Question by Sarah: How does the author Orwell parallel Czarist Russia and the Russian peasantry to the characters and events?
How does the author Orwell parallel Czarist Russia and the Russian peasantry to the characters and events in Animal Farm? Can someone answer this by tomorrow because I need to do a Essay.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Kristaps K
From what I remember, Animal Farm was full of allegories and parallels.
And as I live in Latvia, I have real life connection with Russia in the past.
So maybe these little bits and pieces can help you:
– First of all, Animal Farm is not so much about Czarist Russia, as it is about the time after WW1, when Bolshevik did a revolution, from which the result was falling of Czarist Russia (pictured as the farmer). From what I remember, the only animal, who worked together with the old farmer, was raven. It symbolizes the role of church and how it had a lot of power in Czarist Russia, but in Soviet Russia it had to work for both of the sides at the same time (like a traitor to each of them).
– Off course, all the system in Animal Farm is mainly how it was like in Soviet Russia. Communism at first was told to be the best thing, which have happened to people, because now everyone was equal. As in the book, in history too only later everyone understood, that “some are more equal than others”.
– The next thing I remember was about the characters :
— Old Major was kinda Karl Marx- the guy, who first had the ideas of Marxism (his utopia), later communism
— I guess, that the skull was thought to be Lenin, because he presented Russia communism, and later was embalmed and put out for public to see their great leader (just like skull).
— Napoleon is Joseph Stalin. He started by building power and respect, while secretly having his Secret Police (dogs). That is how he later made everyone listen to him and fear him.
— Snowball is said to be Leon Trotsky. I don’t know a lot about him, but he had some similar ideas like Stalin, but i guess he wanted to do everything without force and fear.
— Squealer is said to be Lavrentiy Beria. I think this dude had something to do with secret police in Soviet Russia.
— Piglets were the next generation of Stalinists- people, who were raised to believe in Stalin and the his ideas.
— The two other humans, dont remember their names, had something to do with countries. But, sorry, I dont remember, which was which.
— Boxer is representing the work force or proletariat. He is not so well educated, he believes in ideas of his ruler, he does what he is said to do.
— Mollie is representing those people, who ran off after the falling of Tzar.
— Dont remember, if the donkey represents anything specific. In my opinion, he represents the old people, who always could remember the old time, could see through the stuff, what was going on in Soviet Russia.
Thats about it what I remember about animals and other characters.
***
So basically the book is about the life, the system in soviet Russia.
And everything, what happens in the farm, is something, what could have happened in real life.
For example:
– fights = revolutions
– killing of pigs = killing of those, who was against ideas of Stalin.
– Food sharing and building = everything was everyones, everyone had to make effort for grater good
***
In the end, pigs become like humans.
In real life:
It all started with Marxism ideas, that it would be a big utopia, if everyone was equal, everyone done something for everyone. At the beginning it wasnt a bad idea, but as we all know, that power corrupts, power spoils. And the people who made these ideas come true in Russia, now had the power. And by the time, it wasnt about creating a better country, but about getting most for yourself. And now it was again Monarchy, but called socialism.
***
Hope this helps.
What do you think? Answer below!
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