Table of contents
- The Windmill
- Napoleon
- The Pigs
- Conclusion
Novella Animal Farm, personification is used to give human characteristics to non-human entities, primarily the farm animals. This literary device serves to deepen the reader's understanding of the characters and their actions, as well as to convey the author's themes and messages. This essay will explore several examples of personification in Animal Farm and analyze their significance in the context of the narrative.
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'Examples of Personification in Animal Farm'
The Windmill
One prominent example of personification in Animal Farm is the windmill, which is personified as a symbol of progress, industry, and technological advancement. The windmill represents the pigs' vision of a utopian society where all animals are equal and free from human oppression. The animals are convinced that the windmill will bring them a better life, and they work tirelessly to build it, despite the hardships they endure. Orwell writes, "It was a wonderful sight, the windmill. It looked as though it were a part of the landscape, and as though it had grown up out of the earth like a tree" (Orwell, 1945).
By personifying the windmill as a living, growing entity, Orwell emphasizes its significance to the animals and the hope it represents. The windmill becomes a character in its own right, eming the animals' aspirations and dreams for a brighter future. However, the windmill also becomes a source of conflict and division among the animals, as the pigs' manipulation and exploitation of the other animals' labor for the windmill's construction reflects the corruption of their ideals.
Napoleon
Another example of personification in Animal Farm is Napoleon, the boar who becomes the de facto leader of the farm after the rebellion against Mr. Jones. Napoleon is personified as a cunning, power-hungry tyrant who uses manipulation and propaganda to maintain control over the other animals. Orwell describes him as "a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way" (Orwell, 1945).
Napoleon's personification as a ruthless dictator serves to illustrate the dangers of absolute power and the corruption of revolutionary ideals. His actions and decisions reflect those of a human autocrat, as he consolidates his authority, eliminates his rivals, and enforces his will through fear and intimidation. Napoleon's character embodies the betrayal of the animals' revolution and the perversion of their original vision for a just and equal society.
The Pigs
Finally, the pigs as a collective group are personified as the ruling elite who exploit and oppress the other animals for their own gain. The pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, initially espouse the principles of Animalism and the equality of all animals. However, as the story progresses, the pigs gradually transform into human-like figures who adopt human vices and betray the values they once upheld. Orwell portrays the pigs as "the cleverest of the animals, the pigs had taken charge" (Orwell, 1945).
The personification of the pigs as intelligent, scheming individuals highlights their role as the architects of the animals' oppression and disillusionment. Their gradual descent into corruption and hypocrisy mirrors the trajectory of human societies and the perversion of noble intentions by those in power. The pigs' personification underscores the novel's critique of totalitarianism, manipulation, and the failure of revolutions to deliver on their promises.
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Conclusion
personification in Animal Farm serves as a powerful literary tool that enriches the narrative and conveys Orwell's critique of totalitarianism, corruption, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. Through personifying the windmill, Napoleon, and the pigs, Orwell creates compelling characters and symbols that em the novel's themes and messages. These examples of personification deepen the reader's engagement with the story and illuminate the complexities of human nature and political power. By infusing non-human entities with human qualities, Orwell invites readers to reflect on the parallels between the animals' struggles and the realities of the human condition.
