Historical Context (Animal Farm)

This section explores the historical context of the novella Animal Farm by George Orwell. Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegorical novella that reflects the events leading up to and following the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union. Orwell, a democratic socialist, wrote the novel as a critique of totalitarian regimes and the corruption of socialist ideals. Understanding the historical context of Animal Farm is essential to interpreting its political commentary. Below are key points about the historical context of the novella.

The Russian Revolution of 1917

Background: In 1917, the Russian Revolution overthrew Tsar Nicholas II, ending centuries of autocratic rule in Russia. The revolution was sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the Tsarist regime due to issues like poverty, food shortages, and the heavy losses Russia suffered in World War I. The Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power with promises of "peace, bread, and land" for the people.

The fall of Tsar Nicholas II: In Animal Farm, the character of Mr. Jones, the farmer who runs the Manor Farm, represents Tsar Nicholas II. His mismanagement and neglect of the farm parallel the incompetence of the Tsarist regime, which ultimately leads to the animals’ rebellion, much like the way the Russian people overthrew the Tsar.

The Rise of the Bolsheviks and the Rebellion

The Bolshevik Revolution: After the fall of the Tsar, the Bolsheviks, a Marxist revolutionary group, took control of the Russian government in the October Revolution of 1917. They were inspired by the ideas of Karl Marx, who advocated for the overthrow of capitalist systems and the establishment of a classless, communist society.

Old Major as Karl Marx/Lenin: In Animal Farm, Old Major, the boar who inspires the animals to revolt, represents a combination of Karl Marx, whose ideas form the basis of the rebellion, and Vladimir Lenin, who led the actual revolution. Old Major’s speech about the animals’ exploitation and his vision of a future where animals are free and equal reflect Marxist and Leninist ideologies. The rebellion that follows mirrors the Russian Revolution.

The Corruption of Socialist Ideals

The early promise of socialism: Initially, the revolution in Russia held the promise of a new, fairer society where everyone would be equal and workers would have control over the means of production. However, this ideal was quickly corrupted by power struggles and authoritarianism.

The rise of Napoleon (Stalin): In Animal Farm, Napoleon the pig represents Joseph Stalin, who became the leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin’s death. Like Stalin, Napoleon gradually consolidates power, using manipulation and violence to maintain control. He betrays the principles of Animalism (the novel’s version of socialism) and establishes a dictatorship under the guise of equality.

Snowball as Trotsky: Snowball, another pig who leads the rebellion alongside Napoleon, represents Leon Trotsky, a key figure in the Russian Revolution. Trotsky was an intellectual and an idealist who advocated for the spread of revolution across the world. In the novel, Snowball is driven out of the farm by Napoleon’s dogs, just as Trotsky was exiled by Stalin, who saw him as a threat to his power.

Squealer as propaganda: Squealer, the pig who constantly manipulates the truth and spreads Napoleon’s version of events, symbolises Soviet propaganda. Under Stalin, propaganda was used to control public perception and rewrite history. Squealer’s role in convincing the animals that everything is going well on the farm, even when it clearly isn’t, mirrors the way Stalin’s regime used propaganda to cover up the failings of the Soviet state.

Stalin’s Totalitarian Regime

Stalin’s rise to power: After Lenin’s death in 1924, Stalin gradually eliminated his rivals, including Trotsky, to establish a dictatorship. He used fear, violence, and manipulation to maintain his rule, just as Napoleon uses trained dogs to intimidate and eliminate opposition in Animal Farm.

The use of violence and purges: One of the ways Stalin consolidated his power was through purges, where he eliminated anyone he suspected of being disloyal. In the 1930s, Stalin orchestrated the Great Purge, during which millions of people were executed or sent to labour camps. In Animal Farm, Napoleon’s public executions of animals who confess to working with Snowball reflect Stalin’s show trials, where people were forced to confess to crimes they did not commit.

