"Animal Farm" is recognized as one of the most outstanding dystopian allegorical novels of the 20th century. The story takes place on Manor Farm, where a human named Jones raises many animals.
Mr. Jones was originally a cruel yet capable farm owner, but after losing money in a lawsuit, he began to drink heavily and spent his days lazily in the kitchen. His workers also became idle and dishonest, taking advantage of Mr. Jones's absence to slack off and cause trouble. As a result, the farm was left unattended, and the animals were starving, suffering from hunger every day.
They could no longer endure it, and thus an animal revolution began to brew. The revolution was sparked by a boar known as "Old Major," who delivered a stirring speech to the animals on the farm before he died. He said:
"Our lives are short, but they are miserable and hard. From the moment we are born, the food we receive barely keeps us alive, yet as long as we can move, we are driven to work until we have exhausted our last ounce of strength. Once we are drained of our resources, we will be slaughtered with unimaginable cruelty."
"Humans are the only creatures that do not produce but only squander. Only by driving out humans will the fruits of our labor belong to us, and we can become wealthy and free almost overnight. So what should we do? ... Rebel! ... I am convinced that one day, justice will be served. ... Future generations of animals will continue this struggle until victory is achieved. ... Remember, in the process of fighting against humans, we must never imitate them. Even if we conquer them, we must not adopt their bad habits. ... Most importantly, no animal should oppress another animal. ... All animals are equal."
Old Major's speech was quite emotional, touching the hearts of the animals and filled with pride and mutual trust among them. It not only firmly believed that the animals' rebellion would succeed but also vividly depicted the beautiful life that would follow success, making it seem just within reach. It clearly pointed out the severe social injustices and sought to identify the "one root cause" of the animals' lifelong suffering and enslavement, their only existing enemy. It also clearly suggested that the revolution was simple; as long as they were brave and persistent, they could succeed, and once successful, they would reclaim the power, wealth, houses, and everything from their enemies, leading to a bright and prosperous future.
Old Major's speech stirred the animals' collective ambition to rise up and "rebel." Thus, the animal revolution broke out one hungry night.
The animals united against their common enemy, with a shared goal and coordinated actions, quickly driving out their human master, Mr. Jones, from the farm. Subsequently, Jones allied with other humans to suppress the animals' rebellion, but in the Battle of the Cow Shed, the humans were defeated, and the animals achieved a decisive victory.
On the first morning after their victory, the animals collectively climbed to a high point to admire their home with fresh eyes, gazing in astonishment at the many inner rooms and luxurious bedrooms of the former owner, Jones. By nightfall, the animals were still immersed in excitement, setting fire to everything that might remind them of Manor Farm and humans.
The animals began to build their new home and established the Seven Commandments, holding a general assembly of all animals to discuss major issues.
At this time, facing the challenges of building the farm after their victory, although difficulties were abundant, the enthusiasm of the animals was ignited. They worked hard with hope, and the farm was filled with new scenes. In the arduous work of rebuilding their home according to their own wishes, each type of animal was assigned more hard labor than when the old master, Jones, was in charge, but they did not complain. The animals hoped that through hard work, they could welcome a new life together, eating better, working less, and making their home richer and stronger.
However, on the first night after work, the animals discovered that all the milk that originally belonged to Jones was not being distributed according to need but was quietly taken by a few pigs. The cracks had begun to show. Wherever there is a community, there will be organization and leadership. Wherever there is organization and leadership, there will be competition and conflict for power.
Soon, the two main leaders among the animals, Napoleon and Snowball, split. During a meeting about whether to build a "windmill," Napoleon and Snowball had a disagreement, but disagreements were not a problem; a meeting could be held for open debate. However, at this moment, an unexpected event occurred: Napoleon unleashed the nine fierce dogs he had raised since they were puppies, which charged at Snowball as he was delivering a speech, forcing Snowball to flee and disappear.
Napoleon achieved a complete victory, ascending to the leadership position through "force." For the dissenters and skeptics, Napoleon repeatedly used this pack of fierce dogs to impose harsh laws and torture. In the end, the animals offered no resistance. They lost their freedom to protest, and even their freedom of speech, as their actions and words were tightly controlled by Napoleon and his loyal allies.
After driving out Snowball through "force," Napoleon became increasingly greedy for power, material wealth, and beauty. In exercising power, he became more and more arrogant and reckless, ignoring rules and acting according to his own will, replacing collective thought with his own, and acting as he pleased, surpassing the old rulers in tyranny.
At the end of the story, Napoleon hosted a banquet for other farm owners, stating, "The outside animals saw pigs become humans, and humans become pigs, and they could no longer distinguish between them." Because Napoleon understood his "comrades" and companions better, the new means of oppression and control were more effective, mature, and legitimate than those of the old rulers. After the animals overthrew human rule, they were instead doubly enslaved, ushering in a new, more despotic era.
A more despotic and doubly enslaved era
George Orwell's "Animal Farm" allows us to see once again the lower-class people of that time, who, after acquiring advanced knowledge, awakened their national consciousness and sense of autonomy, thus raising their arms, revolting, fearing no sacrifice, and fighting bravely, ultimately overthrowing the old regime and establishing a new government and institutions that represented their will.
Looking back, those resounding "rebellions" were quite successful, but the results of the revolution often contradicted the original intentions of most rebels. Many nations returned to social systems similar to those before liberation and revolution, or even worse. Because the new rulers understood their "comrades" and companions better, the new means of oppression and control were more effective, mature, and legitimate than those of the old rulers. At this point, the entire society had completed total control from spirit to body, and this comprehensive control was precisely what George Orwell feared most about a totalitarian society.