Book Review

ANIMAL FARM

By GEORGE ORWELL

Submitted to:

Submitted by:TUPLANO, ENALEEN D.C.

BS ARCHITECTURE V-2

ABOUT AUTHORGeorge Orwell was an English novelist, essayist and critic. He was born as Eric Arthur Blair in Motihari, Bengal, India, in 1903. Orwell addressed some of the major political movement of his times. This includes imperialism, fascism and communism. He is best known for his novels Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).Animal Farm brought George Orwell great acclaim and financial rewards. The novel is a satire of the Russian revolution, and therefore full of symbolism. It featured two pigs as its main protagonists that were said to represent Josef Stalin and Leon Totsky. Orwell himself explained: it is the history of a revolution that went wrong. Although the writing is simple and may seem inconspicuous, the novel presented all the horrors of communism by conceiving a book that can be understood by both children and adults in different ways. It tells a good story that aims to prove that human nature and diversity prevent people from being equal and happy, or at least equally happy.

Animal Farm is a simple and heart-rending story about the farm animals aiming for a utopian sort of communism. Being oppressed by Mr. Jones, the farmer, the animals attempted to rule the farm themselves, on an equal basis. Each would work according to his capacity while respecting the needs of other animals. However, the Animal Farm ended up being a dictatorship of the pigs that were the brightest, yet indolent amongst animals. BOOK SUMMARYThe story takes place on England. The action of the novel starts when the farm animals had a secret meeting held by Old Major, the oldest pig on the farm. He tells the animals about his dream of a revolution against the cruelty of Mr. Jones. After Major dies, the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new perspective in life. The pigs were considered the most intelligent animals in the farm. They instruct the other animals, and during their preparation, two pigs (Napoleon and Snowball) distinguish themselves. The big one is Napoleon. Although he isnt a good speaker, he can establish himself. While Snowball the other one is a better speaker that has a lot of ideas and clear images in mind. There is also Squealer, a pig that is a very good speaker. Together, Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer, work out the theory of Animalism. They start the rebellion some months later, when Mr. Jones came home drunk one night. Mr. Jones failed to defend his authority on the farm. The animals destroyed all the things that have been used to suppress them. The animals celebrate their victory, while the pigs make up the seven commandments, and they write them above the door of the big barn.They run thus:1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings is a friend.

3. No animal shall wear clothes.

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.5. No animal shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill another animal.

