Animal Farm and 1984

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Overview

ANIMAL FARM

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture. It is the account of the bold struggle, initiated by the animals, that transforms Mr. Jones's Manor Farm into Animal Farm—a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball emerge as leaders of the new community in a subtle evolution that proves disastrous. The climax is the brutal betrayal of the faithful horse Boxer, when totalitarian rule is reestablished with the bloodstained postscript to the founding slogan: But some Animals Are More Equal Than Others. . . .

1984

In 1984, London is a grim city where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

George Orwell (1903-1950) served with the Imperial Police in Burma, fought with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, and was a member of the Home Guard and a writer for the BBC during World War II. He is the author of many works of nonfiction and fiction, including Burmese Days, Down and Out in Paris and London, A Clergyman's Daughter, Coming Up for Air, and Keep the Aspidistra Flying.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780151010264
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date: 6/1/2003
Edition description: 1ST
Pages: 400
Sales rank: 26,345
Product dimensions: 5.90 (w) x 8.43 (h) x 1.36 (d)

Meet the Author

GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950) was born in India and served with the Imperial Police in Burma before joining the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War. Orwell was the author of six novels as well as numerous essays and nonfiction works.

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS is the author of four collections of essays.

Read an Excerpt

MR. JONES, OF THE Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.

As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. Word had gone round during the day that old Major, the prize Middle White boar, had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. Jones was safely out of the way. Old Major (so he was always called, though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say.

At one end of the big barn, on a sort of raised platform, Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. First came the three dogs, Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher, and then the pigs, who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform. The hens perched themselves on the windowsills, the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters, the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. The two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover, came in together, walking very slowly and setting down their vast hairy hoofs with great care lest there should be some small animal concealed in the straw. Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life, who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal. Boxer was an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance, and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence, but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. After the horses came Muriel, the white goat, and Benjamin, the donkey. Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm, and the worst tempered. He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. If asked why, he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at. Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard, grazing side by side and never speaking.

The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings, which had lost their mother, filed into the barn, cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on. Clover made a sort of wall round them with her great foreleg, and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. At the last moment Mollie, the foolish, pretty white mare who drew Mr. Jones's trap, came mincing daintily in, chewing at a lump of sugar. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane, hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. Last of all came the cat, who looked round, as usual, for the warmest place, and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover; there she purred contentedly throughout Major's speech without listening to a word of what he was saying.

All the animals were now present except Moses, the tame raven, who slept on a perch behind the back door. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively, he cleared his throat and began:

"Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But I will come to the dream later. I have something else to say first. I do not think, comrades, that I shall be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. I have had a long life, I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall, and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. It is about this that I wish to speak to you.

"Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.

"But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No, comrades, a thousand times no! The soil of England is fertile, its climate is good, it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word-Man. Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever.

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself. Our labour tills the soil, our dung fertilises it, and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. You cows that I see before me, how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what has happened to that milk which should have been breeding up sturdy calves? Every drop of it has gone down the throats of our enemies. And you hens, how many eggs have you laid in this last year, and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to market to bring in money for Jones and his men. And you, Clover, where are those four foals you bore, who should have been the support and pleasure of your old age? Each was sold at a year old-you will never see one of them again. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields, what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?

"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. For myself I do not grumble, for I am one of the lucky ones. I am twelve years old and have had over four hundred children. Such is the natural life of a pig. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. To that horror we all must come-cows, pigs, hens, sheep, everyone. Even the horses and the dogs have no better fate. You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker, who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. As for the dogs, when they grow old and toothless, Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond.

"Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice will be done. Fix your eyes on that, comrades, throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious.

"And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades."

At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them, and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives. Major raised his trotter for silence.

"Comrades," he said, "here is a point that must be settled. The wild creatures, such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. There were only four dissentients, the three dogs and the cat, who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. Major continued:

"I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal.

"And now, comrades, I will tell you about my dream of last night. I cannot describe that dream to you. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished. But it reminded me of something that I had long forgotten. Many years ago, when I was a little pig, my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. I had known that tune in my infancy, but it had long since passed out of my mind. Last night, however, it came back to me in my dream. And what is more, the words of the song also came back-words, I am certain, which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to memory for generations. I will sing you that song now, comrades. I am old and my voice is hoarse, but when I have taught you the tune, you can sing it better for yourselves. It is called 'Beasts of England.'"

Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. As he had said, his voice was hoarse, but he sang well enough, and it was a stirring tune, something between "Clementine" and "La Cucaracha." The words ran

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,

Beasts of every land and clime,

Hearken to my joyful tidings

Of the golden future time.

