The Destruction of Utopian Ideals (Animal Farm, by Orwell) essays

The Destruction of Utopian Ideals (Animal Farm, by Orwell) essays George Orwells book, Animal Farm, is a scathing satire on the failure of the Russian communist revolution to free the Russian people and establish an egalitarian society. The characters in this revolution are represented by a variety of animals whose society is an animal farm. The animals have some serious grievances against their tyrannical human bosses and stage a rebellion to free themselves of oppression and to create a utopian society based on the philosophy of Old Major, a boar respected among the animals. Ironically, the leaders of the rebellion, the pigs, seize power and become even more tyrannical oppressors than the original human bosses. Old Majors doctrine of Animalism, a philosophy that stresses equality and fair treatment of all animals, is distorted and ultimately destroyed by propaganda, lies, and the corruption of power. The most ruthless and power-hungry of the pigs, Napoleon, establishes a dictatorship making new policies which are in direct opposition to the original ideals of Old Major. Old Majors doctrine of Animalism is written as seven commandments by which the animals should conduct their lives. The Seven Commandments are eliminated, and in their place is put one commandment which states that, All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others (133). Napoleon is now making all of the decisions on the farm, and when the slightest disagreement is uttered from the mouth of another animal, the animal is ruthlessly punished. The power structure of Animal Farm under Napoleons dictatorship becomes a mockery of Old Majors belief of equality among the animals. Old Majors ideals of equality among the animals is distorted and destroyed by Napoleons use of intimidation and fear against the other animals. One afternoon, when Napoleon has ordered the animals to assemble in the yard, a group of animals is being forced, by means of Napoleons do...