In the novella Animal Farm, George Orwell personifies animals, which allows animals on a farm to have human-like characteristics. This book contains indecisive aspects of communism and democracy while using personification, imagery and foreshadowing to continue the plot. When reading the first chapter, Orwell immediately introduces the farmer, Mr. Jones, and Old Major, the eldest pig. The beginning chapter mentions Old Major making his last big speech for all of the farm animals. His speech encourages all other animals to do something with their lives as Old Major said their lives are “miserable, laborious, and short”. The first chapter of the book has many similarities that relate to the current time of the world.
“Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours?” This quote has an extremely profound effect on the reader as it entices the reader to ask themselves the same question. One may also notice the resemblance of the personified animals, introduced in the first chapter. This entire novella circles around the subject of communism and democracy, anarchy or any form of “presidential” leadership, whether it effects the lives of everyone or just those in terms of ruling. This quote mentioned earlier is a similar term that a politician would use to encourage people to think about the future.
The animals, in Orwell’s novella, are considered to each have their own role, whether major or minor, as political and social eminences. The representation of their anatomical seven commandments can be related to the commandments of our time in reliance to the Declaration of Independence. The relativity of the Declaration of Independence consists of multiple likenesses such as the seventh commandment, to the animals on the farm, “All animals are equal.”
Although the seven commandments made by the animals are not spoken of until the second chapter, the indication of the seven commandments was talked about by Old Major. His speech ended with the idea of all animals being equal, just as all humans are to be treated equal. When an individual looks deeply into the facets of what makes up the worldwide aspect of equality in human civilization, there are positive actions, but there are also negative results.
Equality impressions the practices of self-sacrificing attitudes, kind and endearing actions, and being able to hold heartfelt commitments that are true to one’s word, but because of the imperfections that have been brought upon humans, many do not follow that example. In fact, it may be extremely difficult for one to follow, since people’s lives are filled with different reactions such as greed, hatred, and sinful temptations. It can be inferred that by Old Major ending his speech with the line, “All animals are equal.”, he was foreshadowing the dreadful event of the destruction of equality on the farm.
McCarthyism is the preparation of creating indictments of mutiny or treason without appropriate regard for evidence. McCarthyism is also considered to be the practice of making unfair claims or using unfair investigative methods, especially in order to limit opposition or political reproach. This relates to Animal Farm, as the act of McCarthyism is to be compared to the democracy taking place in the book.
When one pig, Snowball, is trying to gain favor of the animals in polite manners, the other pig, also trying to be more likeable to the animals, Napoleon, blames Snowball of destroying the farm animals most memorable and important landmarks, the windmill. The accusations brought upon Snowball were untrue, but many other farm animals started to say they saw him destroy the windmill.
Eventually Snowball was, unfairly forced to flee the farm area. McCarthyism was at a strong point in this piece of text, which ties into the relations of the first chapter. Old Major knew that after he died, the farm land would have to begin to prosper. He foreshadowed the events of Snowball and Napoleon with dramatic irony and by foreshadowing.
The Animal Farm decreased its potential act of equality and disengagement between the humans. The first chapter of the book portrayed all of these events by foreshadowing them in an extremely appropriate order of sequence. Orwell does an excellent job at symbolizing the actions Napoleon, Snowball, and Old Major took, to the actions of people that are in the history and future of the real world.
