George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' 

George Orwell's novel 'Animal Farm' is very specific in its critique of Joseph Stalin and Stalinism. Through the arch of the story and through the characters, Orwell is specifically shaping a satire to critique Stalin. He isn't subtle in the book or when talking about the book. He openly admits that the book's purpose is to be a critique on Stalin.

When reading this novel I could very easily see how Orwell was playing on things from history and politics and how he was using this to make statements which illustrated the problems in these ideas and systems. However, when considering it as a piece of children's media, it may not be so obvious to a child that the novel is a critique on Stalin. A child may not really know the history of Stalin or of Stalinism. However, a child can pick up on the discussion of principles and ideas which are presented within the book. The main value change which highlights a 'flawed' principle is the shift from one of the original commandments that "All animals are equal" to the change to a maxim of "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". Orwell clearly is demonstrating the wrong in this last maxim through the story and by appealing to the reader's since of moral justice. I child will easily pick up on this critique of the maxim. And though the reader may be a child who doesn't understand that this maxim is specifically critiquing Stalin's system, the child does recognize the principles and values being discussed.

Orwell's structure of the book is also smart in its construction. Because the characters are animals the story tends to have a more child like feel to it since it is like a fairy tale (Orwell even had the subtitle 'A Fairy Tale' on some publications). Because of this the story appeals to children. However, it is the adults and older children who will pick up on the historical analogies of the book while younger children will only pick up on the over-arching themes of the book. Through this the novel is like a parable. One can read into the story to different degrees depending on one's knowledge and intellect. So, this book is a children's book but it is also a book that can be understood as a more advanced or adult discussion of political ideology.

Overall, 'Animal Farm' is a satire critiquing Stalin's rule in Russia and even though a child may not know this, a child will still pick up on the critique of the moral and political ideas.