Animal Farm, a review from the works of Seamus Gorham

Animal Farm

Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely-and this is vividly and most certainly proved in George Orwell’s short novel. "Animal Farm. “Animal farm is a simple fable that is simply filled to the brim with political symbolism. The novel can be seen as the historical analysis of the causes of the failure of communism, or as a totally sick fairy-tale; in any case it tells a mad good story that aims to prove that human’s inability to deal with diversity prevents people from being equal and happy.
Animal Farm tells the simple and tragic story of what happens when the oppressed farm animal’s rebel, drive out Mr. Moccia Mr. Jones, the farmer, and attempt to rule the farm themselves. What the animals seem to have in mind was at was a utopian sort of communism, where each would work, respecting the needs of others. But it was all for nought, because the venture failed. Animal Farm ended up being a dictatorship of pigs, which were the brightest, and most idle of the animals.
Note: this happens to be where I think that the reference to corrupt officials as pigs comes from.
Animal Farm successfully presents how the mechanism of propaganda and brainwashing works in totalitarian governments, by showing how the pigs could make the other animals believe practically anything. Responsible for the propaganda was Squealer, a pig that "could turn black into white". Squealer managed to change the rule from "all animals are equal" to" all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others". He managed to convince the other animals that it was for their sake that the pigs ate most of the apples and drank most of the milk, that leadership was "heavy responsibility" and therefore the animals should be thankful to Napoleon. In this simple but effective way, Orwell presents the tragedy and confusion of thought control to the extent that one seems better off simply believing that" Napoleon is always right".
One of my favorite sections of the book is when Orwell describes how power turned the pigs from simple "comrades" to ruthless dictators who managed to walk on two legs, and carry whips. The story maybe seen as an analysis of the Soviet regime ( being that the novel was written in the 1940’s its safe to say that its more than likely based on Russia), or as a warning against political power games of an absolute nature and totalitarianism in general. For this reason, the story ends with a hair-raising warning to all humankind:" 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".
Animal Farm is a truly unique novel and a great read, as is anything by the literary master George Orwell. If you like a literary punch in the face you’re sure to enjoy this classic novella.

But you don’t have to take my word for it



duh nah nah!

Overall Rating-*****

* lame
** Aight
*** Good
**** Wicked Good
***** Wicked Excellent!!