ANIMAL FARM LECTURE NOTES
Orwell was opposed to rebellion as a legitimate response to political oppression. The rebellion in Animal Farm is not an immediate reaction to Old Major’s speech but rather a spontaneous response to Jones' neglect of their basic needs. Their rebellion is not questioned but rather the corruption of lofty ideals that seem to follow in the wake of the best intentions.
Themes
The Corruption of Ideals
The Abuse of Language
Revision of Past
Power Corrupts
-Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
-Human nature allows for leaders to abuse power
Satire – form of writing that ridicules abuses of human foibles in the hope of fixing them
-Superficially Animal Farm is a simple fable of a revolution betrayed.
-Also a satire on the attempts made by humans to create a perfect society in an imperfect world.
-Inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917.
-In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx envisioned a classless society in which the means of production would be placed in the hands of the workers.
-He also predicted a revolution of the proletariat against the capitalists.
-Russian Revolution led by Lenin in 1917.
-The Communist party took control of the Soviet government.
-4 years of war, led by Trotsky, to combat anti-Communists. Cutting off all trade with the outside world.
-Communists – Red ArmyAnti-Communists – White Army
Ukrainians – Green Army
-Lenin’s new economic policy – 1921 establishes trade with the outside world
-1924 – Lenin dies causing a struggle for control of the party between Trotsky and Stalin
-Trotsky: Great planner and organizer
Favored rapid industrialization
Exploration of revolutionary ideas to other countries
-Stalin:Wanted to build a strong socialist Russia
Establishes the Comitern to spread the revolution
-Communist International song of World Wide Movement
-Trotsky exiled by Stalin
-Stalin denounces Trotsky as a traitor
-Secret police purge anti-Stalinists and give him ultimate power
-1936 – 1938 – Moscow show trials where high ranking Soviet military and political
leaders including heroes of the revolution
-confess to crimes against the state
-they are condemned to death
-hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens are arrested, interrogated and charged, then deported or executed
-People around the world reluctant to express public criticism
-WWII Stalin shifts allegiance from Allies to Axis
-Signs non-aggression pact with Hitler
-1941 Hitler attacks Russia
-Forced into alliance with the Allies