Animal Farm - George Orwell

Published by Penguin Books: Great Britain, 1977.
First published 1945.

Animal Farm is a very well-known book, but not a very pleasant one. It presents itself as 'A Fairy Story', telling the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their farmer, taking over the farm and running it for themselves. At first things seem to go well, but as the story progresses (and as the fierce boar Napoleon begins to assert more and more authority over the other animals) things gradually grow harder and harder for the idealistic animals.

Orwell's story is a clear commentary on various revolutionary ideals of his day, most clearly communism, with the animals referring to each other as 'Comrade' and claiming to work for the common good. Unfortunately this commentary also includes the levels of corruption and power that those in leadership in those systems often exhibit. By the end of the story all of the 'good' characters have been suppressed, or worked themselves to death, while the corrupt leadership has established itself as a 'new humanity', just as uncaring towards the other animals as the humans they overthrew at the start of the novel.

While Elise and I appreciate the metaphors and allusions throughout the book, it also leaves the reader with quite a heavy feeling. Interesting, but not heartwarming in any way.

Completed with Elise, 5 February 2021.



(Elise Books)

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