The cult of personality: Stalin fostered a cult of personality, presenting himself as the infallible leader of the Soviet Union. In Animal Farm, Napoleon is similarly glorified. His image is everywhere on the farm, and Squealer constantly praises his leadership, even as conditions worsen for the other animals.

The Betrayal of the Working Class

The exploitation of workers: After the revolution, the Soviet government promised to improve the lives of the working class, but in reality, workers continued to suffer under Stalin’s regime. In Animal Farm, the hardworking horse Boxer represents the working class. Boxer’s personal motto, "I will work harder," reflects the dedication of the working class to the cause of the revolution. However, just like the workers in the Soviet Union, Boxer is ultimately betrayed by the leadership. When he is no longer useful, Napoleon sends him to the knacker’s to be slaughtered, despite promises of care and support.

The pigs’ corruption: By the end of Animal Farm, the pigs, who originally led the rebellion in the name of equality, have become indistinguishable from the humans they overthrew. This reflects Orwell’s critique of the Soviet leadership, which he believed had become as corrupt and oppressive as the capitalist rulers they had replaced. The famous final line of the novel, "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," captures this betrayal of socialist ideals.

The Five-Year Plans and Economic Failures

Stalin’s economic policies: In the late 1920s and 1930s, Stalin implemented a series of Five-Year Plans aimed at rapidly industrialising the Soviet Union. These plans involved forced collectivisation of agriculture and strict control over the economy. While they did lead to industrial growth, they also caused widespread famine and suffering, especially among the peasantry.

The Windmill as a symbol: In Animal Farm, the construction of the windmill represents Stalin’s Five-Year Plans. The windmill is supposed to make life easier for the animals by generating electricity, just as Stalin promised that his economic policies would modernise the Soviet Union. However, the windmill is destroyed multiple times, and the animals are forced to rebuild it under increasingly harsh conditions. The repeated failures of the windmill mirror the failure of Stalin’s policies to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

World War II and the Soviet Union

The Nazi-Soviet Pact: In 1939, Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Adolf Hitler, agreeing not to attack each other and dividing Eastern Europe between them. This shocked many communists and socialists around the world, as the Soviet Union had long opposed fascism. In Animal Farm, this is symbolised by Napoleon’s decision to sell timber to Frederick (representing Hitler), despite earlier aligning himself with Pilkington (representing the Western powers). The betrayal of this deal, when Frederick cheats Napoleon, reflects Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, breaking the pact.

The aftermath of World War II: Although the Soviet Union was initially aligned with Nazi Germany, Stalin later joined the Allies after Hitler’s betrayal. By the end of World War II, the Soviet Union emerged as one of the two superpowers, along with the United States, but at great cost to its people. Orwell was concerned that despite the Soviet Union’s role in defeating fascism, Stalin’s regime remained deeply authoritarian and oppressive.

Orwell’s Personal Experience and Political Views

George Orwell’s political stance: Orwell was a democratic socialist who believed in the principles of equality and social justice but was deeply critical of the way these ideals were corrupted in the Soviet Union. He fought in the Spanish Civil War and witnessed first-hand how authoritarian regimes, even those claiming to be socialist, could betray the people they were meant to help.

Why Orwell wrote Animal Farm: Orwell wrote Animal Farm as a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power. He wanted to show how revolutionary ideals can be undermined by the leaders who claim to uphold them. The novel is a direct critique of Stalinism, but its message extends to any regime that exploits its people while claiming to act in their best interests.

Conclusion

The historical context of Animal Farm is deeply tied to the events of the Russian Revolution, the rise of Stalin, and the corruption of socialist ideals in the Soviet Union. Orwell uses the novel to highlight how power can corrupt, and how revolutions that begin with the promise of equality can end in tyranny. Through allegory, Animal Farm critiques the betrayal of the working class, the manipulation of truth, and the rise of totalitarian regimes, making it a timeless warning about the dangers of unchecked political power.