Connections Between Animal Farm and Revolutions

     From the book Animal Farm by George Orwell, he explains a revolution that takes place in a farm. The revolution was started by a pig and he got all the other animals to follow him. Then their revolution begins when they overthrew the humans and developed their own constitution. This story in many ways connect to the real revolutions happening in our world. It explains how a revolution starts and similar characteristics about what would happen.

 What connections did you see between the revolution Orwell described in Animal Farm and the events in Egypt, Tunisia, Honduras, etc.?

     One connection that I found between Animal Farm's revolution and other revolutions around is that they are all fighting for something they are going against. In Animal Farm they started a revolution because the human didn't treat them fairly and they did not feed them one day. Most protesters that are creating a revolution are fighting for similar things such as poverty and the demand to abdicate their rules. "Outside Tunisia and Egypt, Algeria and Jordan are experiencing similar trends where the economic marginalization of young people is driving unrest. Unemployment, housing shortages and food prices hit this group the hardest." Revolutions are mostly because something wrong is going on and the people don't get the right they want.

     Another connection would be that the revolutions mostly starts with one person. In Animal Farm it started off with the pig Major when he had a dream about the future of Animal Farm. When he died, Napoleon ruled over and took over his spot and continued the revolution. Then the other animals in animal farm also combined forces to help out. This is similar to how our revolutions starts. The guy that set himself on fire started a revolution in Tunisia and when other countries such as Egypt heard about it, they started their own revolutions too. From this single event, and what the person did, it caused lots of commotion around. It started to make other countries consider about their problems and so on start an revolution.

     Revolutions spread most of the time and the revolution in Tunisia has influenced other Arab counties to follow on the same road. George Orwell's revolution reflects how revolutions happen around the world. It reflects the cause and outcome of most revolutions

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Animal Farm Chapter 11

The Rebellion
  
    Few months have past, and the pigs have gotten more familiar with the humans. They start communicating with them and playing games with them. As the days past by, the animals work more and more. They were asked to produce more and more crops. Not for them, but for the pigs and humans. The pigs would often be somewhere else in the farm, eating and chatting about their plans to make animal farm grow. The animals would be dead tired after each day, and one or two animals would die each day because of their loads of work. Even though there was the windmill which was originally build so that it could generate electricity, but turned out to mill the corns, it did not improve the lives of the animals. Because animals die each day, more work was assigned to the animals to replace the work for the animals that past away. The condition in Animal Farm was getting worse and worse, and the only ones relaxing were the pigs.

    Soon after the animals were continuously build with more and more work load. The animals start to think about equality and so when ever they passed the barn, they would look at the commandment that says, “All animals were equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The animals thought that this commandment was not fair, and all the animals should be equal. They thought back to the times when Snowball was still in Animal farm and how he cared for the animals and tried his best to make life more easier for them. They would have more freedom when Snowball was here. Even though the animals wanted to rebel after Napoleon, they weren't strong enough to rebel over him, because he got the dogs. They knew that they must get Snowball back to the farm and hide him somewhere that Napoleon would not know.

    Clover now the leader of the animals without Napoleon knowing. They would plan secret meetings where they would plan a bug feast for the pigs, while they discuss there plan about rebellion. Napoleon and Squealer was going to far. They get far too much special treatment and the animals are working their butts off every single morning.

    In their secret meetings, they were planning to find a way to bring Snowball back and create an plan to attack the pigs. Although Snowball was a pig too, he was known more than just a pig to the animals, he was a great leader. First they have to find where Snowball was located and bring her back. They have found a very good hiding spot they could hide Snowball without the pigs knowing.

    The day has come where Snowball is going to move back to animal farm. Napoleon was out with the humans to plan something. In a good time, the store Snowball in the pen house so that he could get some rest before the meeting they are going to hold. The next night, when the pigs are asleep. The animals hold a meeting in the barn with Snowball. Clover was there to explain the circumstances they were living against. Clover and the animals ask Snowball for help, and ask for forgiveness. Snowball agreed, he said it would be hard because Napoleon had the dogs with him. For the few weeks snowball would be planning a rebellion for the animals. Although it took awhile, the animals were willing to wait for the day that their freedom would come back to them.

