Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Allegory Used By Authors

Good Essays
1155 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Allegory Used By Authors
Allegory Used by Authors

Ines Palacio
Mrs.Coplen
English I Honors
10 December 2012

Do you ever wonder what it takes for a revolution to happen? Revolution usually takes time, a strong leadership, ideology, and not just one person. When writing a story, authors often mean for the story to interpret a second meaning behind it, to reveal a hidden message. They do this by using allegory. In Animal Farm and Black Boy some sort of revolution happens at different points in the book to convey this meaning. As for the song “Revolution” by the Beatles it is pretty much the whole plot. Authors use allegory to parallel the Russian Revolution in order to show that freedom can be lost very quickly as it was with the animal's lives in Animal Farm due to the pig’s over abusive power.
The Russian Revolution has two parts to it: the February Revolution and the October Revolution; that centers around 1917-1918. The February one resulted in the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II’s abusive power. After that, Lenin and the Bolsheviks took control. Leon Trotsky was the leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution that took care of foreign affairs under Lenin. He was exiled from the Soviet Union after losing a power struggle with Stalin over who was to become Lenin’s successor. The October Revolution was planned to get rid of the provisional government. Led by the Bolsheviks, an extremist group, they established the Soviet Union. In the year of 1918, these people abandoned the democratic process and formally declared themselves the dictators of the proletariat.
In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses allegory for most of the characters, in this case which are animals that are personified. This means that the pigs aren't only animals that talk, read, write, and dress like humans but also have a meaning, if thought outside the box in comparison with revolution. Not only the pigs but for instance Boxer: "The passage in which the loyal but stupid workhorse Boxer is sold to be turned into glue, hides, and bone metal because he is no longer useful is written out for the cynicism of the Soviet Union" (Meyers, ‘An Allegory of Revolution'). After Major's speech, the human tyranny slowly starts to become vulnerable and weak. Hitler can be an example that demonstrates this: "Suddenly Hitler's army, which had looked invincible for so long had begun to look vincible just like the tyranny of humans that was taken over by the animals" (Orwell, viii). This is related to government and ties back to revolution since it is the overthrowing of a government. Another example of how Animal Farm has allegory is that after the animals plan the attack, the fight between the negligible animals and unjust, greedy humans is an example of rebellion. "Just like the Stalinists were trying to destroy every trace of Trotsky's contribution to the Russian Revolution so are the animals trying to erase all the human traces off the farm" (Orwell, v). The last piece of evidence that there is allegory in the book Animal Farm is the use of totalitarianism, which means having to do with a government controlled by one political group that permits no other political groups. This shows both the relationship between revolution and the book, as well as the result of totalitarian regime of the animal's lives and the pig's excessive abuse of power. There is no better example to prove that Orwell has actually experienced this than: “When one reads Orwell on the Spanish War, one knows that he’s been there. One feels very differently too, I think, about reading a novel like Animal Farm. One knows that the author has actually experienced what he is writing about” (George Orwell’s Dystopias). As the citation explains the reader does feel that he is experienced with this and has been there.
In Black Boy by Richard Wright, allegory is also used to display a political meaning as well. This story is racist towards African Americans and relates to the Underground Railroad: “The North symbolized to me that all I had not felt and seen; yet by imagining a place where everything was possible, I kept hope alive in me “(Wright, 659). This reminds the reader of slavery against African Americans, obvious in the story. Another instance that shows slavery in Black Boy is: “I knew I lived in a country in which the aspirations of black people were limited, marked off...yet I felt that I had to go somewhere and do something to redeem my being alive “(Wright, 659). Here is Wright's aspiration about writing a story, but the limitations of black people confront him to writing, to feeling confident about himself. He is so passionate about writing that he revolts against his family and friends, even when he doesn’t quite understand what is going on: “You’re growing up now, and you won’t be able to get jobs if you let people think that you’re weak minded” (Wright, 658). Here, the allegory is moral: the people Wright portrays, like his mom, his classmates, his teacher, and grandma represent oppression, fear, and hatred. Black boy seems individual and desires to join society with his own terms and not the oppression of his family and friends.
In the revolution song which is “Revolution” by the Beatles allegory is definitely used as well as Animal Farm and Black Boy since the story is explaining how the author supports a peaceful decision but still wants to change the world in some way. "Well you know, We all want to change the world, But when you talk about destruction, Don't you know you can count me out “(Beatles-John Lennon, 5-8). This is saying that revolutions change the world but that it takes destruction first just like the Russian Revolution. Even though the people wanted a revolution because they kept criticizing the government, the Beatles themselves were people who tried to be peaceful. “You say you got a real solution, Well you know We’d all love to see the plan, You ask me for a contribution, Well you know We’re doing what we can” (Beatles-John Lennon, 11-16). They were uncertain about destruction since they wanted to know whether the alternatives the people proposed were truly any better than what they were criticizing.
In conclusion, many authors use the literary device allegory when talking about something deeper than simply just a story in order to decode a point behind the story; having to do with the characters and other symbols of this story. In this case it is revolution: the abuse of power in the Russian Revolution relates to the pig’s tyranny over the desperates animal’s lives in Animal Farm, the limitations on black people like Wright in Black Boy, and how there can be different point of views and confusion about whether a revolution should take place to overthrow a government in “Revolution” by the Beatles.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Interpretation: The text was written to tell everyone how the animals lived during the rebellion and how was their society. Animal Farm portrays the irony of the communist movement where some were more equal than others Orwell’s intent was to warn the world of the dangers of totalitarian communism because he in his book said everything how communism is and also how leaders can use the power to manipulate others…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    As Fidel Castro once said, “A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.” George Orwell throughout his novel Animal Farm demonstrates this idea. The animals represent the people in the Russian Revolution. Struggling for freedom, but not being able to see past the wants of their leaders. The animals and the Russian citizens don’t realize the rights that are being taken from them. Both, the Russians and the animals never questioned authority. In the novel Animal Farm, the farm comes full circle post revolution demonstrating the consequences of having a leader-follower society.…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Animal Farm: This is a historical, political and social allegory, that is, a story whose characters and events represent or symbolize ideas and events. George Orwell, who worked creating propaganda for the British government during World War II, saw the rise of socialism and Marxism, and the eventual dominance of Communism in the 1950’s. This book is Orwell’s response to the world around him.…

