In 1984
and Animal Farm, George Orwell
focuses on the ramifications of corruption within the government. Animal Farm illuminates the beginnings
of a tyrannical society hiding under the guise of socialism, while 1984 warns readers of the dire
circumstances resulting from a totalitarian government. In both novels, the
working class, farm animals and proles, are manipulated and used by those in
command to gain more power and to satisfy their greed.
Orwell reveals the terrors of
totalitarian society through the leaderships’ manipulation of the people.1984 is set in an oppressive society
called Oceania, where most live in poor conditions and are continually
monitored by the Thought Police. On the surface, Oceania seems like a cruel
place with limited freedoms. Although that is true, the real horror of the
society is its ultimate control over the people. The Party controls their
bodies, minds, and actions.
The Party controls its members through
harsh work schedules and the Physical Jerks, which are intense exercises in the
morning. This combination of exertion and long hours causes the outer party
member’s to be in a constant state of weariness. The Party adds to this
physical fatigue by rationing food all the time. In times of plenty, food is
still rationed as a tool of control. This control reduces crimethink, which is
any thought against Ingsoc. People are too tired, too busy, and too misinformed
to challenge the leadership of the Party and doctrines of Ingsoc. These outer
Party members are open to influence, and believe whatever they are told. The
Party uses its power to continually write and rewrite the past to fit the present.
Since they control the flow of information and, in turn, memories, the Party is
able to fully alter reality. While interrogating Winston, O’Brien states, “Who
controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the
past” (1984 484). To secure support
for Oceania’s war efforts, the Party declares that they have always been at war
with Eastasia or Eurasia, while, in reality, Oceania has fought both
superpowers at one time or another. The people, conditioned to accept anything
and everything the Party says as dogma, accept this and do not question the
change. This is the epitome of doublethink, the ability to believe in
contradictory statements simultaneously. The Party uses physical and mental
control to gain complete subservience and ultimate power.
1984
exemplifies the ramifications of a totalitarian society, while Animal Farm illustrates how a pure
socialist society can become a corrupt dictatorship. A call for rebellion
against the cruel farmer Jones becomes a new community based on equality, and
eventually turns into another totalitarian society with pigs as its leaders. This
socialist community of Animal Farm is based on equality and collaboration is
slowly corrupted by the pigs belief in their superiority and their greed. After
the rebellion against Mr. Jones, the pigs lead the animals in their new
society: “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the
others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume
the leadership” (Animal Farm 37). To
the naïve farm animals, it seems “natural” that pigs lead the others, but this
is the first sign of the pigs’ dominance within Animal Farm. The very day
Animalism is established, the pigs break the seventh commandment: “All animals
are equal” (Animal Farm 35). The pigs
steal the fresh milk for themselves and do not share it with the other animals.
With Squealer’s cunning, the pigs manipulate the working animals into believing
that the pigs need more and better food than them due to their intelligence.
The pigs, like the Party in 1984, use
misinformation to rewrite the past and alter the present. They take advantage
of the illiterate animals to change the Seven Commandments and songs, which
represent the ideals of Animalism. These tactics change Animal Farm back into
Manor Farm, a feudal system with the pigs positioning themselves as lords. The
pigs receive the benefits of prosperity, while the farm animals continue to
work hard and long hours. The final words of Animal Farm illustrate the complete transformation of an Animalist
society based on equality into a system of animal slavery with the pigs as dictators:
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, from man to pig, and from pig to
man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which” (Animal Farm 132).
Throughout his writings, Orwell
stresses the consequences of corruption within a socialist society. In 1984, he warns against the threat of
communist dictatorships, which can take advantage of their constituents. In Animal Farm, Orwell illustrates how an
upstanding socialist society can be tainted with corruption, and become rife
with inequality. His books show the perversion of socialist communities, and
illuminate how they can go wrong.
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