Museum of Resistance and Resilience

Animal Farm

Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell that criticizes Joseph Stalin’s dictatorship of the Soviet Union. The story follows a group of farm animals that rebel against their human farmer and begin their own society in hopes of creating equality, freedom, and happiness for all. Napoleon and Snowball, two pigs who organized the initial rebellion, adopt seven commandments of Animalism, in which the most important rule is “All animals are created equal.” After a disagreement between Napoleon and Snowball, Napoleon forces Snowball off the farm and declares himself as the supreme commander. Soon after, the farm falls into Napoleon’s dictatorship and all animals who question the institution are exiled or killed. As time passes, the seven commandments change, with “All animals are created equal” turning into “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This novel reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and onto the Stalinist era. It effectively raises the question of how equality must be achieved. When thinking of a Utopian society, we must consider whether or not we need a leader and if that leader truly wishes for equality or is simply manipulating their followers for power. Is a Utopian society truly utopian if there is someone in higher power?

Contents of this annotation: