Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Animal Farm by: George Orwell

The Animal Farm by George Orwell is a very interesting book. The book is about how animals at this one farm overthrew the owner of the farm by force. Eventually the animals overcome and defeat their masters in one quick and epic battle. Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he had in which all animals live together with no human beings to oppress or control them. He tells the animals they must work toward such a paradise and teaches them a song called Beasts of England, in which his dream vision is lyrically described.

The animals greet Major’s vision with great enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting, three younger pigs, Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer, formulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism. Late one night, the animals manage to defeat the farmer, Mr. Jones, in a battle and run him off the land. They rename the property Animal Farm and dedicate themselves to achieving Major’s dream. The cart-horse, Boxer, devotes himself to the cause with particular zeal and commits his great strength to the prosperity of the farm. As a personal maxim, Boxer adopts the affirmation I will work harder.

Ultimately, Old Major dies and two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, start to lead the farm. Napoleon betrays Snowball, exiles him from the farm and forms his own totalitarianism rule on the farm. It’s a pretty good book. I recommend reading it.

Manuel G.

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