Some wise and well-spoken pigs step up to the plate, stating their destiny, and leading them to revolt. As a result, led by Snowball and Napoleon, the animals eliminate Jones and write the new rules of their new society upon a barn wall. Powered by the partnership of Boxer and Benjamin, Animal Farm becomes a society of full equality. In 1984, betrayal strikes again, as Winston Smith goes through a painful, mind altering experience with devastating results. Winston is forced to betray the woman he loves. He betrays his beliefs and one true love by accepting what the all-powerful Big Brother and O'Brien tell him. The novel 1984 takes place in Oceania, and society included a Party who controlled what individuals were doing at all times and what their beliefs were. "Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four." (1984, p. 69) to citizens of Oceania, believing in the truth of a simple equation is freedom...

They were watched all the time. "To wear an improper expression on your face was itself a punishable offense. There was even a word for it in Newspeak: facecrime, it was called. (1984, p. 54)
Napoleon, the leader of all the animals in Animal Farm, is both similar to and different than Big Brother, the leader of the citizens of 1984. Both Big Brother and Napoleon are somewhat cruel rulers. Like Big Brother, Napoleon is a sneaky plotter who operates behind the scenes rather than openly. However, unlike Napoleon, Big Brother occasionally appears on the television screen. Napoleon and Big Brother both use the strategy of weakening their rivals -- Napoleon removes Snowball and Big Brother removes Rutherford.

The characters in Animal Farm and 1984 have similar and varying characteristics, which highlight the themes. Big Brother and Napoleon, domineering and sly, established a totalitarian group. Winston and Boxer are true followers of their leaders, always believing that the leader is right.

In general, these two books share many features, and it is clear that Orwell is trying to show Totalitarianism and fascism. He sets the themes of the two stories perfectly in the way he has compared and contrasted the characters to demonstrate different points of political aspects.

References

Orwell, George. 1984. (New York: Signet, 1992): 56, 58.

George Orwell, Animal Farm (Middlesex: Penguin…