7. All animals are equal.They also agree that no animal shall enter the farmhouse and shall not have contact with humans. The commandments are summarized as Four legs good, two legs bad. Mr. Jones has not given up on retrieving authorization in the farm. He came back with some other men from the village but then, the animals fight bravely, and they manage to defend the farm. Snowball and Boxer received medals of honor for defending the farm so bravely. Napoleon takes a medal even if he had not fought at all. The animals also agree that no animal shall ever enter the farmhouse, and that noanimal shall have contact with humans. This commandments are summarised in thesimple phrase: "Four legs good, two legs bad". After some time, Jones comes backwith some other men from the village to recapture the farm. The animals fightbravely, and they manage to defend the farm. Snowball and Boxer receive medalsof honour for defending the farm so bravely. Also Napoleon, who had not fought at all, takes a medal. This is the reason why the two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon,often argue. When Snowball presents his idea to build a windmill, to produceelectricity for the other animals, Napoleon calls nine strong dogs. The dogs driveSnowball from the farm, and Napoleon explains that Snowball was in fact co-operating with Mr Jones. He also explains that Snowball in reality never had amedal of honour, that Snowball was always trying to cover up that he was fightingon the side of Mr Jones. The animals then start building the windmill, and as timepasses the working-time goes up, whereas the food rations decline. Although the"common" animals have not enough food, the pigs grow fatter and fatter. They tellthe other animals that they need more food, for they are managing the whole farm.Some time later, the pigs explain to the other animals that they have to trade withthe neighbouring farms. The common animals are very upset, because since therevolution there has been a resolution that no animal shall trade with a human. Butthe pigs ensure them that there never has been such a resolution, and that thiswas an evil lie of Snowball. Shortly after this decision the pigs move to thefarmhouse. The other animals remember that there is a commandment that forbidssleeping in beds, and so they go to the big barn to look at the commandments.When they arrive there they can't believe their eyes, the fourth commandment hasbeen changed to: "No animal shall sleep in bedwith sheets". And the othercommandments have also been changed: "No animal shall kill another animalwithout reason", and "No animal shall drink alcohol in excess". Some months later aheavy storm destroys the windmill, which is nearly finished. Napoleon accusesSnowball of destroying the mill, and he promises a reward to the animal that getsSnowball. The rebuilding of the mill takes two years. Again Jones attacks the farm,and although the animals defend it, the windmill is once again destroyed. The pigsdecide to rebuild the mill again, and they cut down the food rations to a minimum.One day Boxer breaks down. He is sold to a butcher, but Napoleon tells the pigsthat Boxer has been brought to a hospital where he has died. Three years later, themill is finally completed. During this time Napoleon deepens the relations with theneighbouring farm, and one day Napoleon even invites the owners of this farm foran inspection. They sit inside the farmhouse and celebrate the efficiency of hisfarm, where the animals work very hard with a minimum of food. During thiscelebration, all the other animals meet at the window of the farm, and when theylook inside they can't distinguish between man and animalIn his self-proclaimed "fairy-story," Orwell uses his allegorical farm to symbolize the communist system. Though the original intention of overthrowing Mr. Jones (who represents the Czars), is not inherently evil in itself, Napoleon's subsequent adoption of nearly all of Mr. Jones' principles and harsh mistreatment of the animals proves to the reader that indeed communism is not equality, but just another form of inequality. The pigs and dogs take most of the power for themselves, thinking that they are the best administrators of government. Eventually the power corrupts them, and they turn on their fellow animals, eliminating competitors through propaganda and bloodshed. This is of course a reference to Stalin, who murdered many of his own people in order to maintain his dictatorship of Russia.Significant people on that era are imaginatively and metaphorically represented by the farm animals. This novel exhibits how good intentions could turn into domination. Mr. Jones is the farmer in the story who runs the Manor Farm. Mr. Jones is obviously a wicked master. He coddles himself while the animals, which he is supposed to take care of, lack food.After experiencing years of oppression by Mr. Jones, the animals have decided to stand up for themselves and rise up into rebellion. They chased Mr. Jones away from the farm and planned to manage the farm on their own. This act was led by a wise pig named Old Major. He supported the idea of running the farm themselves with a requirement that everyone should be equal.At first, the animals were able to run the farm well by working and supporting each other. However, as time passed by, the pigs started to bombard the other animals with suggestions on how the farm should be run. Not later then, the equality envisioned by Old Major was no longer visible on the farm. The pigs were put up on the top of the social ladder and the other animals were left into bewilderment on how things turned out that way. Relating the story as a human creature in this world who by nature, cannot standalone and has the need to interact and communicate with other humans, I could say that this story has much emphasis on equality. Looking at our society nowadays, we could not deny the fact that social stratification is evident wherein people are classified in classes in terms of economical sense as upper, upper middle, lower middle, upperlower and lower. Animal farm depicts the failure of pursuing total equality in the society not only in economical terms but also through a division of those who are exceptionally gifted intellectuals and those who are capable of doing physical work. In the novel, pigs are portrayed as intellectually superior over other animals. The pigs didnot actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership (Orwell, 1945). This novel illustrates how despite the urge of all people to stand for equality, there would still come a time wherein class structures would be established. Moreover, he conveys through the Animal Farm that having divisions in our society could be a factor in hindering others in living in democracy and total freedom.Another good thing about this novel is that it portrays not only those people who have powers or those who are on the top of the social ladder. It also shows the people who belongs to the lower class of the society or the oppressed people. Orwell was able to show that tyranny in the society does not solely arise because of the strategies and tactics of those on the top of the ladder. He was able to show that one factor that thelower class suffers oppression is the refusal to question those who are in authority. Moreover, symbols are evident in this novel. Historically, Animal Farm could clearly be seen as a piece of work which symbolizes the situation of Russia and theSoviet Union under Communist Party rule. Nevertheless, Animal Farm could be generally seen as any human society no matter what form of regime they are in. The structure of a nation is clearly depicted in the story. Pigs symbolize the government, dogs characterize the army and the other animals portray the working class. Anotherstriking symbol is the windmill. The windmill in the story basically symbolizes the manipulation of the pigs (government) of the other animals (working class) for their own benefit and enrichment.George Orwell objectives were shown in an interesting manner. He didnt simply capture an event from the real world and put it into paper by changing the names of the real people involved. It was creative of him to use animals to symbolize people. Also, through his tone of writing, it was like being taught without fully realizing that he has already been teaching you a vital lesson the moment you opened his creation.