    • 280 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Symbolism and allegory in three aspects of Animal Farm : Old major, The Windmill and The Seven Commandments George Orwell uses symbols throughout the novel Animal Farm to show how the upper class groups use manipulation to their advantage. Animal Farm in simple terms is the allegory of a revolution gone sour. Animalism, Communism, and Fascism are all the symbols which are used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their greed and lust for power. As Lord Acton wrote: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” which is definitely the case. The author uses the animals, the windmill, and the seven commandments to symbolize the extreme power over the animals (workers commune). “Writers such as Jonathan Swift use allegory to satirise, as does George Orwell, in whose work the hidden meanings are political and and social rather than moral or religious”. George Orwell's book is full of satire. The aim of this book is to get people to think for themselves and have faith in their beliefs; in this way 'People will never be completely equal but at least they will not be oppressed'. This view is voiced by Old Major who said: "... Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest....we must not come to resemble him...No animal must ever live in a house or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade." This is where the Seven Commandments originally comes from and is slowly but surely misenterpreted. Symbolism is the author's way of expressing problems and solutions derived from the Bolshevik takeover. As mentioned in the Critical anthology; “ The symbols employed by writers can sometimes be private or personal, and this can pose problems for the reader in the interpretation of what the writer actually means”. This is not the case in Animal farm as he has chosen a very popular subject. The main message in the Animal Farm is that power or authority cannot be divided equally in…

    • 1648 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    2. Animal Farm is an allegory. Find out what an allegory is, and in your own words explain what you think George Orwell is trying to explain about human behavior through this story about animals. Describe three characters with human personality traits that are universal and timeless, and speculate on what kind of people they represent.…

    • 2032 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Russian Revolution

    • 1231 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Russian Revolution was not merely a culmination of event from 1905-19-17, but was the result of political, economic and social conditions from centuries of corrupt tsarist rule.The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks. It sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia that had effects on countries around the world.The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most significant events in the 20th century. It completely changed the government and outlook on life in the very large country of Russia. The events of the revolution were a direct result of the conflict in World War I.…

    • 1231 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Napoleon Animal Farm

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages

    George Orwell's Animal Farm is a satirical piece that uses the anthropomorphism of farm animals to attach the ideas of Soviet communism. The story begins with the passing of a prized boar named Major. Major was highly regarded among the animals and dreamed of freedom. After his death, fellow pigs Squealer, Napoleon, and Snowball try their best to continue Major's wish to overthrow Mr. Jones and The Manor Farm. But as time went on, the three pigs became hungry for more power and jealousy sparked among them. While the three pigs may have possessed the qualities of a good leader at the beginning of the story, each pig's struggle for more power led to fewer qualifications by the end of the story.…

