The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History Essay -- George O

The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History Prior to writing Animal Farm, George Orwell had stated: "History consists of a series of swindles, in which the masses are first lured into revolt by the promise of Utopia, and then, when they have done their job, enslaved over again as new masters" Together this statement and Soviet History provided a basis for a political allegory which is depicted through Animals and tells of the tribulations which surround certain political ideals. In many ways, the story parallels to an era of soviet history from the revolution in 1917 to the Teheran Conference in 1943. When many critiques review this book they fail to realize how each significant detail parallels to an entity in soviet history. The story, Animal Farm, begins with a speech by Old Major. Old Major believes that 'man' is taking from the 'working' animals and he feels that the animals should unite and commence a rebellion to overthrow man. Similarly, Major's speech is an accurate account of Marxism and it is very similar to the last paragraph of the Communist Manifesto (1848): The communists openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible over throw of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at the Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains; They have a world to win. WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE! After the Animals had overtaken the farm and the Animal Farm was established, "Everyone worked according to his capacity," (pg 27, Orwell). The similarities between Russia and Animal farm are well noted here, "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs"; were the words used by Marx in his c... ...mal Farm is a brilliantly allegorized political tale and the significance of the story becomes much clearer when compared to the actual political history. It tells the story of Russian history but at the same time it can be compared to other countries in their struggle for power. The struggle is not restricted to governments but people as well. Animal Farm is just simply about power in different political ideals and what it does to those that yield it. Lord Acton once said in a letter that: "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, good men are always bad men. George Orwell did an excellent job in portraying this reality through the animals of Animal Farm. BIBLIOGRAPHY Orwell, George; Animal Farm (Great Britain: Martin Secker & Warburg, 1945 Meyers, Jeffrey; A reader's guide to George Orwell (London: Thomas & Hudson, 1975)