Animal Farm: Context (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
Animal Farm historical context
Russian Revolution
The novella was written in response to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s corruption of communism and his descent into totalitarianism
Tsar Nicolas II ruled Russia before 1917 and while the elite class were wealthy and powerful, the majority of the population were impoverished and lived in deplorable conditions:
The majority of people existed on mediocre wages, poor working and living conditions and little food
Nicolas II was eventually overthrown as the people organised a rebellion to remove him:
Lenin launched the rebellion with the support of Stalin and Trotsky, but he died later, resulting in a leadership struggle between Stalin and Trotsky
While Trotsky wanted to educate the people and industrialise Russia, Stalin desired authority over the population, introducing secret police and discrediting Trotsky through propaganda
Once leader, Stalin was an authoritarian ruler; the Russian people suffered greatly and his leadership came to resemble that of Nicolas II
How this links to the novella Animal Farm | |
Totalitarianism | Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and many of the characters are representations of the prominent people connected to the revolution at the time. These leaders are represented by several characters, including Napoleon as Stalin and Snowball as Trotsky. Jones is presented as an allegory for Nicolas II and his poor leadership on the farm causes the animals to live in squalor and experience malnourishment, resulting in the rebellion. Orwell alludes to these uprisings in Animal Farm for example, through the rebellion and the Battle of the Cowshed. Old Major’s philosophy of Animalism adheres to the principles of communism where “All animals are equal”. Orwell condemns all forms of totalitarianism and reveals his dislike of the leaders on the farm. He also condemns the other animals who are complicit in this corruption through their inaction, fear and ignorance. Orwell demonstrates how the new regime is exactly replicating the old as Napoleon rules in a similar fashion to Jones. |
Animal Farm social context
Equality
Orwell believed that a just society is founded on human decency and common sense and that equality is necessary for a society to survive
Animalism represents the ideals of communism, a political system in which everything is shared equally and class distinction is abolished
The novella was written in 1945 at a time when there was a great desire for social reform:
A series of social welfare policies were introduced between 1945-1951, so that everyone would be afforded some protection
The 1942 Beveridge Report advocated a system of social insurance for every citizen, regardless of income
By 1945, a left-wing government had just been elected which advocated more socialist values and ideals
Throughout the novella he explores the welfare of society through the welfare of the animals on the farm:
By 1945, workers’ rights were beginning to improve and demands for better working conditions were being met
How this links to the novella Animal Farm | |
Equality | The novella is a general indictment of inequality and Orwell indicates how the lives of the animals improve when power is balanced between Napoleon and Snowball. Initially, the rebellion appears to be a success, as the animals get the direct benefits of their labour. Yet while the pigs wish to appear as though they desire equality, everything they do is for the benefit of themselves. Orwell’s criticism of governments (and how they treat people unequally) can be summed up in Napoleon’s final amendment to the Commandments: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. |
Propaganda and censorship
Orwell was deeply concerned by the use of censorship and propaganda
The first large-scale use of modern propaganda occurred during World War I, when governments attempted to persuade their citizens of the justness of their cause
As a result of the World War II, Britain revived the British Propaganda and Censorship Act in defence of British national security, which impacted much of the British publishing industry:
The government used propaganda and censorship to regulate, suppress or distribute materials to influence the public's understanding of the war
This meant that propaganda and censorship were in operation in order to control certain information from reaching the British public about the war
The government justified their widespread suppression of freedom of speech
Orwell was critical of the use of propaganda and censorship to persuade the masses as he believed it could be used to manipulate and suppress information
How this links to the novella Animal Farm | |
Propaganda and censorship | Animal Farm was published a month before World War 2 ended in 1945, causing a censorship crisis in the publishing industry. Several publishers refused to print the novella because it was deemed too controversial at the time. Orwell depicts the animals being manipulated by common propaganda techniques, including songs, slogans and ever-changing information. This is explored in the novella principally through the character of Squealer who is adept in the art of propaganda and spreading misinformation. Further, the continuous alteration of the Seven Commandments demonstrates how those in control of information can manipulate the rest of a population. |
Education
In Animal Farm, Orwell contends that without education and empowerment of the lower classes, any revolution would only lead to oppression and tyranny
In Britain, pressures for reform to education had been building in the late 1930s and early 1940s and the education system was extended and reorganised several times
The Education Act of 1944 was enacted in response to the Second World War and increased social and educational obligations, as well as broad calls for social reform:
For the first time in Britain, it ensured the provision of free education for all children
The Act was also intended to provide equal opportunities for children of all backgrounds
How this links to the novella Animal Farm | |
Education | Orwell demonstrates that when education is not given to all, it is easy for the educated to abuse it by seeking greater power. Through a lack of education, the animals cannot see the slow progression of the pigs’ dominance over them. While Snowball attempts to teach all of the other animals to read, in contrast, Napoleon chooses to educate a select few in isolation. The pigs use education to manipulate and suppress the animals on the farm in order to serve themselves. After the pigs have fully educated themselves, they continue to deny the others education and change the rules to assert their power. |
Animal Farm literary context
Animal Farm is an allegorical novel and it uses the form of a fable to tell a story with a deeper political meaning:
The characters and events in the novella directly relate to historical figures and events from the Russian Revolution of 1917
By using a fable, Orwell uses animals to convey a moral lesson about the danger of totalitarianism and the corruption of power
The novella is considered part of the Modernist literary movement, which roughly spanned from the 1910s to the 1960 and was concerned with
A disillusionment with societal progress
The breakdown of traditional values
The impact of technological and social change on individuals and society
How this links to the novella Animal Farm | |
Modernism | Like many Modernist works, Animal Farm was written as a response to the huge social and political upheavals of the period, particularly the rise of totalitarian regimes. |
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