Animal Farm

Animal Farm

by George Orwell

Plot Summary:

Manor Farm is home to many different animals, under the oppression of Mr. Jones, one of the main Pig's Old Major comes up with a brilliant new idea in his sleep and tells all the other animals about it. This new idea was called “Animalism” which consist of only seven rules. After preaching to all the animals on how humans only consume and don’t produce they throw out Mr. Jones from Manor Farm. The animals are independent and live by the seven rules of Animalism for the rest of the farms life with twists in the farm.

Thoughts:

Animal Farm is a short and quick read, I personally enjoyed it because I enjoy history and political ideologies and anyone who enjoys that should read Animal Farm. The characters themselves represent old Political leaders and Philosophers. The Pigs are at the top of the social structure Napoleon, Snowball and Old Major are the most important. Napoleon represents Stalin because he was the leader while Snowball represented Trotsky.

I enjoyed Animal Farm not only because of the connections from real people, but ideologies that tied into real quotations made by Marx. Through quotes such as “The worker in his human functions no longer feels himself to be anything but [an] animal. What is animal becomes human and what is human becomes animal”(Marx 1844) It took a literal approach at quotations by philosophers, political leaders and revolutionists. For those that are interested in history, politics and social structure in the 20th Century. I strongly recommend Animal Farm for a quick read and if you want to make real life connections to history in a well-written and humorous manner.

reviewed by S. M., Grade 10 Scona student