    After a couple weeks, Snowball thought of a plan. And while he was creating a plan, he was secretly spying on the pigs and ears-dropping about what they are planning to do next. He found out something that he knew nothing about, but the pigs are at the humans side and currently working with them. They have combined forces and when the pigs and the humans would leave the farm to for plans, they were visiting other farms and ruling over other animals in other farms. It was like they were trying to take over the world. Snowball thought that they were going too far and they had to do something soon, or else it would be too late. He thought that they would have to combine forces with the other farms too in order for the plan to succeed.

    For the few weeks after Snowball told them the truth, they start gathering animals together and working together. They plan to surround the pigs and the humans. To make this work, they will tell the pigs that they will plan a surprise celebration for them because of his leadership. When the pigs heard about this, they were overjoyed and can't wait for the day to come. A big feast was to be planned for them and animals from around the farms would be coming to this event.

    The day has come. All the animals have gathered in the field, where food was placed all around. The humans even came. When Napoleon stepped in, he saw Snowball. He didn't care much about Snowball and he wants Snowball to think that he was successful even after Snowball was gone. Soon Napoleon knew that something was wrong, and it seems like his animals were going quit well with Snowball. This was quit strange, and he thinks that they might be planning something.

    The ceremony has started and Clover was the speaker. All the animals were quiet and Clover soon started his speech. His speech was truly powerful and it was time to give an award. The award was proven the shown the most leadership in the farm. Napoleon was announced the stage and Clover placed a ribbon on his chest. Then passed a cup of wine for him and his companions. The humans also got a glass of wine. Napoleon knew that they were going to attack soon and he was ready. When the animals starts to run after him, the humans were in back of Napoleon to protect him. They were holding guns. Even though the animals knew that their plan has failed, they still charge after the pigs and the humans. Few died and before the animals reached them to knock him off the stage, the pigs and the humans fainted. What the animals didn't know was that Snowball has poured some poison in the wine. Snowball knew that Napoleon has found out their plot, so he plans ahead.

    Napoleon has finally died and so the humans too. The animals succeeded. They thought that they were in freedom, but they weren't. Snowball stood on top the the stage, he announced that he will now rule over Animal farm and all the other farms. The animals didn't know that Snowball was the most cruel of them all. He pretends to care for the animals and help them out. He uses all of them, even Napoleon. Napoleon was a scape goat for Snowball. Snowballs plan has succeeded, and animal farm finally belongs to him. The rest of the animals haven't found this out yet. The beginning has just begun. Snowball is in control and freedom was never found.

Animal Farm: The Powers of Napoleon and Snowball

     Power goes out of control when people learn to obtain it. It is true that political power can corrupt the people who attain it. They will mostly take consideration about themselves and control others in their own goods. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, he implies that there are good and bad leaders. The ones that earns the trust from the people and the ones that use fear as an tool to gain support. In the story, Napoleon uses fear to earn the animals attention and get them to agree with him, while Snowball understands the animals needs and try to help them. 


     From the the beginning, Napoleon never really contributes the the revolution of that farm. He was never a good speaker and uses the animals power to help himself instead. Napoleon would not think of the strengths of Animal Farm, but rather their weak points and take over them. He uses fear as a tool to get the animals to agree and move to his side, but Snowball's speeches were always very strong; in which mostly likely the animals will move to his side. Napoleon uses the fact that the mens will come back to Animal Farm if they don't do what he says. He takes advantage of the animals and use them to help him rebel. The fact that he trained the puppies might seem like he is helping the farm, but he is merely using them has defense when he is in trouble.  In one point, when Snowball came up with the idea of the windmill to help out the labor of the animals. Napoleon had not choice but to disagree with his ideas because he doesn't want the animal to go to Snowballs side, and so he brings out the dogs and chase Snowball out. The dogs didn't really help the farm itself, but helped Napoleon rebel against his opponents. The fear that the dogs chase Snowball out of the farm  grabbed the attention of the animals to follow his orders. He was never a good speaker and used different schemes to make him successful. 


