The Allegory of Animal Farm

1. The Allegory of Animal Farm

2. Allegory • Characters, setting, and events make sense on the literal level, but are designed to represent OTHER characters, setting, and events. • Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling tells the story of the author’s life. • The Wizard of Oz was supposed to persuade people to switch from the gold standard to the silver standard.

3. Utopia • The perfect place • Look at the character Benjamin to understand Orwell’s views on utopias

4. Russian Society • At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe and America were evolving into capitalistic, industrial states; Russia remained “backward” in an agrarian economy under the absolute authority of the Tsar/Czar. • Russia was in an appalling state of poverty while the Czar lived in luxury. There was tremendous dissatisfaction. • Tiny minority controlled most of the wealth, while the majority of people were impoverished and oppressed.

5. Communism • Arose in Russia when the nation’s workers and peasants rebelled against the wealthy and powerful capitalists and aristocrats • Hoped to establish a socialist utopia based on the principles of political philosopher Karl Marx • Opposed to the capitalist idea of “free market”

6. Karl Marx: Father of Communism • Marx believed that the private ownership of land must be abolished; opposed to capitalism • Believed in “Communal” way of life where everyone shares in prosperity • Invented Communism • Communist Manifesto • “Workers of the world unite”—take over government; overthrown capitalism • Died before the Russian Revolution

7. Communism • All people are equal • Government owns everything; people own government • The Communist Internationale—official song of the communist party • “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” • Bourgeoisie—Middle Class; skilled workers • Proletariat—Unskilled labor class

8. Czar Nicholas II • Monarch of Russia, a poor leader at best • Cruel—sometimes brutal with opponents • Sometimes kind—hired students as spies to make money • Believed he was the unquestionable leader of Russia appointed by God • Had unarmed protesters murdered in the streets in 1905

9. The Revolution of 1917 • Great unrest among the people against the Czar • Revolutionaries overthrew the Czar • “Bolsheviks” (led by Lenin) took control of the Russian government • Nicholas II forced to abdicate the throne that his family had held for three centuries

10. Vladimir Lenin • Inspired by Marx • Immediately seized power in the name of the Communist Party (1917) • Lenin adopted Marx’s ideas; took land and industry from private control and put them under government supervision. • He believed the bourgeoisie (middle class) exploited the workers and must, therefore, be overthrown. • Understood the emotional impact of simple, powerful slogans like “Workers of the world unite.”

11. Lenin • Changed Russia’s name to the USSR • Lenin was the leader and Trotsky was his top military man • It is believed Lenin ordered Nicholas II murdered.

12. Leon Trotsky • One of the leaders of “October Revolution” along with Lenin and Stalin • Believed in “pure” communism; followed Marx; idealist • Brilliant speaker, popular, charismatic leader; famous for impassioned speeches • Wanted to improve life for all in Russia

13. Joseph Stalin • Average speaker, not educated like Trotsky • Taciturn, gruff, lower-class; preferred to consolidate power behind the scenes • Quiet, brooding; excellent at organization • Didn’t exactly follow Marx’s ideas • Craved power, willing to kill for it

14. Civil War • From 1918-1921, there was Civil War • Reds (Communists) vs. Whites (foreign countries; sympathetic to the Czar, tried to expel the Reds) • Some “white Russians” who opposed the revolution themselves • Foreign countries (Britain, France, Poland, and USA) were alarmed at the spread of communism but the Red Army led by Trotsky proved successful. • Reds won.

15. Power Struggle • While Lenin and Trotsky concentrated on the War, Stalin began to take over the machinery of the Communist Party. • Used Trotsky’s enemies to form alliance that would serve him in the future • Lenin became fatally ill and died

16. Stalin • Took power when Lenin died in 1924 • Benefitted from the fact that education was controlled • Ridiculed Trotsky’s ideas • Secured his power base and engineered the permanent exile of Trotsky in 1929 • The exiled Trotsky was still very useful to Stalin as he now had Trotsky to blame for all the problems and difficulties that Russia suffered

17. Scapegoat • Trotsky became a national enemy • Used to conjure horrifying images • Current misery paled in comparison to “life with Trotsky”

18. Stalin • After exiling Trotsky, Stalin began to consolidate his power with intensity • Assumed a complete, totalitarian control • Killed or imprisoned perceived political enemies • Oversaw the purge of approximately 20 million Soviet Citizens (Stalin’s Purge) • Held “show trials”; outcomes had already been decided • Had his opponents denounced as Trotskyists or anti-Stalinist; immediately executed

19. Propaganda Department of Stalin’s Government • Pravda—Soviet propaganda newspaper • Worked for Stalin to support his image • Lied to convince the people to follow Stalin • Began to voice economic ideas similar to those of Trotsky, but no one had the courage to say so • Mayakovsky-official poet of the government

20. KGB • Secret police during Stalin’s dictatorship • Not really police, but forced all to support Stalin • Often killed entire families for disobedience • Totally loyal, part of Stalin’s power

21. Politburo • Policy-making body of the Communist party’s Central Committee • In reality it was merely a force to carry out Stalin’s orders and secure his positions as dictator

22. Religion • Marx said religion was the “opiate of the people” and a lie • Used to make people not complain and do their work • Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions

23. Supporters • People believed Stalin because he was “Communist” • Many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin was a tyrant • Betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them

24. 5 Year Plans • From 1927-1932, new economic plans, called the five year plans, were introduced. • The purpose was to improve industry. • Soviet farmers were to join “collective” farms • Much of the food had to be sent to the government • Any who opposed to his plan were executed • Plans ultimately failed

25. Russian Revolution • Supposed to fix problems from Czar • Life was even worse long after revolution • Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy

26. Germany and Great Britain • Stalin negotiated with both Germany and Great Britain • The Russo-German pact of August 1939 allowed Russia to occupy eastern Poland while Germany occupied the rest.

27. Germany and Great Britain • On June 22, 1941, Germany (Hitler) attacked her ally Russia without warning. • The alliance between Nazism and Communism fell apart and Russia formed an alliance with Britain and the USA. • Because of all the purges order by Stalin, the Nazis almost conquered the USSR.

28. Cold War • Tehran Conference in 1943 presented the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and America as allies. • By the end of WWII, the Soviet Union became an enemy of its allies as the Cold War intensified.