Review: Animal Farm

Animal Farm by George Orwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Please share your views in comments.

Animal Farm by George Orwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case, they had little time for speculating on such things now. Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been, nor ever could be much better or much worse- hunger, hardship, and disappointment being, so he said, the unalterable law of life.
And yet the animals never gave up hope.”

This book will never get old it seems. This is a timeless classic. At least till the time men lust for power is there and they are ready to subjugate others for politics and power. It has strong resonance to today’s world also.

This is a dystopian novel which is based on Russian revolution. In the beginning Old Major [read Lenin], a white boar, had a strange dream and he shares it with the fellow animals:-

“Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice will be done. Fix your eyes on that, comrades, throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious.
At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them, and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives. Major raised his trotter for silence.

“Comrades,” he said, “here is a point that must be settled. The wild creatures, such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?”

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. There were only four dissentients, the three dogs and the cat, who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. Major continued:

Mr. Jones runs a manor farm in Willingdon, England. Two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon stage a revolt with the help of other animals and make Mr. Jones Run away. They rename the manor “Animal Farm” hence the name of book. They proclaim seven commandments of the farm.

“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.”

The farm prospers and they start building a wind mill. Snowball with the help of dogs drive away Napoleon. From that point on, he asserts, the pigs alone will make all of the decisions—for the good of every animal. Boxer the horse is totally devoted.

New Maxim is “Napoleon is always right”.

Napoleon also begins to act more and more like a human being—sleeping in a bed, drinking whisky, and engaging in trade with neighboring farmers. In the end there remains only one commandment:

“ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.”

It resonates with today’s world also. It was an allegorical tale about Russia where Napoleon is clearly Stalin. However, in my view this is not limited to only socialistic countries. Today world over there is rise of right wing and they employ these tactics successfully. This is frightening to see that George Orwell can see the future so clearly.

The pigs are humans and humans are pigs, as in the end it says:

“Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. November 1943-February 1944.”

There is timeless wisdom in the book. This is the problem since time immemorial and will remain till there is human weakness and vices are there. The haves have vices and have nots are pious not because of good in heart but because of lack of opportunity. Once the have nots get the power they become just like the previous rulers. In fact,¬ they become more ruthless and dictatorial. Initially there is vision of equality and equal opportunity and resources to all but then they also become corrupt. This is the way it has been and it will be. In India also the Supreme leader has forced his old mentor in retirement.

Propaganda is the deadliest tool and is required to justify the hypocrisy and evil decisions of the supreme leader. Squealer the pig is propaganda minister. Now a days this is done through IT cells of the politicians. They use every possible avenue like Facebook, twitter, blogs, online portals and Social media to push through the agenda and propaganda of their leader. These people are worst enemies of humanity as they justify every evil deed of their leader.

This is hard for the common public but doubly hard for the honest lieutenants of the leader. They reposed their faith and him and worked hard day in and day out for him. But when they realize like boxer and Muriel that the things are not what they seem they become incredulous. Still, they hope against hope that these will improve if the work hard enough. There are some limitations to supreme leader and that is why the things are not working out and it will improve. They are most gullible and pitiable.

Benjamin the donkey is the realist who knows that only rulers change but things remain same. He is Orwell, the intellectuals himself probably. I stop with this quote of Benjamin:

It is same story in Russia, China or Cuba. Charismatic leaders come with a promise of prosperity and equality for all and then they become despots.

The pattern is same in India. The charismatic leaders comes to scene and they give fancy slogans of Panchsheel, Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (Hail the farmer and soldier), Garibi hatao (Remove poverty) or promise Good Days (Achche din) to Indians. All the previous rulers were corrupt and inefficient. They were acting against national interest. Only he can deliver the country to new future. All the corrupt and weak leaders will be punished and arch enemy Pakistan will be taught a lesson. The system is more corrupt, oppressive and dictatorial. Their dogs and pigs are running riot and freely without any control. Nobody can raise a voice and if some tries, he is either killed or put in jail.

Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said,

“Life would go on as it had always gone on — that is, badly.”









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