Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

1. Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

2. Symbolic Connections Background Allegory Symbolism of Characters Animal Farm presents a terrifying picture of a world without personal freedom The story can be read on two levels: Beast fable History of Soviet communism The pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, are symbolic of soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

3. Historical Background Soviet Political History The Problem Philosophies of Karl Marx Orwell uses the plight of the Soviet nation as a powerful tool to condemn any political body that seek to gain total control over the masses. Early 20th Century, a tiny minority controlled most of the country’s wealth The working class rallied around political philosopher Karl Marx’s doctrine of “Workers of the world, unite!”

4. Historical Background, Continued Marx’s Theory The Russian Revolution Stalin vs. Trotsky Marx believed that when all property is commonly owned, everyone is equal. Vladimir Lenin seized control of Russian and took land and industry from private control and put them under government supervision After Lenin’s death their was an ugly struggle for power in Russia

5. Background, Continued Stalin Takes Control Control through Intimidation Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky both jockeyed for control of the communist party, with Stalin coming out victorious Stalin used his power in vicious and often demeaning ways—killing and imprisoning enemies

6. Background, Continued Stalin’s Rule It is estimated that millions of Soviet citizens were murdered while he was in power The Soviet government began to crumble; economic plans failed; violence, fear and starvation gripped the Soviet nation

7. Animalism No owners, no rich, but no poor Workers get a better life, all animals equal Everyone owns the farm Communism Aristocracy and workers share and become one All people equal Government owns everything, people own government Animalism and Communism

8. Animal Revolution It was supposed to make life better for all Life was worse at the end The leaders became the same as, or worse than the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against Russian Revolution Supposed to fix problems from Czar Life was even worse long after revolution Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy Animal Revolution and Russian Revolution

9. Old Major taught Animalism Believed animals needed to revolt; even the “lower” animals must come together dies before revolution Karl Marx invented Communism Believed in the maxim, “Workers of the world, Unite!" dies before Russian Revolution Old Major and Karl Marx

10. Napoleon not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt his ambition is for power, killed opponents used dogs, Moses, and Squealer to control animals Joseph Stalin not a good speaker, not educated like Trotsky same as Napoleon, didn't follow Marx's ideas cared for power, killed all that opposed him used KGB, church, and propaganda (newspapers, media) Napoleon and Joseph Stalin

11. Snowball young, smart, good speaker, idealistic really wants to make life better for all One of leaders of revolution chased away into exile by Napoleon's dogs Leon Trotsky other leader of "October Revolution" pure communist, followed Marx wanted to improve life for all in Russia chased away by Lenin's KGB (Lenin's secret police) Snowball and Leon Trotsky

12. Squealer big mouth, talks a lot convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon Changes and manipulates the commandments Newspapers worked for Stalin to support his image used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin benefited from the fact that education was controlled Squealer and Propaganda, Newspapers

13. Mr. Jones irresponsible to his animals (lets them starve) sometimes cruel - beats them with whip sometimes kind - mixes milk in animal mash Czar Nicholas II a poor leader at best, compared to western kings cruel and sometimes brutal with opponents Sometimes kind - hired students as spies to make $ Mr. Jones and Czar Nicholas II

14. The Dogs a private army that used fear to force animals to work killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon KGB (Secret Police) not really police, but forced support for Stalin used force, often killed entire families for disobedience The Dogs and KGB

15. Mollie was vain - loved her beauty and self didn't think about the animal farm went with anyone who gave her what she wanted Human Greed some people didn't care about revolution Often only think about themselves went to other countries that offered more for them Mollie and Human Greed

16. Moses SugarCandy mountain animals can go there if they work hard Kept the animals spirits up, despite harsh conditions Napoleon let him stay because he taught animals to work and not complain Religion (Communism) Heaven Religion was tolerated because people would work Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions Moses and Religion

17. Boxer strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm "Napoleon is always right", "I must work harder" gives his all, is betrayed by Napoleon, who sells him Working Class people believed Stalin because he was "Communist" many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin a tyrant betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them Boxer and the Working Class

18. Windmill the windmill was promised to make the animal's life easier Shorten work week Windmill Destroyed Build new windmills Industrial Revolution 'Five-Year Plan' was supposed to improve Soviet industry and increase production It would allow the soviets to shorten the work-week Plan failed miserably Stalin kept churning out new 'Five-year Plans Windmill and Industrial Revolution

19. Mr. Frederick Fredrick's known for being vicious to older animals, beating animals even throwing them in his furnace Frederick and his farmhands attack Animal Farm Adolf Hitler Committed unthinkable crimes against humanity during the Holocaust broken pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany by invading the country Mr. Frederick and Adolf Hitler

20. Mr. Pilkington Neighbor to Animal Farm Napoleon and Pilkington’s relationship quickly turns icy when they play a simultaneous Ace of Spades at the conclusion of the novella. Capitalist Governments Western capitalist countries such as the United States and Britain. After the end of World War II, the Cold War was ignited between the US and the Soviet Union, Mr. Pilkington and Capitalist Governments