GEORGE ORWELL
“ANIMAL FARM”
George Orwell (25 June 1903- 21 January 1950), literary and journalistic pen name of Eric Arthur
Blair, was an English journalist, essayist, novelist, and literary critic throughout his lifetime. Widely
considered being one of the most influential English writers of the 20th century, George Orwell’s writings
continue to have a considerable impact on politics and literature.
Regarded as the soul of an age, the author is well known for his two works: the “anti-utopian satire”1
“Animal Farm” (1945) and the novel published “as a warning against totalitarianism”2 “Nineteen Eighty-four”
(1949).
His style of writing is often clear and concise, George Orwell claimed that the language adopted by
many of his contemporaries was rather inaccurate and was meant to deceive people, making it impossible for
the readers to comprehend the text's actual meaning.
He even provides, in the essay “Politics and the English Language” (1946), six principles for when it
comes to producing literature, principles that are meant to help the writers to enhance their works of literature:
“(i) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never
use a long word where a short one will do. (iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (iv) Never
use the passive where you can use the active. (v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon
word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything
outright barbarous.”3.
Published on 17 August 1945, George Orwell’s novel entitled “Animal Farm” is a political satire, an
allegory, reflecting circumstances that led up to and throughout the Stalin era prior to World War II. The novel
not only exposes the Revolution’s corruption, but it also addresses the way any hope for a utopia was destroyed
by immorality, ignorance, and selfishness. “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE
MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS4”, says the novel’s most famous quote, reflecting Orwell’s conviction that
those in power frequently manage to twist the words to their own advantage.
1
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Animal Farm”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 March 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Animal-Farm. Accessed 28 April 2022.
2
Lowne, Cathy. “Nineteen Eighty-four”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nineteen-
Eighty-four. Accessed 28 April 2022.
3
Orwell, George. “Politics and The English Language”. Horizon, Vol. 13, issue 76, April 1946, p. 264. Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/PoliticsAndTheEnglishLanguage/mode/2up
4
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter X, p. 49.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
1.
, Initially, the novel was not entitled “Animal Farm”, but “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story”, the subtitle
being removed by the publishers. There have been other different versions over the years, including “A Satire”
and “A Contemporary Satire”, or the French interpretation “Union des républiques socialistes animales”.
To begin with, the novel “Animal Farm” is a political allegory, this literary device being used in order
to portray the author’s dissatisfaction with the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and to demonstrate the
manner in which one repressive regime was succeeded by the other, under the pretext of a story about farm
animals. Viewed this way, the animalism represents the communism, Mr. Jones Farm symbolizes Russia, the
farmer embodies the Russian tzar, etc. Finally, the fact that the action in “Animal Farm” occurs in a dystopia,
a fictional universe or civilization in which individuals live unhappily and unfairly treated, makes the novel
“anti-utopian”, a utopia representing an ideal universe, particularly in terms of law, politics, and social
environment.
The novel begins with all of the animals from the farm gathering in the barn, after the owner falls
asleep, as a request from the old Major, who intends to pass on his wisdom that he accumulated throughout
his lifetime. He gives a stirring political speech, implying that their “lives are miserable, laborious, and short” 5
and that they need to fight against Man’s rule. After that, the farmer wakes up and, believing that there was a
fox in the yard, discharges his gun and the animals go to sleep terrified.
Following the death of Old Major who died in his sleep, the animals spend three months quietly
plotting the revolt, but they are not sure when it should happen. When Mr. Jones fails again to feed the animals,
they sneak into the store-shed searching for food. The farmer and his men try to flog the animals but they are
quickly assaulted and pushed out from the land. Victorious, they destroy any signs of Jones celebrating their
freedom and Snowball transforms the sign of “Manor Farm” to “Animal Farm”.
Due to the early challenges of utilizing farming equipment created for humans, the animals succeed to
complete the crop. The animals cooperate and on Sundays, they gather in the barn to witness how Snowball
and Napoleon can’t agree on whatever subject. Snowball manages to teach the animals some literacy and
condenses the Seven Commandments (“1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 2. Whatever goes upon
four legs, or has wings, is a friend. 3. No animal shall wear clothes. 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5. No
animal shall drink alcohol. 6. No animal shall kill any other animal. 7. All animals are equal.”6) into a single
statement in order to support the animals comprehend the main principles of Animalism: “Four legs good, two
5
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter I, p. 2.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
6
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter II, p. 9.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
2.
