Animal Farm A Study in the Relation Between Power Structures and the Fundamental Right to Freedom essays

Animal Farm A Study in the Relation Between Power Structures and the Fundamental Right to Freedom essays It has been widely acknowledged that George Orwell wrote Animal Farm with the express purpose of indicting Communism as a solution to social problems. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union it can, therefore, be argued that the work has lost its relevance, except perhaps, as a children's fable. To write the novel off in such a fashion would, however, be a mistake because a closer examination of the plot structure and the caricatures of various characters will reveal that the work has a timeless relevance. Indeed, if one were to disregard any preconception that Animal Farm should be interpreted as a satire on Communist Russia, it can be argued that the novel's main purpose is to highlight the negative effects of power structures in terms of suppressing and exploiting the weaker sections of society. The abuse of power, as a central theme, is especially apparent in the manner in which the characters of Boxer and Mollie are portrayed. Although the two possess diametrically opposite personalities, they share one thing in common and that is, they both reveal an inherent weakness, which ends up being exploited by the powers-that-be. Thus, it can be said that the characters of both Boxer and Mollie are used by Orwell to establish that as long as power structures exist, the freedom of individuals to pursue life, liberty, and happiness will always be Like most satires, Orwell uses allegory and irony to allow the reader to interpret the parallels being drawn between the personality trait in a particular animal character and human nature. However, Orwell does not merely stop at that. He also uses the plot structure in Animal Farm to establish that human society will always be a case of "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others," (Orwell, p. 114) irrespective of arguments or claims to the contrary. Thus, Animal Farm begins with Old Major advising the animals that thei...