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Boxer In Animal Farm

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the allegory Animal Farm, George Orwell alluded to the Russian Revolution, by using fictional characters. Throughout the story a pig named Napoleon is trying to make an utopian society, but is becoming more like a dictator. In contrast, another main character Boxer, who represents the working community, is working the hardest out of anyone. He is always portraying the characteristics of hardworking, loyalty, and bravery. Without Boxer being on the farm the animals would have succumbed to Napoleon antics long before they did.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks that sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    a. George Orwell's “Animal Farm” is an allegory for the evils of the Russian Revolution. The message that he is sending is that the violent revolutions that aimed towards ending totalitarianism regimes eventually fell back into totalitarianism. Each of the characters and events in the book represent certain people and events of the Russian Revolution. Mr. Jones represented the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, who was overthrown. The animals who rebelled against Mr. Jones represent the Russian people who overthrew Tsar Nicholas II. Napoleon the pig represents Joseph Stalin, and Orwell uses Napoleon to mimic Stalin and his actions. For example, Stalin starved millions of Ukrainian farmers for resisting collectivism, and Napoleon the pig starved nine hens to death for refusing to give up their eggs.“With one accord, though nothing the kind had been planned beforehand, they flung themselves upon their tormentors. Jones and his men found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides... After only a moment or two they gave up trying to defend themselves and took to their heels.” “But just at this moment Napoleon stood up, and casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. At this there was a terrible braying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satire which mocks religion, Russia’s Communist government and ridicules the unchallenged conformity of society. Through the tale of the animals of Animal Farm, Orwell portrays how, much like people, the unintelligent workers on the farm are easily persuaded to support the theory of Animalism. The unlawful acts of Napoleon and the other pigs are meant to relay that pigs and humans are very much alike. However, the acts of the pigs symbolize other matters.…

    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Animal Farm Theme

    • 2655 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Theme Analysis The theme of Animal Farm is not difficult to understand. Orwell intended to criticize the communist regime he saw sweeping through Russia and spreading to Europe and even the United States. Though he agreed with many Marxist principles, Orwell was unable to accept the communist interpretation of socialism because he saw many similarities between the communist governments and the previous czarist regimes in old Russia. Communism, he thought, was inherently hypocritical.In his self-proclaimed “fairy-story,” Orwell uses his allegorical farm to symbolize the communist system. Though the original intention of overthrowing Mr. Jones (who represents the Czars), is not inherently evil in itself, Napoleon’s subsequent adoption of nearly all of Mr. Jones’ principles and harsh mistreatment of the animals proves to the reader that indeed communism is not equality, but just another form of inequality. The pigs and dogs take most of the power for themselves, thinking that they are the best administrators of government. Eventually the power corrupts them, and they turn on their fellow animals, eliminating competitors through propaganda and bloodshed. This is of course a reference to Stalin, who murdered many of his own people in order to maintain his dictatorship of Russia. Chapter 1 In Orwell's first chapter, the reader is introduced to all of his wonderful animals— with two important exceptions: Snowball and Napoleon (two characters who will become the focus later). Obviously most of the chapter is intended to spark pity and a sense of sympathy for the poor, suffering farm animals, but the old Major's words are very telling. The wise old pig addresses the central conflict of the book, and of Orwell's intended meaning-- tyranny. The first (and seemingly only) dictatorship the animals must overcome is the rule of Mr. Jones and the other humans. Chapter 2 Orwell's second chapter is drenched with metaphors— most of which will not come to light until later in the…

    • 2655 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Great Gatsby

    • 1227 Words
    • 5 Pages

    D. When understanding the work of allegory in Orwell’s Animal Farm, it is imperative to establish a better understanding of the literary term itself. According to NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms, allegory is, “An extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface story. The underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric” (Morner 4). Throughout the novel, Orwell utilizes allegory to show an animal story, that has a very much deeper meaning. On the surface of the story, the animals are happily taking over, however, deeper into the story lies the terrifying repercussions of a developing totalitarian state.…

    • 1227 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Animal Farm

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Animal Farm is a fable that represents Stalinism in Russia. Also, it can be related to how many world leaders, and politicians get away with things that others don't because of their position in the world. I think the main theme is that absolute power corrupts absolutely which we see once the pigs become identical to the humans at the end of the book. I think that Orwell is trying to tell us that even people who start out very idealistic can become corrupted.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Literary Analysis

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Animal Farm is a spectacular work of literature featuring secret meanings revealed in both character motivations and symbolism. This can also be called an allegory. It was published in Londen, 1946. As the story begins, Old Major introduces the animals to the idea of animalism. He says,” The life of an animal is misery and slavery.” page 5. Therefore, the animals rebel going against the humans, and they run their own farm. The pigs rise to power and start treating the other animals as they are inferior to them. It becomes all about the pigs now as they push the animals to work extremely hard with long hours. The pigs eventually become just like the humans.…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays