Animal Farm

Animal Farm (1945) is a masterful allegorical novella by George Orwell that satirizes the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of totalitarianism under Stalin. Set on a fictional English farm, the story begins when a group of mistreated animals, inspired by the vision of a wise old boar named Old Major, revolt against their human farmer in hopes of creating a society where all animals are equal, free, and happy.Led initially by the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, the animals rename the property 'Animal Farm' and establish a new order based on the principle that 'All animals are equal.' However, as time passes, the pigs gradually assume power, manipulate the commandments of Animalism, and exploit the other animals for their own gain. Napoleon eventually emerges as a tyrannical leader, mirroring the very oppression the revolution sought to overthrow. The chilling transformation is immortalized in the famous line: 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.'Orwell’s concise and accessible prose belies the profound depth of his critique. Through vivid characters like Boxer the loyal workhorse, Squealer the manipulative propagandist, and the cynical donkey Benjamin, Orwell explores themes of power, corruption, propaganda, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of history.Both a political parable and a universal commentary on human nature, Animal Farm remains one of the most influential works in world literature. It is not only a searing condemnation of totalitarian regimes but also a timeless warning about the fragility of freedom and the ease with which ideals can be subverted by those in power.