Animal Farm

January 26, 2021 /

The book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Genre: Political satire

Published: 1945

What’s the story?

The animals of the Manor Farm have had it with the farmer, mr. Jones. They are fed up with doing backbreaking work and being tired and hungry all the time. One day, Old Major, a very impressive boar, has a strange dream which he shares with the animals. His dream is one of rebellion, of freedom for the animals, freedom to be their own masters.

Time passes and the day suddenly dawns when Old Major’s dream becomes a reality. Led by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, the animals revolt and chase the Jones’s from their farm. Animal Farm is born. At first, they live in a utopia of unity, where everyone is equal. But soon, subtle changes start to happen. In the future, the animals will come to realize that all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others…

Why read it?

I first read this book as a high school student. I remember how captivated I was by the story. Now, rereading it 20 years later, I’m still so impressed by Orwell’s narrative. Animal Farm is one of the great classics. And, the social commentary it delivers is still relevant to our society in 2021. Orwell wrote this fable as an allegory and criticism of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the Stalinist era in particular.

The slogan “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” still resonate if you look at the inequalities in most societies, but especially here in South Africa. The ‘animals’ in charge still live in the farmhouse and reap all the benefits. And the crowds of working ‘animals’ stand outside looking in. Animal Farm is an easy read in that it’s really short (my edition only has 89 pages). Still, it leaves the reader with a lot of food for thought.

animal farm vegan

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