Animal Farm is a timeless classic for a variety of reasons. I would like to compare it not just to the political scenario today but also thought of a few companies which were like Napolean in Animal Farm. Napoleon is the main antagonist of the novel ‘Animal Farm’ written by George Orwell, who wanted to convey his stand on totalitarian leaders. When this book was written, Joseph Stalin, Former Prime Minister of Soviet Union, was assuming the role of a leader to the people of Soviet Union. This book explores how new leaders, who promise to disrupt the existing power dynamics when overthrowing the old authorities, eventually end up following the same corrupt ways, forgetting their promises or perhaps revealing that this was their plan from the start.
Setting – “A Farm” to represent the then pressing issues
This satirical allegorical novel has used a farm and its inhabitant animals to speak of the Russian revolution. This was a bold move by the author to directly express his thoughts, when there was so much tension around, using an animal farm to compare the political dynamics happening in the human world – a unique idea which was unthinkable at the time. All the characters are portrayed by the farm animals. They take over the farm from the humans, determined to build their own little world with the promise of more food and comfort. The animals that led the revolution were two pigs – Napolean and Snowball.
The real situation of animals after taking over
I felt really sorry for the animals (people in reality) who blindly followed the leaders in the belief that they would do the right thing. Boxer, a hard-working horse, further proves it with his statements “I have to work hard” and “Napolean is always right”. As a result, his death showed that nothing has really changed; in fact, has become more brutal than when humans were running the farm. Betrayal was woven into every step of their struggles. And, the saddest part is that the animals forget their betrayals and stay in the trap for momentary happiness and pride. However, if we don’t question them when they go wrong, we are digging our own pits, which is what is happening in this novel.
My Thoughts
Animal Farm is a short read that was amazingly written through a simple storyline and uses easy language. This novel is much more than what it is said in this blog. The book seems relevant even to today’s political scenario across the globe. The way people forget the oaths their leaders take, and how those leaders freely modify their own resolutions, is accurately conveyed. Also, this random thought occurred to me. Not just politics, even in business field, the businesses that enter the market promising to disrupt an existing industry go back to the old ways to sustain. Of course, businesses should be agile but they lose their USP (unique Selling Point) in doing so and lose the trust of people. For example, Byju’s opening offline centres.
Have you Animal Farm? Share in the comments any real-life situations that came to your mind while reading.
Read my book review on I Came Upon a Lighthouse