animal farm theme and historical significance

[united stagnation]

I was once told, very ambiguously, that the story of George Orwell’s Animal Farm was directly based on the relationship between Stalin and Lennon. Can anyone enlighten me and perhaps fill the gaping abysses of ignorance that my lack of historical knowledge has left me with?

[imthefoolonthehill]

ive never heard that...

[ryokan]

Greetings,
Yes, Lenin and Stalin were major characters built into _Animal Farm_. Moreso, it was about the reality of the Soviet State after Stalin took over. One must remember, though, that Stalin came to reign after the voracious attacks of the "White Russian" army, which was, in fact, financed by U.S. Steel and Goodyear Rubber.
Stalin's extreme militarism and totalitarian rule followed directly after the White army had been defeated. Orwell was not aware of the U.S. corporate influence in the early days of the Soviet state. Its one of the great hidden facts most have forgotten.
Peace,
Ryokan

[Munro]

To answer you simply, and to look only on the novel as an allegory of the Bolshevik Revolution, Old Major would be the father/leader figure that was Karl Marx and Lenin (so I usually just combine them into the one character, beacause they are both valid figures for the part), Napoleon is Stalin, Snowball is Trotsky. The raven is religion, Russian Orthodox church to be precise, Squealer is propaganda, the dogs are the KGB, Boxer represents the working class, Molly is the naive peasant population...and so on. Each character represents somebody or something in the satire.

[Liina]

I agree with everything you have said, Munro, but I`d like to improve the list a bit. The sheep had a very important role in the book. The sheep were the youth organizations in the Soviet Union who were always ready to support the government. The cat represents the intelligencia in the SU - they did nothing to support the government but were left alone because the government saw some kind of a threat in them. Mr Jones represents the czar (Nikolai II).

One correction though - Molly represents the people who went exile in my opinion, meaning who left Russia in fear of the government.

[Bongitybongbong]

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Okay the pig Napoleon represents Stalin. Snowball represents Lennon. The dogs the secret police. Moses as the Orthodox Church.If you look at a lot of the history in that time of the U.S.S.R. you will notice many things that are similar.Like when Snowball gets chased out relates to when Lennon was shot in Mexico

[Scheherazade]

Lenin was shot in Mexico???

Bong> It is LENIN not LENNON. Lennon was a singer.

[nns]

Lenin was shot in Mexico???

Lennon was a singer.

A fairly good one, I'd like to add. Perhaps not very popular, but good.
that's if you happened to be around in the early 60ties, I mean. :)

[crisaor]

Lenin was shot in Mexico???
No, the one who was killed in Mexico was Leon Trotski, by order of Stalin.

[subterranean]

the dogs are the KGB...

I havent read/heard the word KGB in a long time ;)...but isnt the KGB suppose to be "invisible" instead of walking around guarding the first man?

[crisaor]

Yes and no. Generally, the fact that everyone knows it's there but not give it much attention is a much more efficient way of disguise than total secrecy, even if it's not around in the same way anymore. The same thing can be applied to the CIA.

[subterranean]

Well I suppose these kinds of organizations do need to show their existance anyway

[Geronimo]

I always thought the three pigs were Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin. And the horse was the Russian people. The horse was promised compensation for his hard work but once he was no longer useful he was sent to the glue factory.

[gilthas]

Actually, here is alist

Napolean: Stalin
Snowball: Leon Trotsky
Old major: Karl marx
Boxer: Working Class
Dogs: KGB
Raven: Russian Orthodox church
Mr. Jones: Romanov Dynasty, more specifically Tsar Nicolas II [ruled from 1887-1918]
Muriel [sheep who runs away to other farmer]: Rich upper class
Lenin: Absolutely no one. Lenin is unimportant in this story
Squealer: Pravda [Russian Newspaper]
Frederick [farmer who blows up windmill]: Germany [Operation Barbarossa = Windmill ka Boom]
Plinkington: USA
Guy who negotiates trade: Foreign Officials
Molly: Uneducated Class
Benjamin: Cynics

That's all I can mention off the top of my head. there are more, but i don't remember them all.

Oh, and by the way, KGB was the soviet secret police.



if you understand what i just said, reply with :nod:
if not, reply with :confused:

cheers
Gilthas

[lili_482]

"Old major: Karl marx"

Well, you could also say that Old Major represents Lenin, however, I honestly do believe he is supposed to represent Karl Marx. Oh, and the "Guy who negotiates trade" is called Mr Whymper.

Lili

[alenka]

Most of this is correct. I just wanted to add/clarify a few things, since I teach this novel (along with its historical significance).

Old Major: Karl Marx AND Lenin (because O.Major's skull is used in the story the same way Lenin's body has been used in Soviet Union, on display)

Muriel: is the goat, just regular semi-educated folk
Mollie: bourgeoisie, the upper class (the one that runs away to the other farm)
Pilkington: Winston Churchill
Windmill: Stalin's Five-year Plan
Stack of timber/forged banknotes: Hitler backstabbing Stalin, attack on Soviet Union


Actually, here is alist

Napolean: Stalin
Snowball: Leon Trotsky
Old major: Karl marx
Boxer: Working Class
Dogs: KGB
Raven: Russian Orthodox church
Mr. Jones: Romanov Dynasty, more specifically Tsar Nicolas II [ruled from 1887-1918]
Muriel [sheep who runs away to other farmer]: Rich upper class
Lenin: Absolutely no one. Lenin is unimportant in this story
Squealer: Pravda [Russian Newspaper]
Frederick [farmer who blows up windmill]: Germany [Operation Barbarossa = Windmill ka Boom]
Plinkington: USA
Guy who negotiates trade: Foreign Officials
Molly: Uneducated Class
Benjamin: Cynics

That's all I can mention off the top of my head. there are more, but i don't remember them all.

Oh, and by the way, KGB was the soviet secret police.



if you understand what i just said, reply with :nod:
if not, reply with :confused:

cheers
Gilthas

[bazarov]

Old Major: Karl Marx AND Lenin (because O.Major's skull is used in the story the same way Lenin's body has been used in Soviet Union, on display)



:D:D That's right! Finally!

Teacher, visit our LitNet homework thread, you will like it.

[James.]

Some good points here, agree with Munro and gilthas. Didn't realise the point Alenka made about the skull but that's good evidence.