1. George Orwell’s Animal Farm Dr. Alan Haffa Please Silence Cell Phones

2. Learning Objectives Analyze the critique of human nature in Orwell’s Animal Farm Analyze the critique of human nature in Orwell’s Animal Farm Identify correspondences between the political structure of Animal Farm and the former Soviet Union Identify correspondences between the political structure of Animal Farm and the former Soviet Union Observe parallels to the Cold War in the relationship of Animal Farm to the outside, human society Observe parallels to the Cold War in the relationship of Animal Farm to the outside, human society Analyze the relevance and importance of Animal Farm as a social commentary on America Analyze the relevance and importance of Animal Farm as a social commentary on America

3. Eric Blair (1903-1950) Born in India; scholarship student Born in India; scholarship student Worked as MP in Burma Worked as MP in Burma Quit government service to become a writer Quit government service to become a writer Lived among poor and wrote about it Lived among poor and wrote about it Miners; gave up on Capitalism; supported Democratic Socialism Miners; gave up on Capitalism; supported Democratic Socialism Covered the Spanish civil war; Watched rise of Fascism and Totalitarian States Covered the Spanish civil war; Watched rise of Fascism and Totalitarian States Animal Farm 1945 Animal Farm 1945 1984, 1949 1984, 1949

4. USSR (1922-1991) Cold War: 1945-1991 Cold War: 1945-1991 Communist—based on theories of Karl Marx Communist—based on theories of Karl Marx Totalitarian: Communist party controlled all aspects of life: religion, economy, society, press, military Totalitarian: Communist party controlled all aspects of life: religion, economy, society, press, military Factionalism: Trotsky vs. Stalin Factionalism: Trotsky vs. Stalin Five Year Plans: Collective Farms and Industrial Modernization Five Year Plans: Collective Farms and Industrial Modernization

5. Fairy Tale What are the features of the Fairy Tale? What are the features of the Fairy Tale? Simple characters—contrasting qualities Simple characters—contrasting qualities Simple Plot Simple Plot Setting: court, countryside, fantasy world Setting: court, countryside, fantasy world Magic Magic Moral Lesson Moral Lesson Does Good always Triumph? Does Good always Triumph? The best Fairy Tales do not have a simple moral: they show the world as it is The best Fairy Tales do not have a simple moral: they show the world as it is

6. Allegory and Main Characters Old Major: Karl Marx Old Major: Karl Marx Two Leaders: Snowball (Trotsky) and Napoleon (Stalin) Two Leaders: Snowball (Trotsky) and Napoleon (Stalin) Horse, Boxer: Workers Horse, Boxer: Workers Squealer: State Propaganda/Media Squealer: State Propaganda/Media Sheep: party loyalists Sheep: party loyalists Dogs: State Police Dogs: State Police Moses: Tame Raven—Religion Moses: Tame Raven—Religion Donkey, Benjamin (Skeptic) Donkey, Benjamin (Skeptic)

7. Hobbesian State of nature Old Major: “Comrades…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; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.” Old Major: “Comrades…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; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.”

8. Man as Capitalist Exploiter “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough… Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself. Our labor tills the soil, our dung fertilizes it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin.” “Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough… Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself. Our labor tills the soil, our dung fertilizes it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin.”

9. Ideal of Social Unity Clover the horse protecting ducklings Clover the horse protecting ducklings Old Major’s Dream Old Major’s Dream Song: “Beasts of England” Song: “Beasts of England” Liberation and Bounty Liberation and Bounty

10. Religion Tame Raven, Moses Tame Raven, Moses Mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die Mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, where animals go when they die After the revolution he is expelled, but he will come back near the end, a sign that the revolution has gone full circle After the revolution he is expelled, but he will come back near the end, a sign that the revolution has gone full circle

11. Seven Commandments Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy Whatever goes upon four legs or has wings, is a friend Whatever goes upon four legs or has wings, is a friend No animal shall wear clothes No animal shall wear clothes No animal shall sleep in a bed No animal shall sleep in a bed No animal shall drink alcohol No animal shall drink alcohol No animal shall kill any other animal No animal shall kill any other animal All animals are Equal All animals are Equal

