What About His Works?
George Orwell is famous for his fabulous works on books and poems. Novels in include Animal Farm, 1984, Coming Up for Air, Homage to Catalonia and Burmese Days. Many of these books were written during the early 20th century.
Two of the most common themes found in Orwell’s works is the theme of injustice and politics. Orwell’s wishes to display his opinion against totalitarianism, by stirring his views towards a democratic -socialist view.
He wishes to show the lack of justice present in the real world, and how injustice leads to a dystopian future, no matter how well organized a society is.
Two of the most common themes found in Orwell’s works is the theme of injustice and politics. Orwell’s wishes to display his opinion against totalitarianism, by stirring his views towards a democratic -socialist view.
He wishes to show the lack of justice present in the real world, and how injustice leads to a dystopian future, no matter how well organized a society is.
...and Animal Farm?
In the novel Animal Farm, there were many aspects in the book that showed how a democratic socialist approach to situations may help benefit the animals in some way.
However, because the animals were not governed by this political ideology, they are unable to receive the freedom they deserve. An example would be the literacy of the other animals. The main reason why after the revolution, the pigs emerged as the leaders, was because of their intellectual skills above the other animals. They were smarter by comparison, therefore decisions were made based on their point of views.
If the pigs were democratic-socialists, they would’ve spent more time on trying to educate the other animals on how to read and write, restoring a fundamental human right. According to the United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organization, “Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits.” (The Right to Education, n.d.).
This action would’ve altered the fate of Animal Farm. The animals will be able to realize the truth behind the propaganda stirred up by the pigs, exposing them to the truth, receiving justice, therefore preventing any further damage to Animal Farm.
However, because the animals were not governed by this political ideology, they are unable to receive the freedom they deserve. An example would be the literacy of the other animals. The main reason why after the revolution, the pigs emerged as the leaders, was because of their intellectual skills above the other animals. They were smarter by comparison, therefore decisions were made based on their point of views.
If the pigs were democratic-socialists, they would’ve spent more time on trying to educate the other animals on how to read and write, restoring a fundamental human right. According to the United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organization, “Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits.” (The Right to Education, n.d.).
This action would’ve altered the fate of Animal Farm. The animals will be able to realize the truth behind the propaganda stirred up by the pigs, exposing them to the truth, receiving justice, therefore preventing any further damage to Animal Farm.
"In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia."
- George Orwell
Orwell and his Themes
George Orwell often placed his own points of view in his fiction, as a sense of amplifying the errors he find in society. Such as realizing the error in Communism, where society is split unequally into two main entities, the bourgeois and the proletariats.
The two most common themes found in his books are based on injustice and political dishonesty, and how there will never be a utopian future, as society is bloated with lies. “Throughout his novels, documentaries, essays and journalism Orwell relentlessly and uncompromisingly criticised imperialism, nationalism, capitalism, political dishonesty, power, totalitarianism, privilege and private education.” (Political Ideas of George Orwell, n.d.).
George Orwell repetitively inserts these themes into his novels, often representing them as the problem, in hopes of raising awareness for the reoccurring problem of political dishonesty. This provides justice in hopes of the public realizing the truth in politics, propaganda and the injustice they so blindly accepted.
George Orwell's criticism of communism, political power and injustice were very well disguised in this political satire, Animal Farm. He swiftly transformed the USSR, which is under political, economical and social struggle during the 1930's, similar year when the novel was written, into a well written allegory. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which”. (Orwell, 1945). This allegory, although written decades ago, contains themes still relevant today.
The two most common themes found in his books are based on injustice and political dishonesty, and how there will never be a utopian future, as society is bloated with lies. “Throughout his novels, documentaries, essays and journalism Orwell relentlessly and uncompromisingly criticised imperialism, nationalism, capitalism, political dishonesty, power, totalitarianism, privilege and private education.” (Political Ideas of George Orwell, n.d.).
George Orwell repetitively inserts these themes into his novels, often representing them as the problem, in hopes of raising awareness for the reoccurring problem of political dishonesty. This provides justice in hopes of the public realizing the truth in politics, propaganda and the injustice they so blindly accepted.
George Orwell's criticism of communism, political power and injustice were very well disguised in this political satire, Animal Farm. He swiftly transformed the USSR, which is under political, economical and social struggle during the 1930's, similar year when the novel was written, into a well written allegory. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which”. (Orwell, 1945). This allegory, although written decades ago, contains themes still relevant today.
References:
Brainy Quote. (n.d.). George Orwell Quotes - BrainyQuote. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_orwell.html#hJDzmqbt1XblaoFI.99
The Political Ideas of George Orwell | The Socialist Party of Great Britain. (n.d.). World Socialist Movement. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/1980s/1986/no-986-october-1986/political-ideas-george-orwell
democracy. (2013). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-234182
Domhoff, G. W. (n.d.). Who Rules America: A Critique of Marxism. ITS web hosting for campus units. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/theory/marxism.html
Images:
Hendrix, J. (n.d.). George Orwell's legacy: Orwell Prize longlist announced - latimes.com. Los Angeles Times - California, national and world news - latimes.com. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.latimes.com/features/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-george-orwell-legacy-orwell-prize-longlist-announced-20130320,0,3970643.story
deviantART: More Like Animal Farm book cover v2A by ~AstroCrush. (n.d.).deviantART: where ART meets application!. Retrieved April 4, 2013, from http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/63975388
What would George Orwell have made of the world in 2013? | AthensTalks.com. (n.d.). Athens Talks - Talk amongst yourselves. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from http://www.athenstalks.com/what-would-george-orwell-have-made-world-2013