Literature Analysis

Analyzing Animal Farm with Marxist Criticism

Animal Farm is about a farm that is taken over by the animals who feel mistreated by the farmer. Angry and unhappy with their lives they set out to start a Revolution to give them a utopia of fairness and equality.

How is Animal Farm a Marxist Literature Novel?

The novel focuses on the social class that is present on the farm; the upper class who was Mr. Jones and the humans at the beginning of the story then, later on were the pigs; and the lower class who were the other animals, the horses, ducks, etc. Animal Farm emphasizes on the oppression of the other animals and the struggle between the working class and ruling class.

This novel is a political literature that challenges economic oppression and is based off the Russian Revolution. The events that occur in the novel is similar to the events that occurred during the Russian Revolution, and also some characters are representations of the real life historical figure.

Characters:

Napoleon – Joseph Stalin stalinnapoleon

  • Both character were political organizers with many connections to powerful people that helped them gain power and control.
  • Used propaganda to brainwash the people.
  • Goal of both the characters: make their country/farm to be so powerful that the other countries/farms will want to imitate their country/farm.

Snowball – Leon Trotsky1503081

  • Both were exiled from their homes (Snowball from the Animal Farm and Trotsky from Russia)
  • Military Geniuses and intellectuals.
  • Goal of both the characters: were to provide money and support for those of the lower class.

Old Major – Vladimir Lenin & Karl Marx

  • Has wisdom due to their previous experiences and come up with ideas to get a better understanding (Old Major set up the ideas of Animalism; Marx created Marxism Criticism; and Lenin believed in Marxism strongly)

Mr. Jones – Czar Nicholas IInick

  • Was the ruler of the original system.
  • Left their people/animals unfed and poor (Mr. Jones forgot to feed the animals; and Nicholas II left the peasants starving)
  • Both were overthrown and removed from their powerful position.

Animal Farm is also all about power; overthrowing previous leader, maintain and enforcing power. The novel shows how the pigs maintain their power with literature and knowledge; and shows that education is a crucial factor. Propaganda is also used by the pigs to control the other animals and influence their behaviour or opinions.