Chapter 10 is a very reflective and concluding one.
Again, George Orwell uses the idea of naivety when the pigs walk with their hinges and carry a whip in their hands. As the sheep exclaim: "Four legs good, two legs better." the animals are shocked. As usual, they refer to the Seven Commandments and read the newly established one: "All Animals Are Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others." The pigs buy a wireless set, telephones, newspaper, etc. and become "human." By inviting people over their Farm, the laws are broken ultimately. The local farmers engage in a discussion with the pigs and congratulate them on the effective work they have done. They wish to impose similar ideas on their farms.
As they play cards, the old animals like clover wonder what has happened with the pigs. Orwell used an excellent comparison at the end of his story. "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but it was impossible to say which was which." It is true, the pigs have changed greatly and they became humans, the cruel and oppressive beasts that once ruled the Animal Farm.
After starvation, bad treatment, and tough labor the true spirit of Animal Farm has perished. The idea of equality, justice and understanding has diminished with the pigs ruling the farm and putting on the shoes of their masters.
This chapter brings me to think if the rebellion or revolution is so so great after all?
Things might change for a while, but sooner or later the ones in power will abuse their rights and do things that are beneficial for them. Social classes will be created and dictators will be as bad as their precedents or even worse.
Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, etc. wished to change the society. Through the effective use of propaganda to scare, spark nationalism and to control minds, these leaders controlled the populous. By mass murder, they eliminated any competition that would oppose their ideas. Just as dogs in the Animal Farm, army was of vital importance. It would protect its state or perhaps expand the boundaries of the country.
Nothing lasts forever. One day the regime shall end and a new idea will emerge to fill people's minds.
Animal farm proved that education is important when it comes to effective control. Pigs were able to brainwash the animals since they could not comprehend the ideas. The smarter you are the wider the opportunities are. Educated society is able to repel government's ideas, while an uneducated society will have a tendency to agree with the solution, since they are unable to find a better answer.
1 comment:
You resumed the main concept of the chapter when you wrote: " It is true, the pigs have changed greatly and they became humans, the cruel and oppressive beasts that once ruled the Animal Farm".
Fables always have a moral story and this case is no exception. Orwell's fable succeeds in giving a strong moral lesson about power and people.
There are two moral lessons in this story. The first is total power corrupts despite the best intentions of willing to do good. The second is that any society, which believes certain individuals are more equal than others, will be despotic.
Post a Comment