Animal Farm

George Orwell writes about the power-hungry world that we live in, by putting it in the context of an animal farm. The animal farm started off with ill-treatment, enlightening, secret meetings, rules and behavioural code, rioting, battle, usurping, hard work, peevishness, breaking of rules, selfishness, power hungriness and everything that you would see in today’s world to gain power and position. The only difference was this was set among the animals of the farm.
There is not much in the story itself as to where the beauty of this classic come from but the similarity to the life that we see in politics and even in some families.
The farm animals are mistreated for a long time and they realize eventually that since they are the ones making the farmer survive, they should overthrow him and take the profits and goods for themselves. The secret meetings happen and the riot and battle that ensues sees many casualties and it also brings freedom. The animals come together to make their laws and continue to work hard to make their life. Many feel that they are working harder than before but content themselves in thinking that they are working for themselves. Yet, after a while, they start feeling as though some of the initial rules made were broken by their leaders, but the leaders carry out many dark dealings, which makes it seem as though the animals’ memory might be at fault. The book ends by showing that there is no difference between the animals’ chosen leaders and the men that they drove away from the farm in the first place.
After reading 1984 in a forced condition, I wasn’t a fan of George Orwell, but as I grew up and saw more of politics in play in the world and in my office, I started appreciating his ideas and Animal Farm can also be safely added to his extraordinary books. A good, insightful read.