George Orwell
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal
I have read Animal Farm once on the excellent website called SparkNotes. I did not have the time to read the whole book for the assignment, so many years later, I sat down and gave Animal Farm the attention it deserves.
“The most telling satiric fables ever penned –a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.” –Goodreads
One evening Old Major, the show pig of the farm, gathers the farm animals to share his vision for animal life. As he explains his views on animals and men, he recalls a dream he had in which he sang a song his mother taught him. This lays the foundation for change on the farm. Major dies a few days later.
Two well-spoken pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, take up Major’s dream and inspire the animals to revolt against their farmer, John. They celebrate their victory by singing and establish what seems like a fair and just system. Over time, the pigs start to read and fight amongst themselves. The townspeople are curious and a tad considered about what is happening on the farm, which the animals have renamed Animal Farm. Farmer John tries to reclaim his farm. He fails, but his attack is just the beginning problems for Animal Farm. The pigs take more control as the quality of life on the farm declines.
Animal Farm can be read as many things: an allegory, satire, fable, or cautionary tale. If you do not have the background knowledge, you may not pick up on everything, but that does not take away from the entertainment of the story. Reading Animal Farm on the surface, it is a charming tale that holds many truths. If you have not read Animal Farm, you should most definitely give it a read it is a book you can read for fun as a child and then again as an older reader with a fresh set of eyes.
Have you read this classic? Have you read Orwell’s other titles?
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