Animal Farm: A Book Beyond Fairytales — No Spoiler Review
Exploring the depths of social hierarchy and political allegory
When I first learned about George Orwell, it was through a conspiracy theory bot on Telegram. I’ve always been intrigued by Area 51-type stories, and my interest led me to that channel.
Humans have always been complex creatures, akin to walking paradoxes: capable of immense love and unimaginable cruelty, all while tripping over our own shoelaces.
And don’t even get me started on our social hierarchy. We’re obsessed with status symbols. We crave connection, but then build walls around ourselves thicker than the Berlin Wall.
But hey, that’s what makes us interesting, right?
Orwell’s 47-year life story, as introduced in the book, fascinated me. I couldn’t fathom how he managed to write some of the greatest classic books of all time amid the wars he witnessed.
Nevertheless, his storytelling embodies everything I know about veiled journalism. I’d have called him a whistleblower if I lived in those times. Here’s why I say so.
Excerpts from Animal Farm’s Preface
This book was first thought of, so far as the central idea goes, in 1937, but was not written down until about the end of 1943.
By the time when it came to be written, it was obvious that there would be great difficulty in getting it published (in spite of the present book shortage which ensures that anything describable as a book will ‘sell’), and in the event it was refused by four publishers.
Only one of these had any ideological motive. Two had been publishing anti-Russian books for years, and the other had no noticeable political colour.
One publisher actually started by accepting the book, but after making the preliminary arrangements he decided to consult the Ministry of Information, who appear to have warned him, or at any rate strongly advised him, against publishing it. Here is an extract from his letter:
“I mentioned the reaction I had had from an important official in the Ministry of Information with regard to Animal Farm.
I can see now that it might be regarded as something which it was highly ill-advised to publish at the present time. If the fable were addressed generally to dictators and dictatorships at large then publication would be all right, but the fable does follow, as I see now, so completely the progress of the Russian Soviets and their two dictators, that it can apply only to Russia, to the exclusion of the other dictatorships.
Another thing: it would be less offensive if the predominant caste in the fable were not pigs.
I think the choice of pigs as the ruling caste will no doubt give offence to many people, and particularly to anyone who is a bit touchy, as undoubtedly the Russians are.”
There’s more to it but I can’t cite everything here.
Orwell’s preface contains some of my favorite lines, such as:
“Unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, without the need for any official ban.” and “In this country, intellectual cowardice is the worst enemy a writer or journalist has to face.”
It has since become a popular source for critics of the media, who use it to argue that the media can suppress uncomfortable truths without any need for a vast conspiracy.
A Glimpse into the Story
It’s a fable for the sleeping masses, for those who are intellectually dead and blindly follow everything the ‘authorities’ say — for the sheeps and cattles.
It begins with Mr. Jones, a farmhouse owner with various species on his farm, from horses to pigs. A wise old pig instills rebellion against human beings, stating, (These are excerpts from different paragraphs)—
“Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours?
Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength.
No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.
But is this simply part of the order of nature?
No, comrades, a thousand times no!
This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining.
Why then do we continue in this miserable condition?
Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems.
It is summed up in a single word-Man. Man is the only real enemy we have.
Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing.”
The story unfolds with the animals rebelling, eventually overtaking the farm, driving humans out, and creating their own land, where they consume their own produce. They even created a rebellion anthem that spread to different parts of the country.
Although I won’t delve into the details to avoid spoilers, the narrative takes an intriguing turn that adds depth to the storyline. If the preceding paragraphs have piqued your interest, I highly recommend giving the book a read.
Spanning a concise yet impactful 70–80 pages, it has become my preferred choice when grappling with a sense of injustice, because, at the end of the day, life comes full circle, and Orwell leaves the readers with this profound message that resonates long after the final page is turned.
In a world saturated with fairytales, Animal Farm stands out as a compelling narrative that goes beyond mere entertainment. Its allegorical layers and profound societal reflections make it a story that not only captivates but also raises awareness.
Instead of bedtime fairytales, I find myself inclined to share stories like Animal Farm with kids. It sparks discussions about societal structures, power dynamics, and the importance of questioning authority.
Through the lens of this fable, young minds can grasp the complexities of the world and, hopefully, cultivate a sense of empathy and social responsibility.
Orwell’s masterpiece serves as a thought-provoking tool to instill critical thinking in future generations.
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