George Orwell’s 1945 work, Animal Farm, is a relatively short book that packs a punch. The 180-page novel follows the lives of farm animals after they take over the farm and send their human handlers into exile. Originally written as an allegory for the Russian Revolution, Animal Farm touches upon an array of relevant political themes surrounding topics of communism, tyranny, inequality, education, and propaganda. 

Animal Farm is widely recognized as a classic piece of literature that effectively warns its audience of the danger of unquestioned authority. The book is also known for having an endless number of characters. Snowball, Napoleon, Old Major, Squealer, Boxer, Benjamin, Clover, Mollie, Moses, Muriel, Mr. Jones. The list goes on and on. Each character is a different species and social class; pigs are the intellectual elite, the horses are the loyal working class, and so on and so forth. The story begins with a revolution upon which the rest of the plot is built. After the animals overthrow their human masters, they begin setting up a new system of government. As one can imagine, this comes with many challenges and intricacies. 

This is a book about politics. Interwoven between the horses and pigs is a struggle between the working class and the intellectual elites. The pigs are the only members of the farm with the ability to read and write, fueling the naivety and dependence on the ‘leadership’ of the pigs. The animals’ illiteracy opens the door to corruption by those with status and higher education. Animal Farm playfully explores what happens when a lack of education and blind allegiance meet cunning manipulation and the corruption of power. 

Orwell uses simple sentences and basic vocabulary to paint a simplistic picture of corruption. Interestingly, the book reads like a children’s story despite having serious themes. The short and episodic chapters simplify the story and make the progression of power easy to follow. Furthermore, Orwell’s widespread use of symbolism is evident in each character, as each represents something larger than its face value. Following his own personal style, Orwell acts as the detached narrator, describing violent or radically unjust events with calmness and a lack of emotion. This rhetorical choice makes room for the reader to draw their own conclusion about injustices committed and highlights the gradual normalization of oppression. Animal Farm is an easy read that leaves the audience with a greater awareness of the importance of education and critical thinking.

On a personal note, Animal Farm deepened my understanding of social constructs such as communism, socialism, and tyranny. With my prior knowledge of the topic’s extreme limitation, the book explained in simple terms some relatively advanced political principles. The ability to write about advanced topics in an easy-to-digest fashion is the mark of any good author. A great writer is a great thinker, and time inside the mind of a great writer is time well spent. 

Due to the simplicity of the book’s text, the recommended age range is a minimum of 13. Fans of nonfiction and fiction alike will enjoy this allegory that offers deep real-world applications. All in all, Animal Farm is a great book. Written over 80 years ago, its themes are still extremely relevant. This book is a perfect introduction for anyone in the dark about politics.