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Animal Farm is a satire upon dictatorship. Explain.

In the novel ‘Animal Farm‘, George Orwell presents the view that revolutions are always inspired by noble hopes and ideals. But after revolution power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In beginning of the novel, Old Major tells animals how they are being exploited at the hands of Jones. He inspires them to revolt against tyranny of Jones. He asks them not to imitate actions of man. After death of Major animals formulate the speech of Major into a system and name it ‘Animalism’. They also make seven commandments based on the speech of Major. Through the story, the author conveys that each revolution is started with sublime sentiments.

After the death of Major, and formulation of Animalism, revolution takes place and Jones is expelled from the farm and animals enjoy freedom. They decide to work under the guidance of the thoughts of Major. They enshrine seven principles and determine to follow these principles. Those principles are called seven commandments. These principles are related to the behavior of animals. These commandments restrict them from luxuries of life. All the seven commandments are written on the wall of the farm. Animals show their complete faith in the commandments. Snowball asks the animals to be literate. He forms many committees to bring prosperity to the animals.

Soon after the revolution, ideals began to decline. Squealer asks animals to reserve milk for pigs. According to him pigs work with brain, therefore, they need milk and apples. Thus, a class division was marked among the animals. In the matter of food, pigs were more equal than other animals and they began to take very rich diet. They also started to sleep on bed. It was argued that they work with brain so, they require comfort like men. Animals were threatened if they opposite, Jones would be come back. Pigs become free from manual work and they began to supervise the farm only.

By playing tricks against Snowball, Napoleon drives away from the farm and becomes the sole leader of the farm. Thus, he becomes al tyrant master of the farm. First of all, he abolishes, Sunday meetings where important discussions take place. He calls Snowball traitor. He reduces rations of animals. He establishes trade relations with human beings. When hens oppose to sale of their eggs, he puts them to sufferings. He forces them to surrender with the help of propaganda of Squealer, he establishes himself a whole sole king. When Clover began to sing ‘Beasts of England’, Squealer orders them to stop it and instead of it, they should sing songs composed by Minimus in praise of Napoleon. Due to simplicity of their behaviour they could not understand that Napoleon was going on the ways of tyranny, but Benjamin realized the facts very well.

Napoleon violates all the principles of Old Major and amends them in favour of himself and pigs. Like Jones, he also becomes habitual of taking wine and amends the commandments that no animal should drink alcohol in excess. In the same manner, in order to justify the bloodshed, he changes another commandment “No animal shall kill another animal without cause.” He bans the freedom expression of animals and other pigs become more and more corrupt. Finally, all the commandments have been changed and new commandments have been written. He also declares that old traditions have been changed and animals will not say one another ‘comrades’. He changes the name of ‘Animal Farm’ to ‘Manor Farm.’ The novelist humoursly remarks that the faces of pigs are looking like those of human beings who represent tyranny..

The novelist concludes that every organisation is bound to be corrupt. The ideals of revolution are forgotten by the organisation which enjoys power. Thus, those questions which stemmed from the issue of revolution, remain unsolved. Through ‘Animal Farm’ he prove that it is not any particular man who corrupts the society, but it is power which corrupts the man. Though, the novelist does not put up. any remedy of this problem, the question itself is able to produce everlasting impression on the readers.