Book Review: Animal Farm

“All animals are equal but some are more equal than others” – Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a satirical novel by George Orwell targeting the dictatorship built-up on a cult of personality. He brings out the fact that the socialism as an ideology sticks only on paper but when implemented, the practical realities of hero worship leading to dictator ship are inevitable.
He projects the circumstances leading to the rise of dictatorship, censorship of free speech and the unrealistic ambitions achieved by the dictatorship Governments in the name of fake patriotism. This probably is the best satirical book I have read after Candide by Voltaire. As George Orwell himself said, with full consciousness he fused political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole with Animal farm.

Some of my observations

1. Short book (can be completed in a day or two)
2. Simple, lucid language and up to the point
3. Theme of “unknowingly being part of a big conspiracy”
4. What can be a better satire of the human world than the way animals refers to humans as parasites throughout the novel.
5. The elevation of pigs themselves to positions of leadership seemed so real and made me recollect the development of caste system in India.
6. The part of Good leader ‘Snowball’ termed as the enemy of the revolution was so sad but realistic.
7. The disappointment of the serious believers in the revolution like Boxer (I guess it’s the horse) is also so real. Yeah, everything seemed so connected to the real world and so I liked the novel.
8. Lastly, the ending was superb where the animals look from esteemed pigs to humans, and realize they can no longer distinguish between the two. And finally there was only one commandment.  All animals are equal but some are more equal than others

All the above said, I strongly feel there are some good things about socialism as well which are ignored by the author, the novel being written in a highly satirical tone. I feel every government has got its own advantages and disadvantages.

So, what does the novel teach us?

Instead of playing the ‘fool’ role (I mean the normal animals in the novel) it is better to play the leader role, if not, read more and educate ourselves in the least.