Animalism (Animal Farm)

Animalism (Animal Farm)

Animalism is a fictional economic or political ideology in George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm". Animalism is an allegorical mirror of the Soviet Union, particularly between the 1910s and the 1940s, as well as the evolution of the view of the Russian revolutionaries and government of how to practice it.

Old Major's Animalism

At the beginning of the book, Animalism is invented by the highly respected pig Old Major, who represents an amalgamated Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, but only in his teachings of Animalism to the animals. At this point, Animalism represents Marxism. Unlike Marx, Old Major's ideals are not yet a school of thought when he presents them; they are collective guidelines and rules, the centrepiece of which becomes the Seven Commandments (post-revolution), which outlines the rules for an Animalist society. His ideas are comparable to anarcho-communism. Also central in Old Major's ideas is the establishment of his hypothetical society on his farm (and possibly others) following a revolution against the humans who run it. After the revolution, animals must never adopt any of the humans' vices or practices. This is based on Marx's ideal that communist states must never adopt the practices of their previous capitalist society, and that communism is intended to be a complete replacement. The two are really similar and can relate to communism and have the same perspective and view as the other.

nowball's Animalism

As the Bolsheviks did with Marxism, the pigs Snowball (Trotsky), Napoleon (Stalin) and Squealer (Propaganda) adapt Old Major's ideas into an actual philosophy, which they formally name Animalism. This mirrors the evolution of Marxism to Leninism. A few days after Old Major dies, the starved animals revolt against the farmer Jones (mirroring the Russian Revolution), and Animalism is installed on the farm. Soon after, Snowball and Napoleon begin a struggle for power and direction of Animal Farm, centering around their conflicting opinions about a possible windmill (Trotsky's suggested Five Year Plan). Snowball argues it will increase productivity when completed, whereas Napoleon argues that the animals will run out of food during its construction. At this point, Animalism is more or less split into two interpretations, the two of which are supported by Snowball and his supporters or Napoleon and his supporters. This mirrors the conflict between believers in Trotskyist Communism or Stalinist Communism. Soon after, Napoleon exiles Snowball and his Animalism is unanimously adopted. Napoleon then convinces the animals that the windmill is not just a good idea but had been his idea all along, which represents Stalin claiming the Five Year Plan to be his idea, as well as Stalin's adoption of Trotskyist theories, which he later claimed were parts of Stalinism.

Napoleon's Animalism

Soon after, Napoleon and Squealer begin indulging in the vices of humans (drinking alcohol, sleeping in beds, trading). Squealer is employed to alter the Seven Commandments to account for his humanization, which represents the Soviet government's tweaking of communist theory to make it more of a reformation of capitalism than a replacement. As the deals with the humans like Frederick and Pilkington increase, all of Old Major's theories of Animalism are changed and then abandoned one by one. The only one of the Seven Commandments, original Marxism, that remains in practice is the idea that "all animals are equal" (classlessness), but even this is negated by the revising of the line to " all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". By the end of the novel, Animalism, with all of its communist ideals, is effectively abolished. The pigs have become so indistinguishable from humans that the animals can no longer tell the pigs from men, the "Communists" from the "Capitalists".


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Animal Farm — This article is about the novel by George Orwell. For other uses, see Animal Farm (disambiguation). Animal Farm …   Wikipedia

  • Boxer (Animal Farm) — Boxer is a fictional horse from George Orwell s Animal Farm , he is the farm s most hard working and loyal worker. He serves as an allegory for the Russian working class who helped oust the Czar and establish the Soviet Union, but were eventually …   Wikipedia

  • Animalism — may refer to:* Animalism (album) , a blues rock album by The Animals released in December of 1966 * A theory of Personal identity (philosophy) called animalism * Animalism (Animal Farm), an allegory for communism featured in the book Animal Farm …   Wikipedia

  • Anthems in Animal Farm — George Orwell s allegorical novel Animal Farm contains various anthems adopted by the eponymous farm, most notably the original anthem Beasts of England and its later replacement Comrade Napoleon . This change is used to illustrate the corruption …   Wikipedia

  • List of topics in social and political philosophy — * And theory of conservatism * A Conflict of Visions * A Few Words on Non Intervention * A Vindication of the Rights of Men * Accountability * Action theory * Actual Idealism * Adam Müller * Adamites * Agency (philosophy) * Aggravation of class… …   Wikipedia

  • Seven Commandments — The Seven Commandments in the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell were a list of rules or laws that were supposed to keep order and ensure elementary Animalism within Animal Farm. The Seven Commandments were designed to unite the animals together… …   Wikipedia

  • Comrade Napoleon — is a poem written by Minimus in the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. The poem glorified Napoleon, calling him the friend of the fatherless and the fountain of happiness . Many of the successes on the farm, even though they had no relationship… …   Wikipedia

  • Beasts of England — is a fictional song in George Orwell s novel Animal Farm . In the allegory, it corresponds to the famous socialist anthem The Internationale . It also alludes to Shelley s Men of England .In the book, the pig Old Major explains his dream of an… …   Wikipedia

  • List of fictional political parties — This is a list of fictional political parties of various countries.Confederate States of America* Confederate Party The Guns of the South * Freedom Party American Empire , Settling Accounts * Patriot Party The Guns of the South * Radical Liberal… …   Wikipedia

  • Islam and animals — This article is part of the series …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”