THE PARALLEL EVENTS !

The Parallel Events in Animal Farm

George Orwell or Eric Blair, a British novelist, wrote most of his books through his

experienced. During his early life, Orwell received a scholarship to study at Eton college.

However, studying there lead him to struggle from the gab between classes as it said on the

quote ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN

OTHERS (p.134). Thus, Orwell believed in Democratic Socialism. Animal Farm, one of

Orwell popular book, was a fairy story that represented the history during the Russian

Revolution to the end of World War II. The main purpose of writing this book was to satirize

the Soviet Union as the majority of people suffered from poverty and hardship. In the novel,

Mr. Jones, a owner of Manor Farm, neglects to treat all animals. Hence, animals confront with

difficulty. However, after the widespread speech of the Old Major run through out the farm,

most animals plan to overthrown the human race. After the succession of the rebellion, all

animals hope for better lives and set rules to create equality among themselves. The farm is

now called Animal Farm to liberate animals. Nevertheless, after the pigs set themselves as

leaders and control the farm by the use of labour exploitation, animals lives are absolutely the

same. In Animal Farm, George Orwell relates the story to several historical events since

Russian Revolution.

First of all, the rebellion against Mr. Jones in Animal Farm illustrates the historical

event during the Russian Revolution. During Tsar Nicholas II reign, the Russian faced the

problem of famine as Russia joined World War I. As a result, the citizens protested to dethrone

the Tsar. The Bolshevik party, lead by Lenin, had a well-known slogan of Peace, Land and

Bread to establish equality among people. The Bolsheviks believed in the ideology of

communist as it will contribute to their achievement. After the revolution, Russian changed the

name to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (What was the Russian revolution?, 2017).
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Similarly, in Animal Farm, all animals gather in the big barn to listen to the Old Major speech,

We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those

of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength (p.7). From this

quote, it shows that the animals in Manor farm struggle from the human oppression. They

need to spend all their labour to produce raw products such as milk and eggs for Mr. Jones.

Moreover, all animals work as slaves and finally design to rebel against Mr. Jones. This speech

refers to Karl Marx book, Das Kapital, as the animals are exploited from the use of labour.

According to Simon Head, the exploitation of labor driven by capitalist competition enlarges

the proletariat, deepens its misery, and tilts the outcome of a continuous class struggle in the

proletariats favor. This leads to the eventual overthrow of the capitalist system (2016, p.73).

The Old Major speech influences Snowball, the leader of the the rebellion, to organise the

attack toward Mr Jones. Therefore, it similar to Lenins idea about Communist during the

Russian Revolution.

Secondly, the Battle of Cowshed refers to the Russian Civil War. After the Russian

Revolution, the Bolsheviks tried to rule the country by using the ideology of communist. Leon

Trotsky, the leader of the Bolsheviks military, built the Red Army up from the workers and the

old army. However, the White Army, an anti-Bolshevik group, formed by Tsar Nicolas II

loyalists and the anti-communist to against them. Thus, both groups fighted for power. By the

use of tactics, Trotsky gained massive of supports from the Red Army. Trotsky be able to

control and inspire his army to combat during the civil war. Hence, the Bolsheviks

successfully defended their authority (The Russian Civil War, n.d.). Identically, after the

rebellion, Snowball is in charge of organising the farm. All animals in the farm need to study

in reading and writing classes. Additionally, animals put all their effort on harvesting to live

peacefully and pleasantly. Because of the works that Snowball have done, the animals
THE PARALLEL EVENTS !3

gradually believe and trust him. One day, Mr Jones and his men and the nearby farmers

encroach upon Animal Farm to regain the farm. During this battle, Snowball arranges the

attack and claims that all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be (p.44). For

this reason, all the energy of the animals is put forward to dispel the human. Although, they

not even truly understand the words, they just accept it as it will not bring Mr. Jones back.

Orlando Figes, a historical professor at University of London, informs that A final political

factor behind the growth of the Red Army during 1919-20 was the tremendous effect of

Bolshevik propaganda (2013, p.186). As a result, the animals win the war as Snowballs

strategy persuades the animals to support him which this relevant to the Russian Civil War.

Lastly, the Battle of the Windmill represents the Battle of Stalingrad between the

Germany and the Soviet Union. On August 23, 1939, both the Soviet Union and Germany

signed a Non-Aggression Pact to prevent the further war and to support each other with their

common interests. This contract divided the Europe into the sphere of influence between

Soviet Union and Germany. However, in 1941, Nazi Germany broke the contract and invaded

the Soviet Union from the western border to destroy the communist and Jewish people. This

attack was called the Barbarossa Operation. After the Germans surrounded Moscow, the

Soviet Union launched a counterattack which drove them out. Nevertheless, the Germans

changed their direction and attacked Stalingrad for oil (Invasion of the Soviet Union, n.d.). At

the end, the Germans defeated as the winter lead to not enough supply for the army and the

attack from the Soviet Union (World War II: The Battle of Stalingrad, n.d.). Likewise, in the

novel, Napoleon trades timber with Mr. Frederick. Even though, they seem to trust each other,

Mr. Frederick and his men invade Animal Farm in the next morning. As soon as they reach the

farm, the guns were fired and this time Napoleon seem to lose. However, after Mr. Frederick

destroys the windmill, the temper of all animals explode. Finally, they victoriously extrude Mr.
THE PARALLEL EVENTS !4

Frederick. In the end, They had won, but they weary and bleeding (p.104). This quote

demonstrates the damages that occur in the Battle of the Windmill. After several combats from

the rebellion to the Battle of Cowshed, this battle is the most severe as the vast majority of

animals are wounded. Besides, the animals also pass away more than usual. Roberts Geoffrey

addresses that During the battle of Stalingrad the Soviets suffered a million fatalities - more

than the western Allies lost during the whole of the Second World War (2004, p. 36).

Consequently, the enormous loss that presents in Animal Farm during the Battle of the

Windmill can reflects to the political event of the Battle of Stalingrad.

All in all, most of the incidents in Animal Farm reflect the real world history. During

Mr. Jones period, the existence of the animals is miserable. Freedom never appears among the

animals. As the Old Major influences the alternation of the society, the rebellion emerges. This

event links to the Russian Revolution since the sovereign in that time also lead to scarcity. To

emancipate the people from the tyrannise monarch, the revolution must take place. Afterwards,

Mr. Jones comes back to revoke his farm from the animals. Unfortunately, Mr. Jones dream

collapses as the animals lead by Snowball, strive back for their lives. The connection of this

occasion can relates back to the Russian Civil War. Later, during Napoleon operation, Animal

Farm contacts with human from their close by farm. However, the Mr. Frederick betrays them.

The battle between animals and human result in immense destruction. This can relates to the

the battle of Stalingrad during World War II. Orwell portrays that During times of universal

deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

THE PARALLEL EVENTS !5

References

Figes, O. (1990). The Red Army and Mass Mobilization during the Russian Civil War

1918-1920. Past & Present, (129), 168-211. Retrieved from http://

www.jstor.org.ejournal.mahidol.ac.th/stable/650938

Head, S. (2016). Full Circle. New Labor Forum (Sage Publications Inc.), 25(2), 72-78. doi:

10.1177/1095796016639294

Invasion of the Soviet Union, June 1941 (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2017, from https://

www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164#

Roberts, G. (2004). Stalingrad. History Review, (50), 36-38.

The Russian Civil War (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2017, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/

bitesize/higher/history/russia/russiancivil/revision/4/

What was the Russian Revolution? (2017). Retrieved November 28, 2017, from http://

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41904621

World War II. The Battle of Stalingrad (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://

www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-battle-of-stalingrad