Martha 's Reviews > Animal Farm

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
of the golden time.

Propaganda is prevalent under Napoleon's rule to keep the farm animals from uprising. Very similar to Stalin's regime.

Keep the ignorant, ignorant, and oh what a committed Comrade Boxer is.

And the Commandments - they change daily.

Yeah, my memory of this was a 3-star and it still stands. Wasn't my cup of whiskey.

UPDATE July 2020:
As I reread Animal Farm for the third time of recent, I see much more clearly the relevance of this story here in July 2020, sadly. I definitely see “Napoleon” coming through loud and clear in our major city leaders. And, as in the case on the Animal Farm, the new autonomous country “CHAZ/CHOP” did not fare well.

Animal Farm relates to the Russian Revolution (1917) when the peasants and working class revolted against the government of Tsar Nicholas II. The revolution was led by Lenin, a Marxist.

I am also reading We the Living by Ayn Rand which gives a taste of this same revolution during her childhood. Not a good flavor at all.

From what I have read on the interpretation of Animal Farm, Old Major represents Karl Marx and Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin). Karl Marx, who helped lead the Russian Revolution of 1917 using Marxist principles and Lenin who became head of Soviet Russia.

Thought I’d look up Marxism since it has been glorified in the news lately:

“Marxism–Leninism is a political philosophy that seeks to establish a socialist state to develop further into socialism and eventually communism, a classless social system with common ownership of the means of production and with full social and economic equality of all members of society.”

I have a change of heart with my old rating of 3 stars. I see much more clearly now, yes, this is a 5-star story all the way. But, I see this story through different lenses. Orwell is critical of Stalin, the dictator, which is commendable. But, I see “Napoleon” as Lenin. Or, should I say, I do not see the difference between Lenin and Stalin. I wouldn’t think Marxism should be glorified knowing how Lenin ruled: political repression and mass killings -hundreds of millions died under his regime. Found this sentence on the internet:

“A controversial and highly divisive historical figure, Lenin is viewed by supporters as a champion of socialism and the working class, while critics on both the left and right emphasize his role as founder and leader of an authoritarian regime responsible for political repression and mass killings.”

Supposedly this story (from all the experts I read) relates to the revolution of 1917 when Tsar Nicholas II was ruling in which Lenin and his Marxist regime took over. After Lenin, then came Stalin. So - somehow Orwell threw in Stalin as the oppressor instead of the real culprit, for this time frame - Lenin.

Here is something I found re: shortage of food for the farm animals:

“For the time being, certainly, it has been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a “readjustment”, never as a “reduction”) . . . .

Re: the term “Defunding the police” an article states: “it does not necessarily mean getting rid of the police altogether. Rather, it would mean reducing police budgets and reallocating those funds to crucial and oft-neglected areas like education, public health, housing, and youth services.”

So, instead of “readjustment” for “reduction” - Now we have “reallocate” for “Defund”- Ahh, I get it. Gotta watch these words!

Yes, this story is a good one to read for all adults (if have not already) and high school kids, about now.

Ok, on to reread 1984 just for shits and giggles.