The Disguises of Oppressive Governments: A Fable
We are living in the age of “Trump’s America”; of Kim Jong Un’s North Korea; of Bashar al-Assad. Despite warnings, such as George Orwell’s, Animal Farm, governments that are copies of the Soviet Union are able to disguise themselves through manipulative oppression. Although when written, Animal Farm represented society of the Soviet Union during communist rule, Animal Farm through history represents these disguises of oppressive governments, even representing current, modern societies. History is in a never ending cycle of repeating itself. Orwell himself commented of Animal Farm, “if it does not speak for itself, it is a failure”. The fairy tale is representative of many oppressive governments, …show more content…
Napoleon represents the political tyrants that have emerged throughout history. His namesake is not a communist or fascist leader, but of the early-eighteenth-century French general Napoleon, who betrayed the democratic principles on which he rode to power, which is showcased in Animal Farm as Napoleon has very little interest in the farm itself, but rather his power over it. Napoleon can stand for any of the great dictators and political craftsman in world history, even those who arose after Animal Farm was written, “George Orwell takes into account the problem of being human in the modern world surrounded by the concurrent risks of world wars. Orwell’s generation was the first which was influenced by the public and political realities of two world wars, of dictators, concentration camps, mass unemployment, and poverty. The existence of all those general risks was influential on Orwell’s writing tendency to be concerned about the evils of class orientation, oppressive lifestyles, and poor living circumstances” (Koseman 5). Napoleon emerges through power and manipulation to be the leader after the “animal rebellion”. Much like many other powerful, oppressive governments, he uses military force to intimidate the other animals and to keep his power. However, throughout the novel, weaker minded animals are charmed by Napoleon’s intellect. He uses the disguise of words and propaganda to hide his manipulation and control over the farm. Throughout the novel, many of the Animals use the phrase “Four legs good, two legs bad” (Orwell 14). This represents how educated, more “intellectual” upper class uses language to abuse “sheep-like” lower class members. The slogan originally helps unify the animals against the original oppressive government (the humans), by the end of the novel, it serves no purpose other than to drown out
We are living in the age of “Trump’s America”; of Kim Jong Un’s North Korea; of Bashar al-Assad. Despite warnings, such as George Orwell’s, Animal Farm, governments that are copies of the Soviet Union are able to disguise themselves through manipulative oppression. Although when written, Animal Farm represented society of the Soviet Union during communist rule, Animal Farm through history represents these disguises of oppressive governments, even representing current, modern societies. History is in a never ending cycle of repeating itself. Orwell himself commented of Animal Farm, “if it does not speak for itself, it is a failure”. The fairy tale is representative of many oppressive governments, …show more content…
Napoleon represents the political tyrants that have emerged throughout history. His namesake is not a communist or fascist leader, but of the early-eighteenth-century French general Napoleon, who betrayed the democratic principles on which he rode to power, which is showcased in Animal Farm as Napoleon has very little interest in the farm itself, but rather his power over it. Napoleon can stand for any of the great dictators and political craftsman in world history, even those who arose after Animal Farm was written, “George Orwell takes into account the problem of being human in the modern world surrounded by the concurrent risks of world wars. Orwell’s generation was the first which was influenced by the public and political realities of two world wars, of dictators, concentration camps, mass unemployment, and poverty. The existence of all those general risks was influential on Orwell’s writing tendency to be concerned about the evils of class orientation, oppressive lifestyles, and poor living circumstances” (Koseman 5). Napoleon emerges through power and manipulation to be the leader after the “animal rebellion”. Much like many other powerful, oppressive governments, he uses military force to intimidate the other animals and to keep his power. However, throughout the novel, weaker minded animals are charmed by Napoleon’s intellect. He uses the disguise of words and propaganda to hide his manipulation and control over the farm. Throughout the novel, many of the Animals use the phrase “Four legs good, two legs bad” (Orwell 14). This represents how educated, more “intellectual” upper class uses language to abuse “sheep-like” lower class members. The slogan originally helps unify the animals against the original oppressive government (the humans), by the end of the novel, it serves no purpose other than to drown out