12. Change in 7 Commandments As the pigs become powerful, they become more and more human As the pigs become powerful, they become more and more human Commandments are secretly changed Commandments are secretly changed No animal shall sleep in a bed, with blankets No animal shall sleep in a bed, with blankets No animal shall drink alcohol to excess No animal shall drink alcohol to excess No animal shall kill any other animal without cause No animal shall kill any other animal without cause Finally: All animals are equal, but some are more equal Finally: All animals are equal, but some are more equal

13. Factional Division Snowball and Napoleon argue Snowball and Napoleon argue Plan to build a Windmill (industrial modernization) Plan to build a Windmill (industrial modernization) Dogs appear and attack Snowball, driving him away Dogs appear and attack Snowball, driving him away Later the Windmill is presented as Snowball’s own idea Later the Windmill is presented as Snowball’s own idea Snowball is used as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong Snowball is used as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong

14. Total Social control After Snowball, General Meetings end—a committee of pigs would make decisions After Snowball, General Meetings end—a committee of pigs would make decisions “Four young porkers uttered shrill squeals of disapproval…but suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of “Four legs are good, two legs are bad!”…which put an end to any discussion.” “Four young porkers uttered shrill squeals of disapproval…but suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of “Four legs are good, two legs are bad!”…which put an end to any discussion.”

15. Fear and Lies Snowball is denounced as a Traitor Snowball is denounced as a Traitor Squealer: “Bravery is not enough. Loyalty and obedience are more important. And as to the battle of the cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball’s part in it was much exaggerated. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline!... One false step and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” Squealer: “Bravery is not enough. Loyalty and obedience are more important. And as to the battle of the cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball’s part in it was much exaggerated. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline!... One false step and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?”

16. Purgings Snowball accused of being a secret agent of Farmer Jones Snowball accused of being a secret agent of Farmer Jones Four pigs attacked by dogs Four pigs attacked by dogs Confess to being in league with Snowball Confess to being in league with Snowball Others confess and all are murdered Others confess and all are murdered The next day the 7 th commandment--No animal shall kill another animal is changed The next day the 7 th commandment--No animal shall kill another animal is changed

17. Animal Farm becomes Manor Farm Pigs make beer Pigs make beer Pigs wear ribbons Pigs wear ribbons Pigs sleep in house and in beds Pigs sleep in house and in beds Pigs get most of the food Pigs get most of the food Eggs get sold Eggs get sold Boxer gets sent to the Knacker rather than the retirement field Boxer gets sent to the Knacker rather than the retirement field Pigs and Humans play cards together Pigs and Humans play cards together

18. Orwell in Retrospect Most contemporary critics are quick to say that Orwell’s vision did not come true; Democratic Capitalism won the Cold War Most contemporary critics are quick to say that Orwell’s vision did not come true; Democratic Capitalism won the Cold War What lessons can we draw from Animal Farm and 1984 in analyzing our society? What lessons can we draw from Animal Farm and 1984 in analyzing our society?

19. Summary Animal Farm is a Fairy Tale story about Human Nature Animal Farm is a Fairy Tale story about Human Nature Humans are violent, aggressive, selfish, and manipulative in this world view Humans are violent, aggressive, selfish, and manipulative in this world view The object of his satire was the USSR, where the Russian Revolution and Communism did not lead to the social equality dreamed of by Marx The object of his satire was the USSR, where the Russian Revolution and Communism did not lead to the social equality dreamed of by Marx While Totalitarian is on the decline, the use of Fear, Propaganda, and Police (Dogs) to control people (sheep) in a democracy is a Cautionary Tale While Totalitarian is on the decline, the use of Fear, Propaganda, and Police (Dogs) to control people (sheep) in a democracy is a Cautionary Tale The lesson is still meaningful today: Media, Courts, Free Speech and Dissent, Equality/Inequality The lesson is still meaningful today: Media, Courts, Free Speech and Dissent, Equality/Inequality