Animal Farm. A book review.

Animal Farm shows in the simplest way how corrupt politics can be, that history has a tendency to repeat itself, and how important basic education and unbiased news reporting are for society to take a turn for the better.

Book Cover of Animal Farm

Before reading Orwell’s Animal Farm, I was aware of its political nature, but I didn't realise the extent of it. In Animal Farm, a group of farm animals are unhappy with how their master treats them: the animals are underfed and overworked, and if they stop performing as expected, they are 'eliminated'. This life is accepted as the norm until one of them tells a story of a different world, a world in which animals take care of themselves, where humans are no longer a threat. Shortly after this seed is planted, a rebellion takes place, after which the animals are finally in control of their own future. They cannot wait for their new socialist/communist life to begin. However, as with real life, things don't go as planned.

While I am too young to remember the events that Animal Farm is referring to, I grew up learning about the Second World War. Reading Animal Farm reminded me of how this war, and most likely every other war, came to be. It reminded me of the events leading up to Hitler's rise to power and the tactics he used to remain in power. Orwell (unintentionally?) wrote a book that is still valid today – one only has to look at the actions of some of the people who are in power now.

'Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been, nor ever could be, much better or much worse – hungers, hardship and dissapointment being, so he said, the unalterable law of life.'

The statement above by Old Benjamin, the donkey, reminds the reader that history will repeat itself, as it always has. It makes one wonder whether one is ever truly better off than before if people remain ignorant of the politics that control them. My belief that everyone should learn about the atrocious things that happened before our time to ensure people recognise red flags to secure peace and equality in the present and the future hasn't changed. Animal Farm is a good reminder of how people in power can use gaslighting, blame-shifting, and propaganda for their benefit while completely ignoring the welfare of others.

'We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.'

I enjoyed reading Animal Farm, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reflecting on what they've read. While I was appalled by Napoleon the Pig's actions, I applaud Orwell's method of simplifying (what can be) a complicated system and creating an entertaining read.

The copy I borrowed had two appendices (Penguins Modern Classics). They were introductions to Animal Farm by George Orwell. One was written for the original English version (published in 1945) and one for a translated Ukrainian version. These appendices were as interesting as Animal Farm itself. I highly recommend reading a short author biography if you're not familiar with Orwell's history, as it gives great insight into how he came up with Animal Farm and how his view and understanding of politics evolved over the years.

You can find Animal Farm here.

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