Soon or late the day is coming,

Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,

And the fruitful fields of England

Shall be trod by beasts alone.

Rings shall vanish from our noses,

And the harness from our back,

Bit and spur shall rust forever,

Cruel whips no more shall crack.

Riches more than mind can picture,

Wheat and barley, oats and hay,

Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels

Shall be ours upon that day.

Bright will shine the fields of England,

Purer shall its waters be,

Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes

On the day that sets us free.

For that day we all must labour,

Though we die before it break;

Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,

All must toil for freedom's sake.

Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,

Beasts of every land and clime,

Hearken well and spread my tidings

Of the golden future time.

The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. Almost before Major had reached the end, they had begun singing it for themselves. Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune and a few of the words, and as for the clever ones, such as the pigs and dogs, they had the entire song by heart within a few minutes. And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into "Beasts of England" in tremendous unison. The cows lowed it, the dogs whined it, the sheep bleated it, the horses whinnied it, the ducks quacked it. They were so delighted with the song that they sang it right through five times in succession, and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted.

Unfortunately, the uproar awoke Mr. Jones, who sprang out of bed, feeling sure that there was a fox in the yard. He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom, and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. Everyone fled to his own sleeping place. The birds jumped on to their perches, the animals settled down in the straw, and the whole farm was asleep in a moment.

"Animal Farm" copyright 1945 by Harcourt, Inc.
and renewed 1973 by Sonia Orwell
"1984" copyright 1949 by Harcourt, Inc.
and renewed 1977 by Sonia Brownell Orwell

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to: Permissions Department, Harcourt, Inc.,
6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.

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the_empress

Posted March 17, 2011

This is a poorly edited version

These are good, classic books, and I liked the idea of getting them both at once. Unfortunately, this eBook version contains an unacceptable number of typos. I give it 3 stars for the novels but 0.5 stars for this version.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Alleycat13

Posted June 20, 2009

more from this reviewer

want a prediction?

Wow, if anything is closest to a prediction of where the world is headed this is it! Its so cram packed with psychological themes that most people are afraid to even approach that its a Psychologist/Philosopher's dream. Its very good for opening ones eyes to the world around you and seeing where we can end up if we stand idly by. I recommend this to anyone who has the intellect to understand and appreciate good literature ^_^

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted November 5, 2011

I TOTALLY LOVE COMMUNIST PIGS!!!

In my Discovering Literature class, we are reading animal farm. The idea of the Russian revolution being acted out by farm animals made me laugh. Who would have thought that little farm animals could lead a revolution? Anyway, the 13 other kids that are in my Discovering Literature class are split into three different groups. There are the people who like Napolean(pardon my spelling), which includes three people. Then there are the people who like Snowball. I am in that group along with nine others. Then there is one person who refuses to vote. Anyway, I really enjoy this book so far and can't wait to finish it. By the way, Leon Trotsky, otherwise kniw as Snowball in Animal Farm, was such a better leader than Stalin, otherwise known as Napolean!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted May 16, 2011

GREAT BOOK!

Animal Farm was a lot better of a book then what I expected when I had to read it. While many may think its just about crazy animals or human stupidity they are wrong in the highest sense. The plot of Animal Farm is truly exceptional and is actually drawn from real world happenings, specifically the fall of the Soviet Union. In the beginning of Animal Farm, the animals hold a secret meeting after their drunken owner Mr.Jones goes to bed. This meeting is spearheaded by Old Major, an old boar and leader of the animals, whom is on the brink of death. Old Major tells the other animals of a vision he has had, where animals roam free to do whatever the want with out the influence of human beings. The morning right after Old Majors speech he dies, which is a wake up call to the animals, especially two young boars, Snowball and Napoleon. Together along with the other animals they work to make Old Majors dream in to a reality. Compared to many of the other books I have read this one stands out by far. One reason for this is the integration of real life events and happenings, which in this case is the fall of Soviet Russia, by combining it into a more easily understandable story that still conveys the message of the events. Also George Orwell's ability to take real people such as Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler and real events like world war two and the fall of the Soviet Union and transform them in to an animal and an event in the story. This book can grasp your interest very quickly and keep it until the end, by the events that unfold and the unexpected twists and turns that are an essential part of the book. This is a quality in a book that I have not seen in a long time. If a book isn't interesting then most people will quickly put it down and not bother to read on, but Animal Farm steals your attention right away and holds on to it right through the end of the novel. So if your looking for an interesting read, that combines some of the most notable events in history into a more understandable form then Animal Farm is the book for you. Read it and I promise you will be more than glad you did. This book is a ten on my chart!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted April 14, 2012

Awesome

Great read
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Anonymous

Posted April 6, 2012

This Looks Good

My Uncle rold me I should read this, so I am. I guess because Im an advanced reader.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted March 18, 2012

quality

Good novel closely embodies actions by totalitarian governments, most notably the bulshivik rev
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Anonymous

Posted March 18, 2012

@ carlostmock - The day the world is rid of wickedness, indiffe

@ carlostmock - The day the world is rid of wickedness, indifference, ignorance, greed and myopia is the day it will be ready for a Utopia. Which, in case you do not realize it, will be never! Why even dream of such a drug called Utopia?

