The Allegorical Character of the Novel Animal Farm Essay Example for Free

The Allegorical Character of the Novel Animal Farm Essay An allegory is a story with two meanings. One meaning is simple and is just about the characters and what happens to them. The second meaning is deeper and symbolic. The characters represent real people and the things that happen; refer to important events in the world. Animal Farm is a simple story about a group of animals who take over control of the farm. Their leaders, the pigs, promise them a wonderful life, but they end up starving and miserable. Orwell uses this plot to satirize the communistic system and the events following the Russian Revolution In the beginning of the novel, the animals live in a capitalistic environment. Old Major plants the seed of the rebellion by sharing his revolutionary dream with the other animals. This brings up the thought of Marxism and the ideals of Lenin. After the animals have taken over the farm, they set up seven commandments, which are to be the principles of Animalism. Animalism is exactly like the communism in Russia. The reason for the animals’ rebellion is so that everyone could have a better life, but they ended up worse off. The reason for the Russian Revolution was to fix the problems created by the Tsar, but Russia was also worse off and it turned out the Tsar was nothing compared to Stalin. The events in Animal Farm contribute to the development and flow of the plot, but they also represent real historical events. The rebellion of the animals refers the Russian Revolution. The battle of the cowshed can be linked to the Civil War between the Tsarist Forces and The Bolsheviks. It was a war of communist against anti-communist and it is also known as Red October. When the animals go into the farmhouse for the first time, they are amazed and disgusted. The common people have the same attitude towards the ostentatious wealth of the Russian Royal Family. Stalin and Trotsky were constantly arguing and couldn’t agree on anything, if one said something the other would side with the opposite. Snowball and Napoleon, both representing these leaders, have the same relationship. The windmill is a symbol of Stalin’s five year plan, both were failures. Napoleon set up new plans after the first failed as did Stalin. The Battle of the Windmill is a parallel to the Battle at Stalingrad when Germany invaded Russia during the World War 2. Neighbouring farmer, Frederick, wanted to buy a pile of timbre from Napoleon, while Hitler wanted oil stores in Russia. By selling the timbre to Frederick, it refers to the Nazi-Soviet Pact. In the novel, Napoleon uses fear and violence to attain power, Stalin uses the same tactic in the Purges of 1936. It is not only the events in Animal Farm that carry such significance, but also the characters. In Animal Farm, Orwell lets the animals speak and interact with each other. Judging by their actions and development during the story, we can see what kind of people they represent. Old Major, the prize-winning boar, represents the ideals of Marx and Lenin. Napoleon, the fierce dictator, symbolizes Stalin, whereas Snowball is his enemy, Trotsky. Their non-stop bickering is a reflection of the real life power struggle between these two leaders. Squealer does not represent a person, but an idea. Squealer uses propaganda to motivate the masses. The ‘Pravda’ also used numerous propaganda techniques to brainwash the people during the Russian Revolution. The Pigeons have a similar role. They spread the news of the Revolution/Rebellion, as did the ‘COMINTERN’ or ‘Communist International’. Mister Jones represents Tsar Nicholas. Tsar Nicholas made a lot of mistakes and the Revolution was supposed to make up for them, but didn’t. Mister Pilkington, the neighbouring farmer, represents Winston Churchill, while his farm, England. On the other side, there was Mister Frederick. He is similar to Adolf Hitler and his farm, Pinchfield, represents Germany. Boxer, the loyal horse, represents the oppressed workers class. Napoleon raises a litter of puppies and trains them as his own guard dogs; they have the same function as the Secret Police. Moses represents the religious side of the rebellion; he is in comparison with the Russian Orthodox Church. Mollie, who is not in favour of the rebellion and longs for her luxurious life of ribbons and sugar (fine food and clothing), represents the Russian upper class. All these animals and their human counterparts play a very big role in the allegorical character of Animal Farm. George Orwell sometimes referred to Animal Farm as a fairytale, but it is actually much more than just a pleasurable read. He saw what was happening in Russia, under the rule of Stalin and created this story to warn us about the dangers of leaders with too much power. The novel is a perfect example of an allegory. Every event and character can be linked to real events in Russian history. Although talking animals are not your typical adult entertainment, the message that Animal Farm conveys is timeless and universal.

Hittite’s Self-Image Characterized by Grandeur :: Hittite Culture Cultural History Essays

Hittite’s Self-Image Characterized by Grandeur The Hittite empire, like many others of the Bronze Age, arose at a time when new tactics and implements for fighting were being developed in abundance. Like many other empires of that time, the Hittites recognized the importance of protecting their lands and acquiring new ones. As the size and influence of the Hittite empire grew, it sometimes formed peaceful agreements with foreign lands. These agreements, however, primarily served their own interests. Evidence of the behavior of the Hittites found in primary documents reveals that they treated civilizations other than their own as their inferiors. Religion was central to the Hittite’s culture and they considered their devotion to it to be one of their primary strengths. The upkeep of Hittite religious institutions and their functionaries was a primary obligation of the commander of the Hittite border guards. A document containing instructions for that commander explains these responsibilities: â€Å"In the town through which the commander [passes]†¦ he shall attend to the necessary provisions for town-elders, priests, ‘anointed’ (and) mothers-of-god.† (par. 1) It was important to the Hittite king (also called the Sun) that all cities in the empire contain adequate sites for worship of the Hittite gods. This suggests that they believed paying tribute to the gods ensured them some sort of security or protection. In that same document it was stated, â€Å"The commander of the border guards shall make an inventory of the god’s utensils and send it before the Sun.† (par. 3) ‘Utensils’ probably refers to the possessions of the gods, perhaps including their temples, servants, and any commodities held in their name. A list of them was most likely held by the king so that what the Hittites had given to their gods was on record. The magnitude of religion in this civilization and the closeness of it to the military reveal that the favor of and protection from its gods gave its people a perceived power and authority that other civilizations lacked. Religion was also directly connected to imperial Hittite rule through the king. In a treaty between Mursilis, Sun of the Hittites, and Duppi-Tessub, king of Amurru, the preamble mentions that Mursilis was the â€Å"favorite of the Storm-god.

Is America Falling Apart?

â€Å"People are underpaid but they go through an act of liking their work, the open markets are luscious when esculent color, the community is more important than the stat, the human condition is humorously accepted. † (297) â€Å"The quality of life has nothing to do with the quantity of brand names. What matters is talk, family, cheap wine in the open air, the wresting of minimal sweetness out of the long-known bitterness of living. (297) â€Å"American individualism, on the face of it an admirable philosophy, whishes to manifest itself in independence of the community. You don’t share things in common; you have your own things. A family’s strength is signalized by its possessions. Herein lies a paradox. For the desire for possessions must eventually mea dependence on possessions. (298)† â€Å"New appetites are invented; what to the European are bizarre luxuries become, to the American, plain necessities. 298)† â€Å"It is not right that men and women should fear to go on the streets at nights, and that they should sometimes fear the police as much as criminals. Both of whom sometimes look like a mirror images of each other. (301)† â€Å"The wealth qualification for the aspiring politician is taken for granted; a governmental system dedicated to the promotion of personal wealth in a few selected areas will never act for the public good. The time has come, nevertheless, for citizens to demand, from their government, a measure of socialization—the provision of amenities for the many, of which adequate state pensions and sickness benefits, as well as nationalized transport, should be priorities. (302)† â€Å"I come to America as to a country more simulation than depressing. The future of mankind is being worked out there on a scale typically American—vast, dramatic, almost apocalyptical. I brave the brutality and the guilt in order to be in on the scene. I shall be back. (302)†

19th Century Disasters