'Animal Farm' by George Orwell - Review

My rating: 10/10

Animal Farm is quite frankly a brilliant read. It is concise yet doesn't lack any detail in depicting the evolution of reign at Manor Farm, or 'Animal Farm' as it later becomes. Orwell said that Animal Farm intended to reflect events preceding the Russian Revolution and the Stalin era in the Soviet Union, however as an allegorical novel it also discusses the effect of power on a much wider scale.

The novel describes life at Manor Farm under the reign of Mr Jones, and the difficult life of the animals. After an inspirational speech by the old boar Old Major in which he shares his dream of 'animalism',  the animals put rebellion to action and run Mr Jones out of the farm, claiming it for themselves. We then watch as the animals run the farms themselves under seven new commandments, the most important of which being "All animals are equal".

The main problem that Orwell had when writing Animal Farm was making it believable; no, animals can't talk and yes, there are many books out there with talking animals, but for this book to truly be considered an intellectual, classic novel, it had to be done perfectly - and that is exactly how it was done. The animals, with their array of whimsical and intriguing personalities, were thoroughly enjoyable to read about and truly believe in. I particularly liked Boxer; the loyal workhorse who is always determined to work harder and better, and refuses to stop working until he physically can't.

Although the animals themselves were entertaining to read about, that in itself is not the point of the novel. As a dystopian, it certainly carries out its objective in portraying the danger of excessive power placed in the hands of a single person or party. After Mr Jones abuses his power as the owner of the farm, the animals vow to eradicate this by creating seven commandments under which the farm is run by the animals as an equal whole. Whilst this would presumably provide a solution to all of their problems, issues of power and authority amongst the animals continue to increase. At the start of the novel the animals believe that humans, and their power, are the root of unhappiness in their lives, but they soon learn that such oppressive power is transferable amongst the species and it will take much more than a small rebellion to establish serenity and equality at the farm.

An intrinsic part of this power abuse is conveyed through the manipulation of language - music like in Nineteen Eighty-Four, but on a smaller scale. The animals who created the seven commandments are soon altering, editing and adding more onto them to justify selfish and self-empowering actions.

Animal Farm conveys a classic Orwell-style warning of the dangers that power and responsibility can bring, despite whatever good intentions you may have had in the beginning. Moreover, it is a truly thought-provoking novel in that it questions us readers on our treatment of animals both as an individual and as a race, by turning the tables and giving them a voice to be heard.