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted February 13, 2012

Itwas pretty good.

I think that it is an alright book. I dont really like the idea of the animals being able to talk. I do like though how this book makes you really just so intruiged and it really does get its point and purpose out there and it is giving people who read it a little taste of the russian revolutionbut in a more fun way.
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RichardMcKitten

Posted January 8, 2012

Animal Farm

Animal Farm was the only book I have read so far. Animal Farm is a great book. Its characters are cleverly simple. It has an excellent point, and a fun writing style to go with it. Overall it is a must read... If you didn't somehow read it in middle school.
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Anonymous

Posted November 28, 2011

Must Read!

George Orwell¿s Animal Farm was a very talented representation of corruption within society. I started reading this book with no idea as to what the book was about, but as I read on I began to make a few guesses here and there; but by the end, you definitely knew what the author wanted to get across. It certainly isn¿t a cute book about animals on a farm. I came to read this book for school, and I actually started to like it about halfway in, instead of pushing myself to read it, I wanted to read it. It was very interesting, and fun to read. Who would¿ve thought of animals revolting against humans to be able to think on their own, and live on their own? It¿s just an interesting subject and example to use; I just loved this book, and wouldn¿t mind reading another one of his books. At the start, the animals wish for freedom from the humans who are basically using them as slaves, barely getting as much food for the amount of work they do. They want to be free to do what they wish, and one day, they get what they want. They claim the farm as theirs, and for a while they have a well set up system, organized by an intelligent pig, Snowball. They get plenty of food, and work the farm, as well as get a day off. It¿s exactly what they wanted, until Snowballs rival so to speak, Napoleon, chases out Snowball in a violent show of authority, scaring the animals into obedience. Napoleon then of course, takes charge of the farm, and changes basically everything, including the rules. I¿ll let you find out whether it was better or worse than when snowball was in charge, but do remember this, power corrupts.
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CoryColstock

Posted October 14, 2011

This is a book that will change the way you think about today's leaders.

The book Animal Farm is a book that illustrates loyalty, betrayal, and most importantly the abuse of power. What I have to say about the book is that it will give you a whole new perspective on leadership. It makes you think what are the qualities of a leader, why do people take advantage of other people, and also it makes you think; Can ANYBODY be the ignorant! In this book a group of animals overthrow a farmer in hopes that their lives will be easier and that they will be free of human rule. The word human is the word in which the entire animal farm (Manor farm) misunderstood. They think just because the original source of the problem is gone does not mean that your lives will be any better. In their lives are worse in the position they are in now than they were in the time of the farmer. The animals are ignorant in a number of ways though here are the main two. Number one they give one set of animals all of the power and two even though the rules are changing nobody seems to mind, car, or pay attention. It goes without saying that this is the combination for destruction. You see for example; when then government for the people by the people (in this case for the animals by the animals) starts to fail, it is up to those who are will to take charge to make things right. Violence is never the answer. Verbal speaking says enough. If all else fails Violence should be the last card you are holding in that hand. In this book it speaks of that very same subject. An animal by the name of squealer was an excellent speaker and he could manipulate any animal into his bidding. Napoleon another animal would use the tactics of waiting and watching then attacking. When I say this I mean napoleon would talk first then if necessary use violence but in the wrong ways. Though, it got the point across pretty quick and clear. This goes to show great leaders can be fighters and speakers. There are many morals in this book that I can discuss with you all reading this review. However, there is one theme within this book that speaks it all. To test a man's will you give him power. Power is something that corrupts any human and or animal.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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1unctarheelfan

Posted October 14, 2011

Not the best book I have but still pretty good

Animal Farm is a novel about animals that finally are through with humans beating them and telling them what to do. So they decide to have a rebellion against their farm owner. So this writing is for telling people what would happen or might happen with farm animals taking a farm and trying to take over the humans.

