-year Plans

19. Mr. Frederick and Adolf Hitler
Fredrick's known for being vicious to older animals, beating animals even throwing them in his furnace
Frederick and his farmhands attack Animal Farm
Adolf Hitler
Committed unthinkable crimes against humanity during the Holocaust
broken pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany by invading the country

20. Mr. Pilkington and Capitalist Governments
Neighbor to Animal Farm
Napoleon and Pilkington’s relationship quickly turns icy at the end of the novel
Capitalist Governments
Western capitalist countries such as the United States and Britain.
After the end of World War II, the Cold War was ignited between the US and the Soviet Union.