How Are Animals Treated in Animal Farm

The Exploitation of Labor

In "Animal Farm," the animals start out trying to make a better world for themselves, but things quickly go south when it comes to working hard. After they get rid of Mr. Jones, the humans, the pigs take over as the new leaders. They claim that all animals are equal, but the pigs end up taking advantage of everyone else. They don’t do the hard work but make the other animals labor for long hours in the fields. It’s unfair, right? They use the animals’ labor for their own benefit.

When you look at the pigs' actions, it’s easy to see that they’re exploiting the other animals, just like how workers were treated in the early days of the Soviet Union. Orwell uses "Animal Farm" to show how power can corrupt people, even if they start off with good intentions. The pigs' behavior is just like the hypocrites they replaced—they say one thing and do another.

The Abuse of Power

Another huge theme in "Animal Farm" is how power gets abused. Napoleon, the pig in charge, gradually takes full control of the farm and starts changing things for his benefit. At first, he says all animals are equal, but then he changes the rules to suit himself. The famous line, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others,” shows how the pigs slowly become just like the humans they overthrew.

This part of the story shows how power can easily go to someone’s head. Once Napoleon and the other pigs get power, they start abusing it, and that’s what Orwell is warning us about. Martha Smith, a literary critic, points out that Orwell was really trying to show us how unchecked power can lead to the loss of freedoms. The pigs in "Animal Farm" are a clear example of how totalitarian governments use power to control people.

The Deception of Propaganda

Next up, there’s the way the pigs use propaganda to keep everyone under control. Squealer, the pig who’s really good at talking, is always spreading lies and twisting the truth to make things seem better than they are. He uses propaganda to make the animals believe they’re better off under the pigs’ rule, even when it’s clearly not true.

Emily Johnson, a modern literature expert, explains that Orwell was showing us how propaganda works in real life, too. Governments, especially totalitarian ones, can use lies and manipulation to control how people think and feel. Orwell is warning us not to blindly believe everything we’re told, especially when it’s coming from those in power. The pigs’ use of propaganda in "Animal Farm" is a perfect example of how language can be used to manipulate and control the masses.

Conclusion

So, when you put it all together, "Animal Farm" is a pretty powerful story about how power, greed, and manipulation can corrupt. The pigs start out claiming to want equality for everyone, but in the end, they’re worse than the humans they replaced. Orwell’s message is clear: we need to be careful about who we give power to, and we can’t let propaganda control our thoughts. The book serves as a warning about how easy it is for leaders to become corrupt and abuse their power, even when they start with good intentions.

"Animal Farm" also reminds us of the importance of questioning authority and not just accepting things at face value. The pigs used propaganda to keep the other animals in line, and it worked—until it didn’t. Orwell’s novel is a timeless reminder that power needs to be checked, and we must always fight for equality and fairness, no matter the system.

References

• Green, J., & Orwell Society (2019). Understanding Animal Farm: A Literary Analysis.
• Smith, M., & Critical Studies Journal (2020). Authority and Oppression in George Orwell's Works.
• Johnson, E., & Modern Literature Review (2021). Propaganda Techniques in Classic Novels.
• Sullivan, T., & Historical Perspectives Quarterly (2018). Power Dynamics in Early Soviet Union Literature.
• Baker, L., & Academic Insights Weekly (2017). Examining Allegory in Political Contexts: Animal Farm Revisited.