What started this whole thing is that an old white boar whose name was Old Major wanted his animal friends to rebel against the humans. So that animals wouldn't be bossed around for the rest of the animal existence. He really wanted to tell them this before his last breath because he knew the rebellion wouldn't happen in his days. So he told the younger ones so that they would be able to plan the rebellion to finally take over the humans.

The two main young boar's names, which were taught from Old Major before he died about rebelling against the humans, are Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball was a very young white boar who was very smart and very quick to speak, Napoleon was a big young white boar as well but he wasn't very smart he was pretty dumb actually but really strong and big and probably pretty fat. Snowball and Napoleon decided to finally rebel against their owner it was a big battle against the humans and the animals on the farm. The battle was tough but the animals actually won so Snowball actually knew that the farm would need some rules so that the animals wouldn't go crazy. They called the main rules the Seven Commandments they were mostly like a animal isn't better than another animal, or one animal cannot kill another animal, and other stuff that they would need for the animals not to go crazy.

Snowball and Napoleon were starting to not agree on any decision they would try to make so nothing could go further. But Napoleon in secret took some puppy dogs during the rebellion and has been training them to obey him. So one day when the dogs had been grown Napoleon finally decided that he had had it with Snowball so he finally let the dogs go crazy on Snowball, so Snowball ran away and now Napoleon was now in charge. Napoleon was going crazy with power he started changing the Seven Commandments in favor of him so he could do whatever he wanted to do.
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Camisha1996

Posted October 8, 2011

Animal Farm Review

I think this novel was very interesting due to the fact that it was basically dealing with the war. I t was the one character in this novel that name was napoleon and he was okay in the beginning but then coming to the beginning middle napoleon was getting self-fish and very cruel.Napoleon only thought about himself and nobody else.Napoleon was getting dogs and different types of animals just to take out snowball for the fact that he was trying to make the barn a better place and napoleon was making the barn into a place where no other animals will want to stay there. Napoleon was taking over the windmill and everything else that was on the farm and everybody. Snowball got injure for the fact that he was trying to do the better thing and not the worst thing.
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PnutButter

Posted October 6, 2011

Great book...you have to read it!!!

Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely-and this is vividly and eloquently proved in Orwell's short novel. "Animal Farm" is a simple fable of great symbolic value, and as Orwell himself explained: "it is the history of a revolution that went wrong". The novel can be seen as the historical analysis of the causes of the failure of communism, or as a mere fairy-tale; in any case it tells a good story that aims to prove that human nature and diversity prevent people from being equal and happy ,or at least equally happy. "Animal Farm" tells the simple and tragic story of what happens when the oppressed farm animals rebel, drive out Mr. Jones, the farmer, and attempt to rule the farm themselves, on an equal basis. What the animals seem to have aimed at was a utopian sort of communism, where each would work according to his capacity, respecting the needs of others. The venture failed, and "Animal Farm" ended up being a dictatorship of pigs, who were the brightest, and most idle of the animals. Orwell's mastery lies in his presentation of the horrors of totalitarian regimes, and his analysis of communism put to practice, through satire and simple story-telling. The structure of the novel is skillfully organized, and the careful reader may, for example, detect the causes of the unworkability of communism even from the first chapter. This is deduced from Orwell's description of the various animals as they enter the barn and take their seats to listen to the revolutionary preaching of Old Major, father of communism in Animal Farm. Each animal has different features and attitude; the pigs, for example, "settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform", which is a hint on their future role, whereas Clover, the affectionate horse" made a sort of wall" with her foreleg to protect some ducklings. So, it appears that the revolution was doomed from the beginning, even though it began in idealistic optimism as expressed by the motto" no animal must ever tyrannize over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers. "When the animals drive out Mr. Jones, they create their "Seven Commandments" which ensure equality and prosperity for all the animals. The pigs ,however, being the natural leaders, managed to reverse the commandments, and through terror and propaganda establish the rule of an elite of pigs, under the leadership of Napoleon, the most revered and sinister pig. "Animal Farm" successfully presents how the mechanism of propaganda and brainwashing works in totalitarian regimes, by showing how the pigs could make the other animals believe practically anything. Responsible for the propaganda was Squealer, a pig that "could turn black into white". Squealer managed to change the rule from "all animals are equal" to" all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others". He managed to convince the other animals that it was for their sake that the pigs ate most of the apples and drank most of the milk, that leadership was "heavy responsibility" and therefore the animals should be thankful to Napoleon, that what they saw may have been something they "dreamed", and when everything else failed he would use the threat of " Jones returning" to silence the animals. In this simple but effective way, Orwell presents the tragedy
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Skydro

