Heya comrades!
As you know, fables are well-known for using animals as characters, primarily for symbolic reasons, especially when it comes to sending a message to the audience. Reading this might spring up memories of reading The Berenstain Bears, the Frog & Toad book series (my personal childhood favorite of mine), and so much more. But the one fable that everyone knows (you most likely read this book back in high school somewhere) is a book that was published on August 17th, 1945. World-renowned due to its symbolism and messages ingrained in the book, Animal Farm by George Orwell remains a staple in the book industry for what it delivers.
The Plot…
Animal Farm follows a group of animals who, after discussing and realizing how humans don’t produce anything meaningful, decide to lead a revolt against their human farmer in hopes of creating a new society. They want to create a community where all animals are not only equal, but free and happy. With the farm now known as “Animal Farm,” said society follows the concept of “animalism” (not the actual animalism). Its core message is essentially, “All animals are equal.” However, overtime, the seven rules established in the beginning of the book become warped due to the actions that take place throughout the narrative. Eventually, the core message boils down to, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
But What DOES It Mean!?
The book remains a legend up to this day (not surprising). It’s written as political satire, especially since Orwell wrote the book at the end of the Second World War. That said, the satire reflects many things about the USSR, such as Napoleon, one of the pigs, rising to power reflects that of Stalin’s rise to power in the USSR. Then there’s the eventual corruption that the pigs bring, ranging from the likes of walking on two legs to consuming foods that humans eat (such as apples and whatnot), which reflects that of the initial purpose of the movement of the USSR being corrupted.
George Orwell’s book examines power and how those who’ve achieved that kind of status are prone to abusing it in different ways. Some also say that the book exposes the issues with communism when put into practice. Even after seventy-seven years of the book’s original publication, Animal Farm continues to be a book with themes and messages worth examining. Bless schools for lodging this one somewhere in the curriculum. You know you who are.
For more things books related and such, check out the official website for Bookstr!