symbolism: connections to the russian revolution

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Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution. Symbolic Connections Background Allegory Symbolism of Characters. Animal Farm presents a terrifying picture of a world without personal freedom The story can be read on two levels: Beast fable History of Soviet communism - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution
Page 2: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

• Symbolic Connections– Backgroun

d

– Allegory

– Symbolism of Characters

• Animal Farm presents a terrifying picture of a world without personal freedom

• The story can be read on two levels: 1. Beast fable 2. History of Soviet

communism

• The pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, are symbolic of soviet leaders Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky

Page 3: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

• Historical Background– Soviet Political History

– The Problem

– Philosophies of Karl Marx

• Orwell uses the plight of the Soviet nation as a powerful tool to condemn any political body that seek to gain total control over the masses.

• Early 20th Century, a tiny minority controlled most of the country’s wealth

• The working class rallied around political philosopher Karl Marx’s doctrine of “Workers of the world, unite!”

Page 4: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

• Historical Background, Continued– Marx’s Theory

– The Russian Revolution

– Stalin vs. Trotsky

• Marx believed that when all property is commonly owned, everyone is equal.

• Vladimir Lenin seized control of Russian and took land and industry from private control and put them under government supervision

• After Lenin’s death their was an ugly struggle for power in Russia

Page 5: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

• Background, Continued– Stalin Takes Control

– Control through Intimidation

• Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky both jockeyed for control of the communist party, with Stalin coming out victorious

• Stalin used his power in vicious and often demeaning ways—killing and imprisoning enemies

Page 6: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

• Background, Continued– Stalin’s Rule

• It is estimated that millions of Soviet citizens were murdered while he was in power

• The Soviet government began to crumble; economic plans failed; violence, fear and starvation gripped the Soviet nation

Page 7: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Animalism and Communism• Animalism

– No owners, no rich, but no poor

– Workers get a better life, all animals equal

– Everyone owns the farm

• Communism– Aristocracy

and workers share and become one

– All people equal

– Government owns everything, people own government

Page 8: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Animal Revolution and Russian Revolution

• Animal Revolution– It was supposed to make

life better for all

– Life was worse at the end

– The leaders became the same as, or worse than the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against

• Russian Revolution– Supposed to fix problems from Czar

– Life was even worse long after revolution

– Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy

Page 9: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Old Major and Karl Marx• Old Major

– taught Animalism

– Believed animals needed to revolt; even the “lower” animals must come together

– dies before revolution

• Karl Marx– invented

Communism

– Believed in the maxim, “Workers of the world, Unite!"

– dies before Russian Revolution

Page 10: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Napoleon and Joseph Stalin• Napoleon

– not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball

– cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt

– his ambition is for power, killed opponents

– used dogs and Squealer to control animals

• Joseph Stalin– not a good

speaker, not educated like Trotsky

– same as Napoleon, didn't follow Marx's ideas

– cared for power, killed all that opposed him

– used KGB, church, and propaganda (newspapers, media)

Page 11: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Snowball and Leon Trotsky• Snowball

– young, smart, good speaker, idealistic

– really wants to make life better for all

– One of leaders of revolution

– chased away into exile by Napoleon's dogs

• Leon Trotsky– other leader of

"October Revolution"

– pure communist, followed Marx

– wanted to improve life for all in Russia

– chased away by Lenin's KGB (Lenin's secret police)

Page 12: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Squealer and Propaganda, Newspapers

• Squealer– big mouth,

talks a lot

– convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon

– Changes and manipulates the commandments

• Newspapers– worked for

Stalin to support his image

– used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin

– benefited from the fact that education was controlled

Page 13: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Mr. Jones and Czar Nicholas II • Mr. Jones

– irresponsible to his animals (lets them starve)

– sometimes cruel - beats them with whip

– sometimes kind - mixes milk in animal mash

• Czar Nicholas II– a poor

leader at best, compared to western kings

– cruel and sometimes brutal with opponents

– Sometimes kind - hired students as spies to make $

Page 14: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

The Dogs and KGB• The Dogs

– a private army that used fear to force animals to work

– killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon

• KGB (Secret Police)– not really

police, but forced support for Stalin

– used force, often killed entire families for disobedience

Page 15: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Boxer and the Working Class• Boxer

– strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm

– "Napoleon is always right", "I must work harder"

– gives his all, is betrayed by Napoleon, who sells him

• Working Class– people believed Stalin because he was "Communist" – many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin a tyrant – betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them

Page 16: Symbolism: Connections to The Russian Revolution

Windmill and Industrial Revolution• Windmill

– the windmill was promised to make the animal's life easier

– Shorten work week

– Windmill Destroyed

– Build new windmills

• Industrial Revolution– 'Five-Year Plan' was supposed to

improve Soviet industry and increase production

– It would allow the soviets to shorten the work-week

– Plan failed miserably

– Stalin kept churning out new 'Five-year Plans