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Write a note on political purpose of George Orwell for writing ‘Animal Farm’.

Discuss ‘Animal Farm’ as a political satire.

“‘Animal Farm’ was the first book in which I tried with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole” Discuss. – George Orwell.

George Orwell had observed that the British Government is trying to permit the admiration for military heroism of Russians without taking care to the faults of communist regime. He also telt that communists were having the position of unofficial representatives of Russia in England to prevent the truth. He wanted to expose soviet myth and to present the fault inherent in revolutionary Socialism. When he found Russia an ally of Britain, he became depressed As a riter, he wanted to remind his countrymen that only four years before, Russia was an enemey, so he presented some unpleasant facts of Russian history.

The theme of ‘Animal Farm‘ is based on Russian history from 1917 to the time of writing i.e., 1943. In this novel. Orwell presenta a moral lesson that equality in economic field is an urgent need of every society. Justice can be brought in a society only through economic equality. In this novel, Orwell does not want to present the desire of animals to rebel against exploitation of human beings, but, he presents these exploited animals for poverty striken people who are seldom cared for. Orwell is of opinion that form of the government play a very vital role in bringing miseries to the lives of people. If the policies of government are sympathetic towards the poor, the problem of poverty can be lessened. The causes that are responsible for the miseries of people can be removed by the policies of the government. He believes in democracy and is strictly against any kind of dictatorship. At the same time, he advocates Socialism also. He is of opinion that Capitalism aims at prosperity of a particular class whereas Socialism aims at the development of entire society. Socialism is the best reply to the shortcomings created by devil of Capitalism. He observed that Communism lays emphasis on the progress of a particular class and aims at totalitarianism. So, Orwell as a political philosopher measures Communism with it merits and demerits.

In fact, the novelist desires to convey only one message to the society that the Socialism is the only way through which progress of entire society is possible. He also lays stress on the fact that political awareness is the utmost requirement of the mankind. He is not against revolutions. He has very high regards towards those revolutions which are based on high ideals and noble hopes. In ‘Animal Farm’, he does not criticize Old Major, who represents Karl Marx, but he pays his best tribute to Karl Marx and Lenin by creating the character of Old Major. But due to his believe in Socialism, does not allow him to believe that people of Russia are the best fed and the most advanced. So, he discloses the fact that the communist experiment in Russia was a lost revolution.

In his novel, apart from Old Major he has created some more outstanding characters like Napoleon and Snowball who represent Stalin and Trotsky respectively. Battle between them makes us aware of political ups and downs in Russia Orwell is very much aware of allegorical writings, so he does not forget to mention Russian Secret Police in form of dogs of Napoleon. He presents the problem of the establishment of windmill and the effect of seven commandments in very humourous manner. Every character and every incident of the novel plays a significant role in bringing of the main theme of the novel. Thus, Orwell is considered as the most successful writer who could fulfil political and artistic purposes into one whole.

Thus, one of the political purposes of the novel is to present the lies of the Russia of Stalin. But Orwell’s purpose is not to present the particular example of Russian Revolution, he criticises shortcomings of all revolutions and he himself is aware of it. He himself said about the novel that the novel is intended to satire on dictatorship in general. In his novel. ‘Animal farm’ Orwell thinks about the French Revolution, Spanish Civil War and Bolsheik Rebellions also.