Animal Farm by George Orwell, published in 1945, is a satirical novella that allegorizes the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism. Set on a fictional English farm, the story begins with the animals overthrowing their human owner in hopes of creating a society founded on equality, justice, and shared labor. Inspired by the idealistic pig Old Major, the animals establish a new government under the leadership of two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. However, as power consolidates in the hands of Napoleon, the original ideals of the revolution begin to erode. Through manipulation, propaganda, and fear, the pigs transform into the very tyrants they once opposed.
The famous commandment, “All animals are equal,” is eventually revised to, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Orwell’s concise and fable-like narrative delivers a powerful critique of political corruption, the betrayal of revolutionary ideals, and the cyclical nature of oppression. Animal Farm remains a timeless and accessible work, renowned for its sharp commentary on power and its abuses.
