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Animal Farm, Animal Farm - Coggle Diagram
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Animal Farm
Themes
Corruption
You see corruption in the book within the pigs. They benefit from all the labor the other animals are putting into the farm. Napoleon shows lots of corruption when he comes into power. He tells all the animals of all the crimes Snowball has committed and how he was never on the animals side. Napoleon constantly changes the stories and manipulates the memories and the intelligence of the other animals and they believe him. They change the Commandments written on the wall to fit with their crimes so it seems like they haven't actually broken any of the rules.
Explotation
Exploitation is seen in the book. All animals are used by the pigs in one way or another. Boxer is used for his strength and the chickens are used for their eggs to make money for the farm. At one point or another all the animals are being used by the pigs to get some kind of labor done, which the pigs only receive the benefits of and never actually help with.
Propaganda
We see propaganda come in the form of words. Throughout Napoleon's rule we see Squealer constantly advocating on Napoleons behalf. He is constantly emotional manipulating the other animals and persuading them of things he wanted them to believe. For example he would say that the animals memories were false and many things that did happen didn't and that they were just rumors. In the Battle of the Cowshed Snowball was awarded with Animal Hero First Class, for what he did in the battle. Squealer convinces the animals that this never actually happened and he changed the story and convinced them that it was just a rumor along with what he had done in the battle.
Class structure
Class structure is shown and represented in the book especially with the pigs as they are meant to be the upper class. They get more food they sleep in the house and don't help with really any of the labor around the farm.
Historical context
Overview
The book is an allegory for the Russian revolution. Different characters are represented by different figures in the revolution.
Russian Revolution
The Russian revolution began in 1917. The goal was to abolish the monarchy in Russia and create a new socialist government. This was followed by two more revolutions and a civil war within Russia.
Character correlation
Major
Major is representative of Karl Marx and/or Vladimir Lenin. Vladimir Lenin, was a politician, theorist and an advocate for the Russian revolution. He wanted the revolution to favor the working class. He was a founder and head of government in Soviet Russia from 1917-1924. This all represents Major he was the leader of the farm (working class), he sparked the revolution, much like Lenin.
Napoleon
Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin. Stalin's socialism approach was a big contrast as to Trotsky's (Snowballs) ideas. He also made policies that encouraged rapid industrialization in Russia. We see this with Napoleon as well, he is very set on the windmill being built no matter how many times it is torn down. He pushes the animals to exhaustion in trying to industrialize the farm. He also sells the wood on the farm to make more profit and he sells the chickens eggs as well to make money. However we never see this money. He also isn't as efficient in the harvest when they are under Napoleon's rule they don't have as much food and the pigs would take a lot of the food. The rations for all the animals were cut down. Even after there were many executions there was no mention of the animals rations being increased, which makes me think that it could be going to the pigs.
Snowball
Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Leon Trotsky was a very prominent figure in the Russian revolution. He worked alongside Vladimir Lenin (Major). He also helped in the establishment of the Soviet union. He was a very prominent figure in this time. Snowball is also very prominent on the farm as he comes up with many of the ideas and new plans for how the farm should be run. Snowball was innovative and he came up with many new plans to essentially upgrade the farm.
Boxer/working class
The other farm animals are representative of the working class. Boxer is the biggest representation of this. They are doing all the labor around the farm and they are the majority of the animals on the farm. They do most of the work and don't receive much of the reward.
Jones
Jones represents the Russian Government before the revolution. He represents the monarchy that Russia had in 1917 before the revolution. The leader of Russia controlled most of the country and controlled the land and the produce. This is what Jones was to the animals.
Mollie
Mollie represents the middle class in the revolution. She enjoyed the luxuries in life like her ribbons. She wasn't exactly opposed to the revolution, but she still did enjoy her life before it.
Setting
Animal Farm is neighbored by Frederick and Pilkington farms. These farms represent the other countries involved in the war. These farms represent the U.S., England and Nazi Germany.
Characters
Side characters
Major
Was the leader in the beginning before his death. Started the mention of rebellion and sparked the want for rebellion. Very wise and old.
Mollie
Wasn't very influential to the animals, after the rebellion she missed some of the human things so she escaped to one of the neighboring farms.
Boxer
Main source of power and work within the animals, very driven, starting to think for himself. He puts a lot of work into the tasks around the farm and is the powerhouse of the animals. His personal phrases are, "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right".
Dogs/Puppies
They were taken away from their mother and Napoleon raised them to use as weapons. They attacked Snowball and chased him out, they killed many of the animals and are guards to Napoleon and accompany Squealer when he delivers messages.
Jones
Farmer, led the people in the Battle of Cowshed, doesn't seem to have any interest in the farm anymore.
Sheep
Aren't super important, some admitted to helping Snowball and were executed. Aren't intelligent and are known for bleating simple phrases.
Cat
Doesn't interact with anyone much, is always off alone and not found during work, the executions and the battles
Chickens
Chickens lay eggs and those are sold for money to the outside world. Stopped laying as rebellion and weren't given food and some died, until they agreed. Some claimed of having dreams of Snowball telling them to commit crimes and treason, now they lay eggs for "Leader Napoleon"
Pigs
Sleep in the house, most were executed for "helping" Snowball tear down the windmill
Sqealer
The messenger for Napoleon, very persuasive. Napoleons right-hand-man. He convinces the animals of things that they have "falsely" remembered and is charming, cunning and manipulative.
Main characters
Napoleon
Overthrows Snowball with the dogs he trained. Selfish, manipulative and persuasive. Uses human tools and the animals for his own personal gain. Has connections to the human world. Corrupt. Convinces all the animals that Snowball is the one taking food and making a mess on the farm and tearing down the windmill.
Snowball
Main leader throughout the first parts of the book. Uses many tools from the people and learned many things. Innovative. I think he truly did have the farms best interests in mind. The farm was the happiest and most successful when he was in charge. Always disagrees with Napoleon.