Of Literature Essay, Research Paper
Why Animal Farm Is A Great
Piece Of Literature
Animal Farm is a great piece of literature because it is a story unlike any other. It was written by George Orwell and was published in 1946. The story teaches us lessons of past history and lessons for the problems we face everyday. Animal Farm was read by a huge audience and still is. George Orwell’s novel does an excellent job of portraying the Russian Revolution of 1917. Animal Farm is a satire that uses its characters to symbolize leaders of the Russian Revolution.
The theme in the novel is that in every society there are leaders who will, if given the chance, probably abuse the power they have. The hard working people of Russia are compared with the barnyard animals in Animal Farm, and that the laborers received low wages for their work. With the leadership of the pigs, the smartest animals, the animals rebel against the humans and gain total control of the farm. That symbolizes the Russian Revolution. The title of the book makes you think that it s only about animals, but instead it s really about Communist Russia. Each of the animals represents the Russian leaders and the Russian people.
Trotsky and Stalin’s relationship was very much like Snowball’s and Napoleons. Trotsky organized the Red Army and gave speeches and everyone in Russia thought he would win power over Stalin. After Lenin’s death Trotsky lost all his power to Stalin and was expelled from the communist party. (Bignerds.com, unsure/unclear)
Boxer the horse represents how people can be used for their skills. When Boxer wasn t useful to Napoleon anymore Napoleon still got rid of him even though Boxer was the hardest worker of the animals on the farm. A quote from the book about Boxer s tragedy is Too late someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road. Boxer was never seen again. (Page 124)
What s so great about the story is that it s actually based on real people and events. The story of Animal Farm is told in a straightforward and simple style. Orwell s style of writing is superb. The ending of the story is practically the best part. 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. (Page 139) The ending tells of how the pigs had changed so much that they were practically humans.
Animal Farm is a great piece of literature for many reasons. First of all the book teaches us about the Russian Revolution from the animals point of view. Second of all the book teaches us lessons about life, not everyone can be trusted, power corrupts and knowledge is power. Third of all it s just a great piece of writing to read; and many people have read it.