OVERVIEW OF THE COMPARiSON
ABUSE OF POWERDuring the Russian Revolution, Stalin claimed to be committed to creating an equal society for all. However, Orwell saw him in a very different light. Through the illustration of the cunning and brute force Napoleon used to gain and maintain power on Animal Farm, Orwell critiques the violence of the Stalinist regime against the citizens it ruled.
Napoleon, known as the "fierce- looking boar" (pg 16) is recognized for his ruthless attacks against the animals after the revolution. His use of the attack dogs parallels the Stalin’s undercover secret police, who they both use to eliminate those who have the power to contradict them. Orwell effectively demonstrates Napoleon's hard-lined image which consolidated his power as the dictator of Animal Farm through the scene where Napoleon’s “dogs promptly tore” (page 84) the “throats” (page 84) of those who spoke against him. By illustrating a symbolic scene, he employs the metaphor of powerful leaders robbing away the right to free speech and force the oppressed to essentially kill any public respect they might have had. This further enhances the idea that many dictators gains and maintain power by utilizing cunning methods.
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DECEPTION AND MANIPULATION
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SIGNIFICACE OF THE NAMEIt is significant that Orwell chose the name “Napoleon” for the pig who represents Stalin in Animal Farm. The namesake is from the military dictator of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte. He started out with an enthusiastic vision of human equality, yet parallel to Stalin’s case, he betrayed the nation and proclaimed himself emperor. (Rodden, 2009)
Orwell hereby hints his attitude towards Stalin’s tyrannical act and betrayal of his people. Moreover, it is patently obvious that Orwell intends to make the readers see that Napoleon resembles not only Stalin alone, but the many political tyrants in world history in general. |
SIGNIFICANCE OF the 'pig'In the novel, Orwell characterizes the tyrannical Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin with the allegorical image of a pig. His choice of animal works to echo the features of Stalin to those of a pig based on the existing stereotypes in an indirect manner. (Rodden, 2009)
The vicious, greedy and nonproductive qualities of pigs make them the ideal personification of the Marxist intellectuals who declare to speak in the name of the workers, but do nothing productive themselves except spout propaganda and engage in violence. In the medical aspect, Orwell considered the scientific that pig’s physiology is very close to humans. This implies the 'beastliness' hidden within Stalin and human beings. (Collins, 2008) The one to one correspond between the literal and symbolic level allows Orwell to openly assail on the political ideas he is contemptuous of. Moreover the readers are also able to easily recognize the one dimensional character traits which Stain and Napoleon share. Ultimately, Orwell serves the purpose to degrade the status of Stalin, also to satirize the absurdity of his politics through this beastly image.
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critiques and comments on his writing
Critiques on Animal Farm have indicated that "So it begins, and so it continues to the end, direct, exact and sharply concrete, letting events make their own impacts and stimulating the creation of mental pictures, so that one remembers the book as a series of lively visual images held together." (George Woodcock, 1966) Orwell has successfully portrayed aspects of Stalin's life as a corrupted revolutionary in his novel, where he provides vivid images and descriptions of this viciousness dictator through the allegory of Napoleon.
By focusing on particular of Stalin's historical achievements and traits, Orwell manage to effectively demonstrate how people's freedom is disintegrating as a result of Stalin's exploitation of his people. Nonetheless, Orwell has remarkably advocated his insightful views upon Stalin's totalitarian regime by creating a strong connection between Napoleon and Stalin. |