The Rejection of Anti-socialist Approach to Orwell’s 'Animal Farm'.
Abstract
The paper aimed at analyzing the reasons and significance of the rejection of the anti-socialist approach in Animal Farm by George Orwell. The target text was studied closely and scholarly opinions of distinguished academicians were brought into consideration while producing the arguments of the paper. This paper has created a new way of looking at the response of socialism in a certain context. The study has found that the novella not only focused on the Russian Revolution but also projected a socialist approach.
Key Words: anti-socialist, socialism, political allegory.
Table of Contents
Abstract
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Literature Review
CHAPTER 2
Analysis:
Conclusion
Work cited
Introduction
George orwell is known as a socialist who doesn't hesitate to fight against inequality, exploitations and oppressions either in person as he did in Spain or in writings.
In his lifetime, he was exposed to ugliest and most brutal practice of life. He writes,
“For five years I had been part of an oppressive system, and it had left me with a bad conscience”, (The road to Wigan Pier in 1936.)
And then he continues: “I wanted to submerge myself, to get right down among the oppressed, to be one of them and on their side against their tyrants.” ( the road to Wigan Pier in 1936).
In Europe, he worked a low income job observing and experiencing the life of working class people. He decided to form a socialist party in Britain and capitalism had to be uprooted because he thrives for equal share of the wealth among the people.
The core meaning of the term ' socialism' is to share commonly of the production among people. 'Animal Farm' is a novel that stands firmly, rejecting abhorrently the anti- socialist approach, on the ground of sharing evenly. There is a quote in the new testament of the Bible " Give to the king what is meant for the king and give to the poor what is meant for them". George Orwell walks in the line of that teaching. Also he paves a way of establishing that concept of 'Socialism' in his widely read novel 'Animal Farm' through an ettempt: A few animals rebel against their owner in the hope of creating an egalitarian society where everyone will be treated equally, will be happy and free.
However their endeavors in creating an even society was shattered by the dictator pig Napoleon. This scene leads to the background of the novel which focuses on the Russian revolution. Stalin as a strong revolutionary socialist performed a vital play in uprooting the monarchy of Russian regime. This is only a real event that is displayed in the novel through some animals against the dictator Pig. Through this idealistic approach the author sings a song of establishing socialism. His socialistic attitude reigns right from the beginning of the novel. Therefore this paper will seek with an avid interest to refute anti-socialistic approach providing with supportive arguments.
Literature Review
Renowned writer George Orwell is a mouthpiece of the twentieth- century society. 'Animal Farm ' is one of his prominent works which represents totalitarianism and dictatorship of Russian regime and that of the urge for socialism allegorically through some animals in the novel. In the novel some animals raise voice against the dictatorship of the pig Napoleon. They demand an equal share of their produce. This perspective of equal share, socialism, is also manifested in some of his essays where he truthfully admits his passion for socialistic approach. Hence this paper has ventured upon with some well known critics who are in the tune with George Orwell's mind - equal share policy.
George Orwell in 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' speaks of his democratic socialism. He used the term socialism with capital letter 's' which speaks of his ardent support for socialism. In the essay, 'why I write' he creates a sense of his support for socialism stating: "Every line of my serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against Totalitarianism….”
And, critic Anjan Basu ( June 25) says 'anti-totalitarianism which is mentioned in the essay ' why I write' is the main theme, without any doubt, in the 'Animal Farm'. The critic continues "Animal Farm" is not only a statement, indeed a very angry statement, against totalitarianism: equally, it is a passionate statement for the equality of all men also".
" Orwell is a socialist above everything else, a clear-eyed, committed socialist". in the beliefs of socialism, all his distrust of all dictatorship and capitalism is firmly caught up. His believing in socialism is not emotional but of life experience. When he joined the militia in a fight for Spain, he was nearly dead. He acknowledges why he fought the war that incapacitated him:
“so far as one could judge the people were contented and hopeful. There was no unemployment and the price of living was still extremely low; you saw very few conspicuously destitute people ….. Above all, there was a belief in the revolution and the future, a feeling of having suddenly emerged into an era of equality and freedom. Human beings were trying to behave as human beings and not as cogs in the capitalist machine. When one came (to Barcelona) straight from England the aspect of Barcelona was somewhat startling and overwhelming. It was the first time that I had ever been in a town where the working class was in the saddle……. In outward appearance it was a town in which the wealthy classes had practically ceased to exist. Except for a small number of women and foreigners there were no ’well-dressed’ people at all. Practically everyone wore rough working-class clothes, or blue overalls, or some variant of the militia uniform. All this was queer and moving. There was much in it that I did not understand, in some ways I did not even like it, but I recognized it immediately as a state of affairs worth fighting for”( Homage Catalonia).