“ANIMAL FARM”
George Orwell (25 June 1903- 21 January 1950), literary and journalistic pen name of Eric Arthur
Blair, was an English journalist, essayist, novelist, and literary critic throughout his lifetime. Widely
considered being one of the most influential English writers of the 20th century, George Orwell’s writings
continue to have a considerable impact on politics and literature.
Regarded as the soul of an age, the author is well known for his two works: the “anti-utopian satire”1
“Animal Farm” (1945) and the novel published “as a warning against totalitarianism”2 “Nineteen Eighty-four”
(1949).
His style of writing is often clear and concise, George Orwell claimed that the language adopted by
many of his contemporaries was rather inaccurate and was meant to deceive people, making it impossible for
the readers to comprehend the text's actual meaning.
He even provides, in the essay “Politics and the English Language” (1946), six principles for when it
comes to producing literature, principles that are meant to help the writers to enhance their works of literature:
“(i) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (ii) Never
use a long word where a short one will do. (iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (iv) Never
use the passive where you can use the active. (v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon
word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything
outright barbarous.”3.
Published on 17 August 1945, George Orwell’s novel entitled “Animal Farm” is a political satire, an
allegory, reflecting circumstances that led up to and throughout the Stalin era prior to World War II. The novel
not only exposes the Revolution’s corruption, but it also addresses the way any hope for a utopia was destroyed
by immorality, ignorance, and selfishness. “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE
MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS4”, says the novel’s most famous quote, reflecting Orwell’s conviction that
those in power frequently manage to twist the words to their own advantage.
1
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Animal Farm”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 March 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Animal-Farm. Accessed 28 April 2022.
2
Lowne, Cathy. “Nineteen Eighty-four”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nineteen-
Eighty-four. Accessed 28 April 2022.
3
Orwell, George. “Politics and The English Language”. Horizon, Vol. 13, issue 76, April 1946, p. 264. Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/PoliticsAndTheEnglishLanguage/mode/2up
4
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter X, p. 49.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
1.
, Initially, the novel was not entitled “Animal Farm”, but “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story”, the subtitle
being removed by the publishers. There have been other different versions over the years, including “A Satire”
and “A Contemporary Satire”, or the French interpretation “Union des républiques socialistes animales”.
To begin with, the novel “Animal Farm” is a political allegory, this literary device being used in order
to portray the author’s dissatisfaction with the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and to demonstrate the
manner in which one repressive regime was succeeded by the other, under the pretext of a story about farm
animals. Viewed this way, the animalism represents the communism, Mr. Jones Farm symbolizes Russia, the
farmer embodies the Russian tzar, etc. Finally, the fact that the action in “Animal Farm” occurs in a dystopia,
a fictional universe or civilization in which individuals live unhappily and unfairly treated, makes the novel
“anti-utopian”, a utopia representing an ideal universe, particularly in terms of law, politics, and social
environment.
The novel begins with all of the animals from the farm gathering in the barn, after the owner falls
asleep, as a request from the old Major, who intends to pass on his wisdom that he accumulated throughout
his lifetime. He gives a stirring political speech, implying that their “lives are miserable, laborious, and short” 5
and that they need to fight against Man’s rule. After that, the farmer wakes up and, believing that there was a
fox in the yard, discharges his gun and the animals go to sleep terrified.
Following the death of Old Major who died in his sleep, the animals spend three months quietly
plotting the revolt, but they are not sure when it should happen. When Mr. Jones fails again to feed the animals,
they sneak into the store-shed searching for food. The farmer and his men try to flog the animals but they are
quickly assaulted and pushed out from the land. Victorious, they destroy any signs of Jones celebrating their
freedom and Snowball transforms the sign of “Manor Farm” to “Animal Farm”.
Due to the early challenges of utilizing farming equipment created for humans, the animals succeed to
complete the crop. The animals cooperate and on Sundays, they gather in the barn to witness how Snowball
and Napoleon can’t agree on whatever subject. Snowball manages to teach the animals some literacy and
condenses the Seven Commandments (“1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 2. Whatever goes upon
four legs, or has wings, is a friend. 3. No animal shall wear clothes. 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5. No
animal shall drink alcohol. 6. No animal shall kill any other animal. 7. All animals are equal.”6) into a single
statement in order to support the animals comprehend the main principles of Animalism: “Four legs good, two
5
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter I, p. 2.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
6
Orwell, George. Animal Farm, eBook, Global Grey, 28 September 2021, chapter II, p. 9.
https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/animal-farm-ebook.html
2.