     Napoleon's use of fear over the 'lower' animals was very efficient because the animals could do nothing else. If they don't go as Napoleon orders they are scared about their future and the consequences that they might need to overcome. From the scene when Napoleons sent out the dogs to chase after Snowball, the lower animals was scared that their outcome would be like if they don't follow his commands. Napoleon was quite jealous about how Snowball took over the animals with their attention, and he used tactics to get rid of him, 

"At this...nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball..." (Orwell 67).

Even though Napoleon wasn't a good speaker, he used different ways to scare the animals and get them to agree with him. Following up with Squealer with just helped Napoleon earn the trust from the animals and getting them to recognize that Napoleon is a good speaker. If Squealer wasn't there to support Napoleon, he would not be in the position as he is now. Napoleon used people around him to earn the animals trust.
     
     Snowball in the other hand was an stronger speaker, he actually contributes effort to spread equality of the animals. He helps find solutions for the animals and won over Napoleon with his brilliant speeches, "At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority bu his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times," (Orwell 63). Snowballs speeches were often very strong, and he used his heart to help the animals. The creation of the windmill was to lessen the labor for the animals an shorten it so that they don't have to work as much. He was a strong leader and he was for the animals and not for himself. Everything he does inspired the animals to do better. Napoleon got in the way and when he knew that the windmill project was going better than he though, he used the dogs to chase him away.


     Snowball's use of his speeches was very effective and he won most of the votes from the animals. In would include the animals in and let them join in with him. He would never exclude anyone out of and even though the birds didn't have four legs, he said something and found agreement, 

"A bird's wing, comrades," he said, "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. It should therefore be as a leg. The distinguishing mark of a man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief."

Even though the had the agreement that says that, "Four legs are good, two legs are bad" . Snowball will always find a solution to help out the animals. The act of researching and designing the windmill was also for the animals. He was an effective speaker because he found an common ground with the animals and reached out his hands to help them. He did not use the tool of fear to get their votes, but his effort.


     In conclusion, Snowball and Napoleon was two different leaders. There actions was both efficient to the animals because they used power in a different way. One side was good and one was bad.

Political Power: Animal Farm

Prompt: In your opinion, does political power corrupt the people who attain it? Also, how do you think George Orwell would answer this question?


     In my opinion, I think it depends on who the individual that obtains political power. There were many leaders that obtained political power and made many good changes to the community, but there were also some leaders that were over thrown by their own people. If a person obtains political, they should share it with the people around them, or in other words, serving the people. If this person has the loyalty and is fair with their power, this would not happen. This is very likely when people obtain political power because they will want more power because of the positive things that they are obtaining and all the attention they get from others. These people will most likely corrupt. Because they are superior they have the power to command people and give them orders. In conclusion, it depends on the individual if they will let themselves take over them.


     I am not George Orwell, but I think that he might say the same things that I have said. This is probably the reason he wrote this book. He wants to warn others that gaining too much power is not good. Communism will come to a persons mind when they start receiving just a little power. He explains it by writing a story about how the animals overcome the humans. The pigs are in control and they are not being fair with the others. It will be predictable that the pig's mind will corrupt.

"And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of others. It is all lies." (Orwell 30)

      I think that this quote explains that when the animals get their hands on their rights and get interested into political power, they would not step back and keep moving forward. Even though as if there was something blocking their road, they will move on. It would be like they will be only concentrating on their goal and will not lead on to other ideas. If in their minds, they are thinking of power, it will lead to corruption.

"And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices...And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannies over his own kind. Weak of strong, cleaver or simple, we are all brothers. No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal." (Orwell )

      This quote explains that the animals will not follow in the footsteps of the humans, and create equality by themselves. Creating a better place that will not resemble the humans. The humans are known to be tyrants in this story and the animals don't want to be ruled by someone who isn't fair. The animals believe in equality and that all the rights should be shared. Because they will all work together, this is when political power is good, and their minds will not corrupt. If they will share their belief together and work as a group to move up a step, their power will be shared by everyone. Which means that all the animals are created equal.