The excerpt is taken from Homage Catalonia an account of the Spanish civil war he witnessed.
Why Orwell speaks of socialism has diverse reasons. To know the truth Orwell as a socialist, one needs to read the animal farm throughly and to know the background of it. Almost a year before he wrote animal farm, orwell rejected an invitation from the Duchess of Atholl to speak, in the 'British Leave for European Freedom'. He said, " I could not associate with a Conservative body that defended Democracy in England but had nothing to say about British Imperialism”. In the same letter he went on to say, "I hate Russian totalitarianism and its poisonous influence in this country”.
Now its obvious to to know the mind of George orwell as a true socialist which he expressed magnanimously in "Animal Farm" through animals.
He sees “Russian Communism . . . as a form of Socialism that makes mental honesty impossible” (Orwell, “Inside the Whale” 235), as a result 'Animal Farm' is written just not to deflect from socialism but foster true socialism from the claws of dictators and evil communists.
At heart Orwell is a socialist because he believes in egalitarianism. According to Richard White he is what Marixian call a ' Utopian' socialist, a socialist who is inspired by moral and ethical conviction (White, “George Orwell: Socialism and Utopia”).
Chapter 2
Analysis
Socialism is quite similar to communism but less controlling and more effective. The concept of socialism is represented in 'Animal Farm' taking many approaches.
His support for socialistic campaign melts down profusely at the beginning of 'Animal Farm' when animals call for revolution. The most conspicuous thought of socialism is expressed out in the commandments, 'All animals are equal' ( the last commandment) and in an description, 'The animals all worked on the farm, the products they produced were all shared amongst the animals and they received an equal ration of food'( Animal Farm by George Orwell).
In a showcase of animalism in the novel 'Animal Farm', George Orwell excellently draws socialism. Animals are made use of projecting different classes of a society who want to work in harmony and equality in an ideal socialistic society. Vividly use of symbolizations make the novel an appropriate fountain of equality where anti-socialistic viewpoints are bathed to wear garments of 'socialism'. Orwell was in favor of socialism. So he represents Old Major’s Ideals to project Socialism. He represents socialism using animalism because all the animals working together on the farm, hoping fair share of their produce symbolize a socialistic urge. George Orwell fights in his writings, essays and fictions as a pro-socialist.
His two prominent fictions are' 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. These two influential works of Orwell is considered as a defence to capitalism against socialism. He prevents the abuse of power and criticizes the totalitarian regime.
Orwell has been always a Pro-socialist. He never speaks of capitalism that makes people slaves and creates hierarchy. He stress, " Capitalism has no room in it for any human relationship; it has no law except that profits must always be made"( " Will Freedom Die with Capitalism?",1941). In the same way he writes in " The Lion and the Union: Socialism and the English Genius" : " economic liberty" as " the right to exploit others for profit" ( Essays 294).
Cursing capitalism, he begins to talk about Britain's war. He goes on, "This war has exercised its power of private capitalism, it is such a capitalism in which land, mines, transportation, and factories are owned privately and channeled for profit". ( Ibid. 315; emphasis on original).
Why George Orwell is a socialist admits to us in his autobiographical “Preface to the Ukranian Edition of Animal Farm” (1947):
"I became pro-Socialist more out of a disgust with the way the poorer section of the industrial workers were oppressed and neglected than out of any theoretical admiration for a planned society".
He rejects any inequality or hierarchy which seems to be socially unnecessary (Orwell, “Review of The Machiavellians by James Burnham”, 1944, in Essays 525).
Throughout his life, George Orwell tried utmostly to work for the people in peripheral vision to have their equal share. In true sense, he was a socialist which is very much clear in the fiction, 'Animal Farm'.
Conclusion
After having investigated different essays, novels, fictions of George Orwell and of influential critics' insights the point, in favor of socialistic approach, can be made that Animal Farm by George Orwell is a call to practice socialism. Animal Farm has a socialist approach whether it demolishes the socialist approach later when Napoleon misuses his power and makes an alter to all rules and make it one “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others” . Therefore one might vigorously protest the conservatory interpretations of George Orwell's fiction, Animal Farm. On the contrary, his approach to rebel against capitalism, monarchy and dictatorship through the animals in the fiction and some of writings can't be denied that he was against socialism. He was a socialist - he wanted all should be one with equal share of their produce which is very much visible in the novel 'Animal Farm' that vehemently reject the anti- socialistic approach of the Animal Farm'.
Works Cited
- Orwell, “James Burnham and the Managerial Revolution” [1946]
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