The novel Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory or a symbolism of the Russian Revolution. The revolution was the apex of a long era of despotism and unrest. From the time of Peter I, the royalty increasingly became a tyrannical ruling body that imposed its will on the people by force, with complete disregard for human life and liberty. This is very similar to the almost autocratic bureaucracy that a farmer and especially Mr. Jones had over the animals on Manor Farm. However power is corrupting, and these new regimes became just as much if not more tyrannical than the czars they revolted against. As is the case with the pigs on Animal Farm. The pigs, as well as everyone else knew that they were the smartest, and this lead to the farm's downfall. This is because with the pig's knowledge and power they could manipulate laws to their own benefit. What is ironic about the leader, Napolean, is that he furthered the revolution in no way, he was only interested in the power that he had over the farm. An example of this is that he trained the puppies on his own, not for the development of the dogs on the farm, but for a private army, representing the secret police, for his own interests and protection. This was a means to spread his force on others.
Mr. Jones underfed them, made them work incredibly hard with no reward and seemingly no end except for death. He also had no regard for the life of the animals like the czars had no respect for the lives of peasants and everyday workers. So then, western humanitarian ideals were acquired by a group of educated Russians. Among this group of intellectuals, the majority of whom were ideally humanitarian and democratic, there were also people who were politically radical and even revolutionary. The university became a center of revolutionary activity; nihilism, anarchism, and later Marxism were diffused. Marxism eventually prevailed into the most accepted form of government.
