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Animal Farm: themes and context
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Orwell wrote Animal Farm as a warning about how power can be abused, whatever ideals a revolution begins with.
Context
Orwell (Eric Blair) was a democratic socialist who opposed dictatorship.
He fought in the Spanish Civil War and saw Soviet-backed groups attack other left-wing groups.
Animal Farm was published in 1945, when the USSR was Britain's wartime ally, so some publishers rejected it.
He fought in the Spanish Civil War and saw Soviet-backed groups attack other left-wing groups.
Animal Farm was published in 1945, when the USSR was Britain's wartime ally, so some publishers rejected it.
Key themes
Power and corruption: the pigs gradually take more privileges.
Propaganda and language: Squealer and the changed commandments show how language can control.
Equality and class: a new ruling class replaces the old.
Education: the pigs can read; most animals cannot, so they cannot check the truth.
Propaganda and language: Squealer and the changed commandments show how language can control.
Equality and class: a new ruling class replaces the old.
Education: the pigs can read; most animals cannot, so they cannot check the truth.
Form
Orwell gave it the subtitle *A Fairy Story*. The simple style makes the political message clear and easy to follow.
Why is education important in Animal Farm?
- The pigs learn to read and write; most animals do not.
- So the animals cannot check the changed commandments.
- Lack of education lets the pigs control them.
Answer: Because the uneducated animals cannot challenge the pigs' lies.
Context: Orwell, democratic socialist, Spanish Civil War, published 1945. Themes: power and corruption, propaganda and language, equality and class, education.
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