In chapter 7, pigs try to create an industrial farm. Soviets tried to create an industrial power, but often found themselves far behind the capitalistic west. Their lack of coordination and well structured plans created industrial failure, famine, and large debts (too much money spent) The windmill is the central symbol of technology advancing within the Animal Farm. Even though, Snowball, the official enemy and traitor has destroyed their mill, there is no way the animals will give up.
As in chapters five and six, chapter seven focuses on pigs abuse of power to control its population. The best way to describe pigs system is corruption, like Soviet's that created different social classes despite the fact of equality.
The execution of the conspirators reflects a lot Stalin. As a dictator he executed anyone opposing him, like pigs did to anyone tied to Snowball. By killing the animals in front of everyone, Napoleon effectively created fear and need for protection (safety). His tactics work perfectly, since the animals are too scared to challenge his ideas.
The false statements of longer live expectancy, increased production, better quality of life, make animals believe that things are better than they used to be. Communist governments would often publish statistics that would not reflect the reality to keep their population quiet and satisfied with the regime.
Throughout chapter 8, pigs effectively change laws for their own purpose. A great example: "No animals shall drink alcohol to excess" The law was changed from "No alcohol". The pigs drank some whisky and were feeling sick the next day. Stalin and his followers, changed laws as they wished, whatever would please them in the end.
Pigs constantly make deals and arrangements with Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick, to exchange their goods for construction materials for the mill. After doing a research, this ides ties to Stalin's trade with Germany and West. At first, the pigs wanted to make a deal with Mr. Pilkington, but in the end their turned their back and chose Mr. Frederick. Hitler came in arrangements with Stalin only for a short period of time, and then turned his back on Soviets. Mr. Frederick falsifies banknotes and thus cheats. Later on, he invades the Animal Farm and causes mass murder and destruction of the mill. The same idea applies to Hitler, who killed millions of Soviets and destroyed Soviets industrial infrastructure.
The blind ceremony, to honor the warriors that fought bravely for the cause of state, is another propaganda used by the pigs. Even though, the mill was destroyed, and the animals lost hope and spirit, the pigs effectively use their victory as a propaganda. In my opinion, this ceremony was not about the war, but to ensure pigs superiority and to keep their power.
* An important change from the comrade to "Leader Napoleon" takes place. It reflects Stalin who became the ultimate leader of his society and clinched his power.
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Robin,
It is fine to draw parallels between what is occurring in Animal Farm and the Russian Revolution. However, do not limit Orwell's work to the Russian Revolution. Orwell saw the ideologies of Animal Farm applying to all totalitarian regimes. Look at what is presently occurring in Zimbabwe and its President Robert Mugabe. His regime, albeit supposedly democratic, could also be used as an example.
In chapter 7, the main idea continues from chapter 6 but now the violence turns more severe with animal upon animal. The original rules of equalitarianism between animals disappear because there is the creation of a ruling class. Once a ruling class is created, they will tend to use their power over others and to use their power to keep their power. Control by propaganda becomes insufficient since there will be questioning. It then becomes obligatory to control through violence and fear. The fear is what keeps most of the animals respectful of the order. In some cases, such as Boxer the horse, he keeps respect for the system because he wants so much to believe in the dream of what Animal Farm was suppose to be. He cannot bring himself to admit reality to himself. He would rather blame himself for what is going rather than confront that his dream of equality has turned into a nightmare of totalitarianism.
As Lord Acton, a British historian, once stated: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." His statement means that the more control that is given to an individual then the more corrupt or evil that they become. This same theme is exploited in the modern series of novels of Harry Potter. Lord Voldemort is an extremely powerful character in the wizard world that has many followers who follow him out of fear and because they believe in the world that he wants to create. Voldemort's character serves no other purpose than fulfilling his quest for absolute power. The same concept of absolute power corrupting is also at the basis for the series of The Lord of the Rings. The ring gives so much power to whoever should wear it, that the characters in the novels become corrupted by wanting the ring or by wearing it.
In history, over and over, the same corruption occurs in people with too much power such as the Caesars of Rome, the Kings of Europe in the middle ages, Hitler, and as you stated, Stalin.
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