Farmer, Andrew

Animal Farm Test Essay

Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is the story of an English farm whose animals

work under the brutal rule of Farmer Jones. Old Major, a wise pig, incites the ideas of

Animalism, a philosophy that animals can live a life of higher-quality free from human rule. He

encourages the animals to overthrow tyrannical Jones, so they do. All animals are declared equal

in the new society, but the pigs manage to receive more luxuries and better treatment under the

law. The “animalistic” society soon becomes a fascist dictatorship. Animal Farm serves as an

allegory for the Russian Revolution and the communist society it results in, but Orwell sends

everyone the message to think for themselves and to be critical of their leaders.

The actions of Napoleon, Animal Farm’s new leader, are examples of what would happen

should people neglect their duty to think critically. Napoleon is a pig who takes advantage of the

animals’ lack of intelligence. He seizes control of Animal Farm and becomes a vicious tyrant

even worse then Farmer Jones. One of the seven laws of the farm is, “No animal shall kill

another animal.” When several farm animals confess to colluding with the Napoleon’s arch

nemesis, he slaughters the guilty animals. Said law is referenced by one of the animals,

questioning Napoleon’s actions, but it is seen that the law had been changed by Napoleon. It now

read, “No animal shall kill another animal… without reason.” Stalin, the leader of post-

revolutionary Russia, killed his disloyal subjects relentlessly, but still managed to maintain an

image of perfection, nobility, and kindness. The animals didn’t have the intelligence to realize

the commandment had been changed illegally. They are convinced that Napoleon only has good

intentions, which should not be criticized. Because of their inability to scrutinize their leader,
death was the outcome. Here, George Orwell sends an urge to his readers to think for

themselves.

The actions of Boxer, a laborious horse, represent a society who does not reflect upon

their leaders’ actions. Boxer is perhaps the most dedicated worker on Animal Farm. He is a

patriot for animalism and will do anything to help advance the farm. Despite his strength and

patriotism, his stupidity is revealed when he fails at learning more than four letters of the

alphabet. During Napoleon’s rise to total power, Boxer is vulnerable to the propaganda thrown

at him by Squealer, Napoleon’s messenger. Boxer is gullible and therefore believes anything

Napoleon tells him to improve his image. His two maxims are “I will work harder,” and

“Napoleon is always right.” His subjection to Napoleon only enables his totalitarian rule. His

inability to think for himself results in a lifetime of lost work and inevitably, his death. Orwell,

yet again, attempts to make his readers criticize their leaders in order to preserve justice.

Benjamin, an old donkey living on Animal Farm, is one of the only animals who realized

the malice of Napoleon’s actions. His fear of speaking up, of criticizing Napoleon, further

enabled the injustice brought about by the pigs. Benjamin knew that Squealer repeatedly changed

the commandments for the benefit of Napoleon’s gripping rule. While the other animals

remained clueless, Benjamin could have informed them they were being tricked, yet he did not.

The commandments were removed and replaced with the declaration that pigs were better than

the others. Benjamin’s lack of courage to speak up cleared the way for fascism, just as Orwell’s

readers’ lack of courage to criticize their leaders can lead to a seize of total power.

Animal Farm, a seemingly light-hearted novel centered around a farm inhabited by

talking animals, is actually a satirical allegory for the Russian Revolution that can be applied to

any time or place in history. George Orwell specifically wants his readers to apply the messages
of the novel to present day. He wants his readers to stop fascist leaders like Napoleon. He wants

his readers to think for themselves, unlike Boxer, who was brutally slaughtered by Napoleon’s

command. He calls his readers to speak up, unlike Boxer, who could have prevented the

dictatorship, but instead remained silent and watched his friends die at the hands of the vicious

pigs. George Orwell, through Animal Farm, encourages readers to think for themselves and to

scrutinize corrupt leaders.