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Animal Farm by George Orwell reviewed by Adam H.

Written during World War II, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a fascinating allegory of the Russian Revolution. The wildly successful novel describes the events of the takeover of Manor Farm by animals, and the ensuing power struggle between two of the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. As the novel progresses, the reader is enthralled by the events that spiral out of control and consequently one learns about the events of the Russian Revolution up until the end of the Second World War.

The rebellion occurrs quickly and almost without warning, when Mr. Jones who had been neglecting his animals for months, forgets to feed them. Jones, symbolizing Czar Nicholas II, is driven away by the animals that were spurred on by the rhetoric of the deceased Old Major, an allegory for Karl Marx, and take over the farm. Singing “Beasts of England”, two pigs, Snowball, symbolizing the bombastic Leon Trotsky, and Napoleon, standing in for the brutal Joseph Stalin, create the seven commandments of Animalism and change the name of the property to Animal Farm. With the pigs leading, the animals have a successful harvest, and are content to live by the rules of Animalism. Yet the conflict between Snowball and Napoleon escalates into heated debate every Sunday, as both end up in a voracious power struggle. Things come to a head when Snowball’s idea of a windmill is denounced by Napoleon, and the latter’s menacing dogs attack the former. In the end, intrigue, deceit, and brutal terrorism lead the animals into life and death struggles with neighboring farmers such as Pilkington and Fredrick, and with themselves.

The book offers a fascinating look at the Russian Revolution from an allegorical sense. The creativity that Orwell possesses makes each page of the book more exciting, as the story reaches a climax. The suspenseful nature of the book will leave any reader on edge. Looking at the fascinating turn of events from a different point of view, any lover of history will appreciate this fantastic piece of literature. It can change a person’s view on Russian history. Orwell has a knack for making the grandiose ideas of the Russian Revolution simple and easy to understand. Animal Farm has many themes which are nicely woven into the fabric of the story to allow any reader to fully comprehend this turning point in world history.

Some readers of the book may find it a little bit confusing being that animals are speaking and interacting with humans and other animals. It seems very easy to lose focus of the allegorical meaning of the actions when focusing on figuring out who is what animal. The book is slow in some parts as well, and extremely fast paced in others so it can be easy to lose track of events.

In the end, this book does deserve four smiley faces. Animal Farm is a thrilling book from start to finish and has deep meaning. The progression of events gives an excellent perspective of the history of the Russia from 1917 to 1945 without the reader even knowing it. Orwell’s masterpiece will make readers never think of history in the same way.