Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm: An Allegorical Novella

• The novella tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, led by the pigs, who create a philosophy called "Animalism" emphasizing equality and freedom from human tyranny.

The Animals Take Over

• After overthrowing the farmer, the animals rename the farm "Animal Farm" and initially work together to harvest crops and run the farm.

Corruption and Abuse of Power

• However, the pigs gradually take control, abuse their power, and break the principles of Animalism for their own benefit.
• Napoleon, the cleverest pig, becomes a dictator, corrupting the ideals of the animal revolution.

Corruption and Brutality

• The pigs start to act like humans, sleeping in beds and drinking alcohol, while brutalizing the other animals.
• The story highlights how the animal revolution becomes corrupted, and the animals suffer under a regime as brutal as human rule.

Allegory for the Russian Revolution

• Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution of 1917, where the Bolshevik revolutionaries overthrew the Tsar but eventually established a totalitarian regime under Stalin.
• Characters in the novella represent important figures and groups in the revolution.

Themes

• The novella explores powerful themes of power, corruption, and the risks of a revolution that goes wrong.

Animal Farm: An Allegorical Novella

• The novella tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, led by the pigs, who create a philosophy called "Animalism" emphasizing equality and freedom from human tyranny.

The Animals Take Over

• After overthrowing the farmer, the animals rename the farm "Animal Farm" and initially work together to harvest crops and run the farm.

Corruption and Abuse of Power

• However, the pigs gradually take control, abuse their power, and break the principles of Animalism for their own benefit.
• Napoleon, the cleverest pig, becomes a dictator, corrupting the ideals of the animal revolution.

Corruption and Brutality

• The pigs start to act like humans, sleeping in beds and drinking alcohol, while brutalizing the other animals.
• The story highlights how the animal revolution becomes corrupted, and the animals suffer under a regime as brutal as human rule.

Allegory for the Russian Revolution

• Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution of 1917, where the Bolshevik revolutionaries overthrew the Tsar but eventually established a totalitarian regime under Stalin.
• Characters in the novella represent important figures and groups in the revolution.

Themes

• The novella explores powerful themes of power, corruption, and the risks of a revolution that goes wrong.