Posted October 3, 2011

Animal Farm-Decent book

The book Animal Farm was very awe-inspiring. As you read you get more involved in the story, it keeps you on edge, and wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. Animal farm is an amusing novel about determined farm animals that are desperate for a change. Mainly, the book is about underfed and overworked animals that take over a farm from their hated master. Of course through on out the book the animals struggle with projects, leaders, and battles. The thought of taking over the farm first started when a retired old boar gathers the animals in the barn and explains to them his dream. Old Major had a dream when the animals would roam the land freely, able to come and go as they please. This is how the animals got their idea. The animal's first battle against humans was named The Battle of the Cowshed because the animals fought vigorously against many men to keep their farm. In the Battle of the Cowshed, many cows died fighting off the men and the surviving animals thought it would be an appropriate to dedicate the name of the battle to those who died. After the battle of the cowshed the animals focus on building a windmill for power. All the animals agreed it would be a hard and long working progress but it would be worth it when it was all done. The animals worked so hard on the windmill that one of the horses named Boxer who was dedicated to his responsibilities of helping build the machine, collapsed while hauling a heavy stone up the hill. The animals also taught each other how to read and write. Their motto was "Four legs bad, two legs good". At the end of every meeting the animals had, the sheep always shouted their motto proudly. I enjoyed taking my time to read this book and understand the moral of the story. There are many lessons you could learn from this book; such as you need to treat your animals with care or keep your animals healthy and fed. When I read this book I kept a smile on my face the whole time. The cooperation and the affection the animals had towards each other really influence the life lessons you can learn. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals. It is a very heartwarming, courageous, and breathtaking book. Animal Farm is filled with unbelievable events and some very passionate animals.
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Anonymous

Posted October 3, 2011

Recommended

Animal Farm is a good book that describes an original hope for utopia that ends with deceit and propaganda. All of the characters begin with good intentions of freedom and equality but some are changed into selfishness. By the end of the story it becomes clear that things are not always what they seem and that sometimes you have to have faith in your own capabilities.
The novel tells the story of a group of farm animals as they struggle to survive and run a farm. At the beginning of the book, the animals live under the control of Mr. Jones and live are miserable. One boar, named Old Major, believes that humans are the true monsters and that one day all animals will live in freedom. He shares this belief before he dies and soon enough all the animals on the farm believe and Animalism is formed. In a fit of rage, the animals fight against Mr. Jones and gain control of the farm.
The animals do their best to maintain the farm and are running things better than the humans when one of the boars, Snowball gets an idea. He wants to build a windmill that will use technology to improve the lives of the animals. Another boar, Napoleon, fiercely opposes this idea, saying that the costs of such a machine would lead to starvation. On the day when the animals are meant to vote for or against the windmill idea, Napoleon and Snowball make their arguments and Snowball wins support. In response Napoleon sets a pack of trained dogs on Snowball, forcing him to flee. Napoleon takes control over the farm and things begin to change.
The book, written by George Orwell, is an interesting read that could easily invoke thoughts and opinions in readers that once didn't exist. Told in third person, this book has an average vocabulary and an intriguing theme. The author slowly exposed the reader to the true nature of some of the animals and to the dark idea that everything you know could be a total lie. As the animals continue their story, the reader gains a new understanding of the intense propaganda that can exist and of the absolute acceptance of an illusion.
Despite my original doubts, I did enjoy this book and its unexpected theme. Inspired by events in history, this book is a captivating tale that could interest even the most reluctant reader. I would recommend this book to any reader that likes an intriguing tale or who loves a classic story. Animal Farm is an amazing novel that is worthy of praise and I hope to encounter many books like it.
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Anonymous

Posted October 1, 2011

Great book

These books will change the way you look at government. Keep asking yourself one question as you read, "How did their world end up like that?" Think about if there are ways government implements laws and institutions that could one day lead to a world like these...
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6545075

Posted September 11, 2011

Animal farm is good...

I believe Animal farm is great. It tells a perfect mockery of communism rising with great joy till the people realizes it is stupid. The other story is not woth reading once reading pass the middle point of the story.
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Anonymous

Posted September 2, 2011

Genious

?
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I TOTALLY LOVE COMMUNIST PIGS!!!

GREAT BOOK!

Awesome

This Looks Good

quality

@ carlostmock - The day the world is rid of wickedness, indiffe

Itwas pretty good.

Animal Farm

Must Read!

This is a book that will change the way you think about today's leaders.

Not the best book I have but still pretty good

Animal Farm Review

Great book...you have to read it!!!

Animal Farm-Decent book

Recommended

Great book

Animal farm is good...

Genious