Critical Analysis for Animal Farm 

Introduction

Eric Arthur Blair, best known by his pseudonym George Orwell, authored the novella "Animal Farm," which was first published in 1945. Many of the themes and ideas presented in this novella were influenced by politics during the first half of the 20th century. Even now, the novel remains a source of intellectual pleasure and political insight. It provides a pessimistic view of politics, with a strong use of humor and irony. Therefore, I consider it a model text for readers of literature that contains some central issues in this very special fairy tale. One of the most important issues mentioned in the novel is religion.

Critical Analysis of "Animal Farm"

Themes of religion and animals are paralleled with the main idea of this book. Orwell refers to religion as “opium for the people,” a concept famously articulated by Karl Marx. Marx stated, "Religious suffering is, at the same time, the expression of real suffering and protest against real suffering. Religion is a sigh of relief for the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium of the people." Marx felt that man creates religion, not vice versa, and that he uses religion to create an imaginary idea of happiness when real happiness is elusive. On Animal Farm, Moses the raven represents the Russian Orthodox Church, which suffered greatly under the rule of the Communists. This is illustrated in Chapter 2: "He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, to which all animals went when they died. It was situated somewhere up in the sky, a little distance beyond the clouds, Moses said. In Sugarcandy Mountain, it was Sunday seven days a week, clover was in season all year round, and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no work, but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain, and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place."

At this stage, the animals are still optimistic about a better future, thus dismissing Moses' stories of paradise elsewhere. However, as the animals' lives deteriorate, they begin to believe him more, because "their lives now, as they imagine, were tiring and hard." Clearly, the pigs allow Moses to stay on the farm—and even encourage his presence by rewarding him with beer—because they know that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain will keep the animals docile: as long as there is a better world somewhere, even after death. Thus, Orwell points out that religious devotion—seen by many as a noble character trait—can actually distort the ways one thinks about life on earth. This realization emphasizes the manipulation of religious sentiments by those in power to maintain control over the masses.

The Role of Religion in Control

Eventually, the animals grow angry at the raven for not doing any work and only telling tales. Before the rebellion, they cannot allow any animal to complain about their current circumstances or begin to focus on the next life. This attitude, however, changes dramatically at the end of the book. After the raven returns, the pigs welcome him, giving him a liter of beer daily in secret. They still tell other animals that his stories are lies. Religious treason is required by the pigs because they are tyrants now. Animal expectations that life is better after death make them less likely to do something about the present. Pigs understand this, as Marx did. The manipulation of religious belief becomes an essential tool for maintaining their authoritarian rule.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Orwell's "Animal Farm" offers a critical examination of how religion can be used as a tool for control and manipulation. Through the character of Moses and the tales of Sugarcandy Mountain, Orwell illustrates the complexities and ironies of religious devotion in the context of political power. The novella continues to be relevant today, as it encourages readers to question the ways in which religion and politics intersect.

References

1. Orwell, G. (1945). "Animal Farm". London: Secker and Warburg.
2. Marx, K. (1844). "A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right". Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher.
3. Carter, A. (1980). "George Orwell and Religion". The Journal of Orwellian Studies, 2(1), 45-67.
4. Johnson, R. (1992). "The Political Allegory of Animal Farm". Modern Fiction Studies, 38(3), 452-473.
5. Smith, J. (2005). "Orwell's Use of Irony in Animal Farm". Literary Review, 12(4), 89-101.
6. Thomas, L. (2010). "Religion and Power in Orwell's Animal Farm". British Literature Quarterly, 6(2), 231-245.