Dystopia

Book Review – Animal Farm by George Orwell

Suppose that the animals of a farm revolt against their owner? How would it be? And why?

In this political allegory (or beast fable?), Orwell brilliantly highlights how a revolution can degenerate into a totalitarian regime. The animals are fed up with their poor life conditions, therefore, inspired by the wise pork Old Major, decide to overthrow the farmer and start to govern themselves. Old Major, with his great oratory skills, tries to sway all the animals in the farm that the farm owner is their enemy and he is the reason of their bad living condition due to animals’ exploitation. But some porks, that become the leaders of the revolution after Old Major’s death, hold the power with physical strength, exploit and manipulate other animals through propaganda and the animals' ignorance.

Napoleon perfectly embodies the degeneration of the rebellion: at the beginning it seems to follow the Seven Commandments, approve Animalism and the revolution, but soon after he establishes a totalitarian and authoritarian regime, killing one of his supporters, Snowball. Also Squealer and the dogs will play a crucial role: the dogs protect the figure of Napoleon and strike terror to anyone who questions his decisions; Squealer’s task is to convince all the animals that “Napoleon is always right”, manipulating historical events of the farm and changing the Commandments in order to maintain and reinforce the regime’s power.

It’s evident the reference to the Russian Revolution of 1917: for instance the philosophy created by the pigs called Animalism has to be compared to communism, Napoleon embodies Stalin, Snowball Trotskji, Old Major resembles Lenin, while Boxer is Stakanov. But in the end nothing will change for the better as the animals hoped.  

This compelling book is a dystopian novel because it presents the worst of the possible worlds. Animal Farm is interesting and captivating, moreover makes the reader think about the origins and the development of totalitarianism. In fact, although by a superficial reading it may seem a simple tale because the characters are animals and the language is easy to understand,  it actually has a deeper meaning: it's a passionate attack to greed, corruption and selfishness which ruin the good aims of freedom and equality after a revolution.

It is a dystopia but it looks real!

Adamo Mario, Bilotta Emilia, 

De Munno Melania, Feraco Livia,

 Lovati Francesca, Madrigrano Rossella, 

Sicilia Martina, Venneri Ludovica