It is also remarkable for George Orwell to fill the Animal Farm with songs, poems and slogans. The use of this technique could be evaluated as a means of social propaganda which could be used to control the people in the society at large. Propaganda can be seen in many forms such as name-calling, card stacking, common folks, glittering reality and repetition. Considering the use of repetitive lines in his work, I could conclude that he used repetition form of propaganda. It is brilliant of George Orwell to be able to incorporate this form of social factor subliminally in his work. Now, looking at George Orwells technique in writing, I could say that it was pleasant of him to use simple words which make the novel easy to understand in a way that even children could understand it in literal sense. Also, he used adjectives in an uncomplicated manner. Some novel authors nowadays tend to use brimful and profound adjectives to make their work more creative and easier to imagine but forgetting that some readers prefer simple and plain words. I would complement George Orwell on this aspect since his choice of words could be easily understood by anyone. His work can capture a large number of audiences and not limited into the intellectual group of people.Components of the review:I. An introduction to the author(s), including the author's title and place of work, and some indication of who the author/s is/are (e.g., the renowned authority on campus finance; a bold, young campus scholar; a frequent critic of academic administration).

The review should be fair to the author/s.

Tell readers who the intended audience is, and how the author/s handle his or her material.

Convey the content of the book, not chapter by chapter so much as the entire book.

Add flavor to the review by including pungent or revealing quotations from the book or notable facts or findings.

Be specific. Give details. Try not to be too abstract or vague (e.g., avoid writing "interesting observations," "lots of arresting data," or "a strange view of campus design" unless you complement this with specific examples).

II. A summary of the intended purpose of the book and how it contributes to improving academic life and operations and to the discipline of college planning generally.

Include an exposition of how the book fits into the current thinking on the subject/s (e.g., a novel approach, an introduction, a magisterial review, the finest book on the subject ever written, etc.).

Avoid repeating the table of contents, if any; rather, give the reader some idea of the author's thesis and how he or she develops it.

If the book is an edited collection of essays, or chapters by different individuals, give some idea of the overall theme and content, but be free to focus on specific chapters you consider particularly significant or worthwhile.

Inform the reader about what is happening in the area of academic activity the book addresses; what the state of knowledge is in the subject; and how this new book adds, changes, or breaks new ground in our knowledge of this subject.

III. A description of the way the author approaches his or her topic, the rigor of the research/work and scholarship, the logic of the argument, and the readability of the prose.

IV. A comparison with earlier or similar books in the field to place the book in the existing literature.

V. An evaluation of the book's merits, usefulness, and special contributions, along with shortcomings you think are necessary to point out.VI. Prospects of Understanding: Viewing thru the lenses of literary criticisms1. How can characters behavior, narrative events, and/or images be explained in terms of psychoanalytic concepts of any kind (for example unconscious, regression, crisis, projection, fear of or fascination with death, sexuality---which includes love and romance as well as sexual behavior---as a primary indicator of psychological identity, or the operations of ego-id-superego)?2. How might the work be seen as a critique of capitalism, imperialism or classism? That is in what ways does the text reveal, and invite us to condemn oppressive socioeconomic forces (including repressive ideologies)? If a work criticizes or invites us to criticize oppressive socioeconomic forces, then it may be said to have a Marxist agenda.3. How does the interaction of text and reader create meaning? How exactly does the texts indeterminacy function as a stimulus to interpretation? (For example, what events are omitted or unexplained? What descriptions are omitted or incomplete? What images might have multiple associations?) And how exactly does the text lead us to correct our interpretation as we read?Book review criteria:Content and substance 50Organization and style 20

Language and vocabulary 20

Mechanics 10

(Total: 100%)