Animal Farm vs Russian Revolution Parallels

FIRST, SOME IMPORTANT TERMS… • Totalitarianism: A kind of dictatorship where one political party has total control and all opposition is ruthlessly suppressed. • Fable: A humorous story in which animals speak and act like humans in order to expose some human weakness. • Satire: A form of literature that uses ridicule to make fun of people or events in order to bring about change. 2 Allegory: a story that can be read on two levels 1. Animal Farm can be read as a funny fable about animals who rebel against their owner and take over a farm in England, only to allow corruption to ruin it. 2. Animal Farm can be read as an allegory that satirizes the events of the Russian Revolution of 1917 with animals representing characters from Russian history. 3 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Farmer Jones Czar Nicholas II •Irresponsible with his animals •Poor leader in comparison to other monarchs •Sometimes cruel: beats them; letting them starve •Cruel: sometimes brutal with political opponents •Sometimes kind; mixing milk in the animals’ food •Sometimes kind: hired starving students to work as spies 4 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Old Major Karl Marx •Taught Animalism •Invented Communism •Workers do the work, rich keep the money, animals revolt •“Workers of the World Unite”- take over the economy (factories and farms) and thus the government •Dies before the revolution takes place •Dies before the Russian Revolution 5 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Animalism Communism •No social classes – no rich, but no poor •No social classes – no rich, but no poor •Workers get a better life; all animals are equal •All people are equal •Animals own the farm •Government owns everything and the people own the government 6 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Snowball Leon Trotsky •Young, smart, good speaker, idealistic •One of the leaders of the revolution •Really wants to make life better for all •Pure Communist, followed Marx •One of the leaders of the revolution •Wanted to improve life for all in Russia •Chased away into exile by Napoleon’s dogs •Chased away by Lenin’s KGB (secret police) 7 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Napoleon Joseph Stalin •Not a good speaker, not as smart as Snowball •Not a good speaker, not as educated as Trotsky •Cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt •Didn’t follow Marx’s ideas •Ambition for power, killed opponents •Used the dogs, Moses the Raven, and Squealer to control the animals •Cared for power only; killed his opponents •Used KGB, allowed the Church, used propaganda – all for control 8 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Squealer •Convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon •Changes and manipulates the commandments Propaganda / The Ministry of Information •Worked for Stalin to support his image •Used any lie that would support Stalin •Benefited from government control of education 9 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION The Dogs KGB, The Secret Police •A private army that used fear to force the animals to work •Not really police, but enforcers used to support Stalin •Killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon •Used force; often killed entire families for disobedience •Essential part of Napoleon’s strategy to control the animals •Totally loyal to Stalin, even more so than the military 10 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Moses the Raven •Tells Animals about Sugar Candy Mountain (heaven) •Animals can go there if they work hard •Snowball and Old Major were against him • They thought Sugar Candy Mountain was a lie to make the animals work. • Napoleon let him stay because he taught the animals to work and not complain. Organized Religion •Designed to teach people to not complain about their circumstances (why complain when you’ll be in heaven soon?) •Stalin allowed religion to calm down the discontent of the people. 11 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Mollie •Vain; loved her beauty and herself •Didn’t think about Animal Farm •Went with anyone that gave her what she wanted Vain people of Russia & the world / Bourgeoisie •Some people didn’t care about the revolution •Only thought of their own self interest •Escaped to other countries that offered more for them 12 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Boxer •Strong, loyal, hard working horse; believed in Animal Farm •“I Will Work Harder” •“Napoleon Is Always Right” •Gives his all, but is betrayed by Napoleon who sells him to the glue factory. Dedicated, but tricked supporters of the Revolution •People believed Stalin because he was “Communist” •Many stayed loyal even after he was revealed as a tyrant •Betrayed by Stalin who ignored or killed them 13 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Benjamin •Old, wise donkey who is suspicious of Napoleon •Thinks “nothing ever changes” – he was right •Cynical, stubborn mindset •His suspicious about Boxer being sent to the glue factory and the commandments being changed were proved true. •“Donkey’s live a long time” Skeptical people of Russia and the outside world •Weren’t sure Revolution would change anything •Realized that a tyrant could call himself a Communist, but knew Communism wouldn’t work with tyrants 14 ANIMAL FARM vs. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION Overall details of the revolution: Overall details of the revolution: •Was designed to make life better for the animals •Supposed to fix the problems that existed under the Czar’s rule •Life ended up being far worse under the animals as compared to the humans they rebelled against •Life was worse (under Stalin’s control) after the revolution than before 15