Animal Farm An Analysis of Orwell's Animal Farm

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a highly symbolic "fantasy" in which modern day revolution, ideologues, working class members, media and human nature are represented by the animals of Jones' Farm, the setting for the staged rebellion and the institutionalization of Totalitarianism. This paper will analyze Animal Farm from the perspective of plot, character, setting, theme, point-of-view, style and symbolism and show how Orwell's novel satirizes major players of his day and age.

The plot of Animal Farm is simple: Old Major calls the animals together one evening to tell them of a dream he has had. It is the dream of a Romantic, in which equality and class elevation are the ideals. He represents the ideals of the Romantic/Enlightenment era. When he dies, his ideals are pushed forward by the equally...

With the violent overthrow of Jones, the animals take the farm into their own possession and rename it Animal Farm. But soon, the animals discover that life was better under Jones. The pig Napoleon seizes control and becomes an even greater tyrant than Jones ever was believed to be. Napoleon accuses Snowball (the hero of the revolution) of being a criminal and a spy for Jones. He executes any animals who disagree with his rule. He changes the laws to reflect his wishes and by the end of the tale has committed the cardinal sin of walking on two legs (which he, Squealer, and the rest of his regime justify by changing the maxim, "Four legs good, two legs bad!" To "Four legs good, two legs better!") (Orwell 122). Thus, the…