Animal Farm by George Orwell
“All animals are equal” is the original commandment – when the Farm is still ruled by the cruel and alcoholic Mr. Jones. Once he is overthrown, and the animals take over the Farm. The clever animals slightly modify the slogans to suit their own needs, for instance, now, they say “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” These more 'equal animals' are the ruling pigs in the book – a few pigs who oppose them are wiped out. The ruling pigs modifies the existing laws, “no animal shall kill any other animal, without cause.” 'Without cause' is the modification to the original slogan which the pigs add to remain Ruling Pigs
What interests me about this book (and also about Orwell's 1984) is the constant refrain by the reviewers that Orwell wrote this book against 'Communism.' Against the Soviet Union. This could possibly have triggered ideas in him, but to dwell too much on it and claim that the book is against communism is insincere, false, and misleading. He just had human beings in mind when he wrote Animal Farm.
It is a powerful and compelling, book both in content and style. It is amazing to see how animal world mirrors the human world – no matter how much we try to distance ourselves and put the blame solely on communists. In the book, the Pigs in particular not only mirror human being, they become them. And then we see, how these animals, when having absolute power, spawn new knowledge systems and act cruelly. The Pigs destroy other animals though claiming to be their Saviors.
While Benjamin, a donkey, and Boxer, a horse, remain my favorites. I guess even the powerful pigs- like beings all over the world when reading this book will most probably make similar claims. In such an atmosphere of cruelty unleashed by the Pigs on other innocent animals, and thinking of the climate we live in today, I admire the cats as they are shown in the book. I also understood the vain horse who leaves the farm. Sometimes, or perhaps always, even though it could have terrible consequences, one should avoid becoming pigs and donkeys, if one can do so.
In the book, for instance, Pigs would not have become the Pigs if the majority animals were like cats. Allegory does not only act like an allegory in the book; it becomes real, urgent like the world we inhabit. Orwell's rage must have been maddening, but it is fascinating to see how he reigned his rage in the form of a book. I wonder if in today's world someone can write 1984 or Animal Farm, or even can one distinguish between the modern-day pig and the Benjamin? It is depressive to see the modern-day pig pretending to be Benjamin. Modern day Benjamin might work for others by day, and later have drinks with the pigs to make sure that “some animals remain more equal than others.” In other words, the ruthless pig and modern avatars of Benjamin and Boxer are now close buddies. In such a scenario it is no longer clear who is Benjamin. Most pigs imagine themselves as Benjamin as they gorge on milk and eggs.
Since it is difficult to choose and figure out things in the age of alternative facts, I prefer to be cat-like. One occupies a little space and might suffer materially, but one can do what one likes best such as reading books and writing reviews, and let others do their piggy stuff. It is only the barbaric who can only imagine themselves as either victims or oppressors.
What interests me about this book (and also about Orwell's 1984) is the constant refrain by the reviewers that Orwell wrote this book against 'Communism.' Against the Soviet Union. This could possibly have triggered ideas in him, but to dwell too much on it and claim that the book is against communism is insincere, false, and misleading. He just had human beings in mind when he wrote Animal Farm.
It is a powerful and compelling, book both in content and style. It is amazing to see how animal world mirrors the human world – no matter how much we try to distance ourselves and put the blame solely on communists. In the book, the Pigs in particular not only mirror human being, they become them. And then we see, how these animals, when having absolute power, spawn new knowledge systems and act cruelly. The Pigs destroy other animals though claiming to be their Saviors.
While Benjamin, a donkey, and Boxer, a horse, remain my favorites. I guess even the powerful pigs- like beings all over the world when reading this book will most probably make similar claims. In such an atmosphere of cruelty unleashed by the Pigs on other innocent animals, and thinking of the climate we live in today, I admire the cats as they are shown in the book. I also understood the vain horse who leaves the farm. Sometimes, or perhaps always, even though it could have terrible consequences, one should avoid becoming pigs and donkeys, if one can do so.
In the book, for instance, Pigs would not have become the Pigs if the majority animals were like cats. Allegory does not only act like an allegory in the book; it becomes real, urgent like the world we inhabit. Orwell's rage must have been maddening, but it is fascinating to see how he reigned his rage in the form of a book. I wonder if in today's world someone can write 1984 or Animal Farm, or even can one distinguish between the modern-day pig and the Benjamin? It is depressive to see the modern-day pig pretending to be Benjamin. Modern day Benjamin might work for others by day, and later have drinks with the pigs to make sure that “some animals remain more equal than others.” In other words, the ruthless pig and modern avatars of Benjamin and Boxer are now close buddies. In such a scenario it is no longer clear who is Benjamin. Most pigs imagine themselves as Benjamin as they gorge on milk and eggs.
Since it is difficult to choose and figure out things in the age of alternative facts, I prefer to be cat-like. One occupies a little space and might suffer materially, but one can do what one likes best such as reading books and writing reviews, and let others do their piggy stuff. It is only the barbaric who can only imagine themselves as either victims or oppressors.
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