Totalitarianism in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell

ILMA ZUHA ZAHRO' (30802300003)

Animal Farm is a novel written by George Orwell that tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner in hopes of creating a society where all animals are equal. However, as time passes, the ideals of equality and freedom begin to fade when the pigs, especially Napoleon, take control and become as oppressive as the humans they overthrew. Through this story, Orwell criticizes how totalitarian power corrupts and allows such power to grow unchecked. This essay aims to analyze how the rise of totalitarianism in Animal Farm contributes to the maintenance of that oppressive system.

Biography

George Orwell was born on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, India. He was a British writer, journalist, and critic known for his sharp political insight and his opposition to totalitarianism. Orwell spent part of his early life in India before moving to England for his education. After finishing his studies, he worked as a police officer in Burma for several years, an experience that later influenced his views on imperialism and injustice.

His first novel, Burmese Days (1934), reflected his criticism of British colonialism. However, Orwell became most famous for his allegorical and dystopian works, Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), both of which highlight the dangers of political manipulation, oppression, and loss of freedom. Animal Farm was inspired by the events of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism, serving as a satirical critique of totalitarian regimes.

Throughout his career, Orwell was also known for his essays and journalistic writings that discussed social inequality, freedom of speech, and the corruption of political power. His works remain relevant today as timeless reminders of the importance of truth, critical thinking, and resistance against tyranny. George Orwell passed away on January 21, 1950, in London, but his legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world.

Totalitarianism is a system of government in which all power is held by one person or one group, and they control all aspects of society, from politics and economics to the way people think. In this system, the people have no freedom to speak, think critically, or oppose their leaders. Those in power regulate everything, and anyone who resists will be punished. In this story, we can see Totalitarianism in the following quote,

In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball’s complicity with Jones. It now appeared that Snowball had not, as the animals had previously imagined, merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem, but had been openly fighting on Jones’s side. In fact, it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces, and had charged into battle with the words ‘Long live Humanity!’ on his lips. The wounds on Snowball’s back, which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen, had been inflicted by Napoleon’s teeth. (Orwell, 82)

The way Napoleon made himself the only candidate for leadership shows totalitarianism. Although the election was wrapped in a democratic appearance, in reality it showed the powerlessness of the other animals. They had no choice, so their lives were completely controlled by Napoleon.

In conclusion, George Orwell's Animal Farm shows how totalitarian power can be established and maintained through manipulation and the loss of freedom of thought. This story clearly illustrates how power that was initially intended to promote equality actually turned into a new form of oppression under Napoleon's control. This novel is recommended for anyone who wants to understand political concepts, especially totalitarianism, in a simple and easy-to-understand way through an interesting allegorical story.