Themes (Animal Farm)

This section explains the key themes in Animal Farm by George Orwell. Animal Farm by George Orwell explores several important themes that offer a deep critique of totalitarianism, power, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. Through the allegory of a farm run by animals, Orwell addresses the corruption of power, inequality, propaganda, and the misuse of language. Below are the key themes in the novel and how they are explored.

Power and Corruption

Absolute power corrupts absolutely: One of the central themes of Animal Farm is the corrupting influence of power. As the animals initially revolt to escape the tyranny of Mr. Jones, they aim to create a society where all animals are equal. However, as the pigs, particularly Napoleon, gain more power, they become increasingly corrupt. Orwell suggests that those in power often prioritise their own interests over the ideals they claim to represent.

The pigs’ rise to power: After the rebellion, the pigs assume leadership because of their intelligence, but their gradual accumulation of power leads to the exploitation of the other animals. Napoleon's use of fear, manipulation, and violence to maintain control shows how leaders can become dictators when unchecked.

Napoleon as a tyrant: Napoleon represents the figure of a dictator, specifically Stalin in the context of Soviet Russia. He uses power not to benefit the farm or promote equality, but to serve his own interests, echoing Orwell’s warning that revolutions can give rise to oppressive regimes.

The Betrayal of Ideals

The failure of Animalism: The philosophy of Animalism, introduced by Old Major, is based on the idea that all animals are equal and should work together for the common good. However, as the pigs consolidate power, they betray these ideals. By the end of the novel, the original commandment, “All animals are equal,” is replaced by the corrupted version, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

The revolution’s outcome: Orwell critiques the way revolutions often betray the very principles they are founded upon. The animals initially hope for a better, fairer life after overthrowing Mr. Jones, but they end up under a regime that is just as oppressive, if not worse. This reflects Orwell’s view of the Soviet Union, where the ideals of communism were undermined by Stalin's dictatorship.

Boxer’s betrayal: Boxer, the hardworking horse, embodies loyalty to the cause of the revolution, constantly repeating the phrases “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.” Despite his dedication, he is ultimately betrayed by the leadership when Napoleon sends him to the knacker’s yard once he is no longer useful. This highlights the betrayal of the working class in corrupt systems of power.

Inequality and Exploitation

The class divide: Although Animal Farm starts with the idea that all animals will be equal, a clear class system soon develops. The pigs, who assume leadership roles, enjoy privileges and luxuries denied to the other animals. This reflects the inequality in Soviet society, where the ruling elite (the Communist Party leaders) lived in relative comfort while the common people suffered.

Exploitation of the working class: Boxer symbolises the exploited working class, whose labour supports the pigs’ luxurious lifestyle. Despite his tireless efforts to improve the farm, he receives no reward for his work and is discarded when he is no longer useful. Orwell uses this to show how the ruling elite in totalitarian regimes exploit the working class for their own benefit.

The pigs becoming like humans: By the end of the novel, the pigs, who once opposed humans as oppressors, have become indistinguishable from them. Orwell uses this to show how those who gain power often become just as corrupt and exploitative as the regimes they replaced, perpetuating inequality rather than eliminating it.

The Abuse of Language and Propaganda

Manipulation through language: Orwell explores how those in power can manipulate language to control and deceive. The pigs, especially Squealer, use clever rhetoric and propaganda to confuse the other animals, convincing them that the pigs’ actions are always in their best interest. Squealer constantly rewrites the farm's history and distorts the truth to maintain Napoleon's authority.

Changing the commandments: The seven commandments of Animalism are gradually altered by the pigs to justify their increasingly selfish behaviour. For example, when the pigs start sleeping in beds, the commandment “No animal shall sleep in a bed” is subtly changed to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” These changes reflect how those in power can manipulate laws and principles to serve their own interests while maintaining the illusion of legitimacy.

The role of propaganda: Squealer represents the use of propaganda, mirroring the role of media in totalitarian regimes, particularly Stalin’s Soviet Union. His ability to twist language helps Napoleon maintain control, as the animals come to accept false realities due to constant lies and misinformation.

The Cyclical Nature of Tyranny

History repeating itself: Orwell demonstrates the cyclical nature of tyranny through the events of the novel. The animals overthrow Mr. Jones to escape oppression, but by the end, they find themselves in a similar, if not worse, situation under Napoleon’s rule. This reflects Orwell’s belief that revolutions can often lead to new forms of oppression rather than genuine freedom, as those in power become corrupted by their own authority.

Pigs and humans becoming the same: The final scene, in which the pigs and humans are indistinguishable from each other, symbolises how revolutionary leaders can become as tyrannical as the rulers they replaced. This cyclical return to tyranny serves as a warning that without checks on power, revolutions can fail to bring about meaningful change.

Leadership and Authority

Napoleon’s dictatorship: Napoleon’s leadership style is authoritarian and brutal. He uses force (the dogs) and fear to eliminate his rivals, such as Snowball, and maintain control over the other animals. Orwell uses Napoleon to show how leaders can use violence and manipulation to establish absolute authority, suppress dissent, and keep the populace subservient.

Snowball as an alternative leader: Snowball, who represents Leon Trotsky, is an intellectual and more idealistic leader who genuinely wants to improve the farm through projects like the windmill. However, Napoleon’s rise to power through violence and deception reflects how, in authoritarian systems, even well-intentioned leaders can be side-lined by more ruthless figures.

The animals’ submission to authority: Most of the animals accept the pigs’ authority without question, often due to fear, ignorance, or a sense of helplessness. Orwell suggests that the oppressed can contribute to their own subjugation by failing to question authority or by being easily swayed by propaganda.

The Use of Fear and Violence

Intimidation as a tool of control: Napoleon’s use of the dogs to intimidate and execute dissenters mirrors Stalin’s use of the secret police (NKVD) to maintain power through fear. The public confessions and executions of animals that supposedly conspired with Snowball are a direct reference to Stalin’s Great Purge, in which real and imagined opponents were eliminated.

Fear of external threats: Throughout the novel, Napoleon keeps the animals in fear of an external threat, whether it’s Mr. Jones returning or Snowball supposedly sabotaging the farm. This manipulation of fear keeps the animals loyal and distracts them from questioning the pigs’ leadership.

The Power of Education and Ignorance

Control through ignorance: Orwell highlights how a lack of education and critical thinking skills can make a population easier to control. The pigs learn to read and write early in the novel, giving them an advantage over the other animals, who remain largely ignorant and incapable of challenging the pigs’ authority. Boxer’s blind loyalty and inability to read reflect the dangers of ignorance in a corrupt society.

The sheep and mindless repetition: The sheep, who mindlessly repeat slogans like “Four legs good, two legs bad,” represent how indoctrination and unthinking loyalty can sustain authoritarian regimes. Their inability to understand complex ideas allows them to be easily manipulated by the pigs.

The failure of education: Despite the initial efforts to teach all animals to read and write, most animals remain illiterate by the end of the novel. This highlights how the pigs deliberately prevent the other animals from gaining knowledge, ensuring that they remain powerless and easily controlled.

The key themes of Animal Farm revolve around power, corruption, inequality, and the manipulation of language. Orwell uses the allegory of the farm to critique totalitarian regimes, particularly Stalinist Russia, and to explore the ways in which revolutions can be corrupted by those who seize power. The novel is a powerful warning about the dangers of unchecked authority, the betrayal of ideals, and the importance of education and critical thinking in resisting oppression.