pigs?? human?? who are we??

Many writers receive their inspiration on writing their literary works from the outside sources. The idea or theme for their story may come from family, personal experiences, history, latest issues, or even their own creativity. Many authors choose to write based on the historical events that happening around them. The inspiration to write on historical events might come from the personal or particular view point towards the event that they want to write on in their works. Most of the literary works by George Orwell touched on the forms of governments, especially democracy and dictatorship.

The story Animal Farm takes place on a farm in England. The short novel starts when the old pig in the farm, old Major, calls out all the animals in the farm for a secret meeting. He enlightens them with his dream of a revolution against the owner of the farm, Mr. Jones. Three days later the old Major dies but his inspiring final speech gives a new outlook on life for some of the more intelligent animals. The pigs take charge on the other animals as they are the intelligent ones in the farm.

Till this point of the story, all the animals treated equally.  They are living equal, as comrades. Here, Orwell showed the democracy that worked well among the animals in the farm. But it does not last for long, for Orwell knows that true socialism never last for very long. The power corrupts those who have it.

The theme of this story is good will can be a prey to selfishness, ambition and hypocrisy. In Animal Farm, the two main characters are the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. They are the mastermind or the smartest that gathered all the animals in the farm and enlighten them to fight against the owner of the farm. Eventually the power was used in a different manner by abusing the power that they have. Gradually the pigs gain more power than the others and it leads them hard to resist the temptation. They did all the things that against Old Major’s wish by move into Jones house, drink alcohol and trade between other farms.

In Animal Farm, Orwell shows how propaganda and brainwashing works in a dictatorship government, by showing that the pigs make the other animals believe on whatever they saying. The pigs ate most of the apples and drink most of the milk, but they justify it convincing the other animals by telling that leadership is a heavy responsibility and the animals must thankful and allow them to eat more then them. Orwell presents that the control over the other animals mind make them believing, “Napoleon is always right”.

Communism and dictatorship had various flaws that might ruin the happiness and stability of the country. Communism ensures that all in an equal class and will get the same benefits. However, in reality everything was against the theory. The leaders fight for their place to be the supreme leader, people was not treated equally, and only selfishness is seen in the leadership. A communist government can change into a dictatorship that is full with lies, greed and selfishness.