A world where communism becomes animalism, and pigs become human. Animal Farm, a classic novel written by George Orwell, revolves around Manor Farm, a land that has been poorly managed by Farmer Jones. Humans roamed the terrains, marking their dominance over the animals. However, a single pig named Major declared that animals demand equality. Which began the revolution. The farm is overthrown, taken over by animals, and renamed Animal farm. In the story Animal Farm, George Orwell uses allegory, foreshadow, and symbolism to craft a life where all are equal, but some are more equal than others.
Allegory was a major concept during the novel. It was used to represent the Russian revolution of 1917. In addition, it also represented the real life situation of the immigrants in Russia at that time. Napoleon, a rather fierce looking Berkshire boar is the powerhouse of the farm. Similar to the history of the soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, he has a anomalous greed for power and corrupt. For example, Napoleon greedily used Boxer, “Nothing could be achieved without Boxer…”(61). Boxer did all the work in building the windmill that was going to be used for supplying energy to the farm. He woke up five hours before everyone else to get work done. He had more strength than all of the animals combined. However, when Boxer’s hind legs were crushed under the impact of a fallen boulder. Napoleon realized he had no more need for him. No longer would Boxer do work. He wasn't important anymore. In addition he also had his large army of pigs, who were also under his control, all of whom could do more work through brains. So Napoleon had sent him off the knackers, a business where they dispose of unwanted animals. This shows that, Boxer was unwanted in his state of uselessness. However, Napoleon had used propaganda and convinced the other animals that Boxer was being sent to a kind hospital. Boxer happens to be an allegory for the Russian working class. Just like Boxer the working class had worked so hard to raise the soviet union-Animal Farm-on its own to feet. Similar to Boxer when he was sent to knackers instead of the hospital, the working class was overthrown by the Stalinists. On the other hand, both Joseph Stalin and Napoleon never killed off one of their kind. Stalin didn’t kill off Stalinists, just like Napoleon didn’t kill off his pigs. This was only the beginning of Animal Farm’s corrupt community. Long before, it was decided that no animal would kill another animal, because it was a human thing to do. But Napoleon saw himself above the others. Considerably he thought himself more equal than the other animals. However these rules were broken by Napoleon when he sent Boxer off to his death.
During the story Animal Farm, George Orwell used foreshadowing to show how humans were always the enemy. Major a wise pig, with a benevolent appearance, had first preached the idea that anything walking on two legs was not to be trusted. “Man serves the interest of no creature except himself ”(10). At first, this seemed to just be a fact. However, the majestic pig had given clues of what was going to happen. Napoleon hadn’t listed to Major, and further in the story he had struck up a deal to trade with a neighboring human. The exact thing Major had said not to do. Napoleon sold the timber, and the money he received was fake money. The human had gained the timber and lost nothing, but Napoleon ended up losing more than he had started with. Major had warmed them to not associate with humans, but the pig decided to work with the enemy. Napoleon had deprived Animal farm because his greed got the better of him. However, Napoleon didn’t let anyone know that the money was a hoax. He had his propaganda pig let everyone know that the money loss wouldn’t hurt them, but motivate them to rise back stronger. This had also contributed to the making of the human personality of the pigs. The foundation of Animal farm-which was to not trust humans at all-was crumbling, causing the whole building to fall. There was no more independence in the acts of the pigs. All independence was removed the day Napoleon began to trust the humans.
A single song “Beasts of England,” a song between Clementine and La Cucaracha, was commonly repeated throughout the novel Animal Farm. Beasts of England symbolized the beginning of animal farm, the length of animal farm, and the end. Before any thought of the revolution, Major had sung the song. It planted the seed that the animals must demand for equality among the humans. That was the day that they realized they needed a change. Further on, the song was associated with their freedom and the idea that they were finally free from humans. “Tyrant man shall be o’erthrown...shall be trod by beasts alone.”(12) This represented the start, when they first kicked out farmer Jones. As timed passed on they sang the song because their farm was still running well. Everybody believed that animal farm had no chance of surviving and flourishing as a farm. They sang the song to remind themselves what they worked for and what they were working for. But, nearing the end of the book Beasts of England was banned. No longer did they sing it in unity. For if they did, they would be executed by Napoleon. The song seemed to be banned because what the song stood for was not the same thing Napoleon stood for. “Shall be trod by beasts alone”(12). The pigs became human. They drank beer, walked on two legs, slept on beds. Sometimes, it may have seemed that the pigs were flourishing from the aspect of becoming more human like. However, the deeper meaning behind it revealed that they were taking all the goods for themselves, and leaving scraps for everyone else. For, the thought of sharing the same amount of goods never occurred to them, because what work did the other animals do? In conclusion all the animals except the pigs, had stayed true. The animals were also the ones who would hum “Beasts of England.” What the song symbolized at the beginning of animal farm was no longer there. Now the whole farm was run as if humans ruled it.
Throughout the story Animal Farm, George Orwell uses allegory, foreshadow, and symbolism to craft a life where all are equal, but some are more equal than others. The story shows the reader, how humans have used communism for their own benefit. At first, they preached that it would benefit all of them. But in the end, the only person who profited was the preacher. The whole story represents the Russian Revolution and how communism was created, but later destroyed. In addition, Animal farm showed foreshadow because Major warned them not to associate with humans, but Napoleon ended up creating bonds with the enemy. Lastly, Beasts of England was the only thing that remained to remind them of their freedom. At first, in words, but in the end it only remained in tune, similar to their freedom. But after all the commotion, Animal Farm’s last state was as bad as their first.