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  • Dr. Noga Cochavi

The growth of the communist regime in George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

“It is the history of a revolution that went wrong - and of the excellent excuses that were forthcoming at every step for the perversion of the original doctrine”.

So wrote George Orwell in the original blurb for the first edition of Animal Farm in 1945. His simple and tragic fable, describes what happens when the animals drive out Mr Jones, the farmer, and attempt to run the Manor Farm themselves.


The film tells about a group of animals on a farm in England that has a vision - to transform from an "enslaved people" into a "free people" - and implements it. Many obstacles and difficulties stand in the way of the animals, but in the end they overcome their difficulties. The only problem is that the leaders of the rebellion take advantage of the insecurity of the animals to their advantage, and gradually turn themselves into the tyrants of the new government, without the animals resisting this (similar to communism in the Soviet Union after World War II).


George Orwell described the rise of the communist regime in the Soviet Union in a sophisticated way. Each farm animal represents different groups of people:

  • The pigs represent the communist leaders.

  • The dogs represent the secret and brutal police.

  • The chickens represent the masses of people who are deceived by promises of equality and justice.

  • The horse represents the Russian who is ready to work for the communist government to the end of his strength.


And who represents the minorities, including the Jews?

Watch the movie and find out for yourself: https://player.vimeo.com/video/141289365





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