Book Review: Animal Farm, by George Orwell

Why Animal Farm can potentially be your favorite book too!

Animal Farm is a very short, very interesting book from the get-go. In the 97 pages of its quirky story, you will clamor to read more and more until the last page. And you live for the last line of the book. It is probably why the book was written in such a manner. Very rarely will books give you a concrete conclusion about what it is trying to say, than what George Orwell does in the ending for this one of his masterpieces.

In the story, the animals on the Manor Farm lead a life of utmost difficulty. They are made to work a lot, and given meager food, just to keep them alive. So, one day, the Old Major, an old pig tells all the other animals about a dream where animals live free of the tyranny of their masters and teaches them the song, “Beasts of  England” which goes on to become their anthem when they are led to rebellion. Two pigs, Snowball and Napolean take charge, hold a rebellion, throw out their owner Mr. Jones, and rename their farm as Animal Farm. All the animals start farming, milking cows, etc all on their own and life is better for a while.

But soon it starts to change because the pigs who took leadership try to disproportion the food, and get better amenities for themselves.  George Orwell has used this allegory in a magnificent way to explain how communist utopia can convert itself into a totalitarian dystopia. It is a take on how an economy function and the impact of the political framework on the well-being of citizens.

It is interesting to see that even though the book was published in 1945 and it mainly attacked the Stalinism prevailing in Russia, it finds enough relevance in contemporary world. It outlines the power corrupt political system by showcasing similar situations we face in the real world in fancy symbolism! Orwell’s deep mistrust of any political power is easily visible through in this fable. This book is a critical look at anyone who would want to keep us down ‘for our own good’. It ends with a hair-raising warning to all its readers as to how bleak the state of affairs can be if there is such a totalitarian government. It emphasizes on Lord Acton’s popular saying “Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Storyline: 4/5

Simplicity of thoughts: 5/5

Writing style: 4/5

Politically Correct: Not at all, which is why you’ll love it!

Some of my other Reviews:

1984, by George Orwell

The Hypnotist, by Lars Kepler