DICTATORSHIP - the system of a single ruler
The russian Revolution - Joseph Stalin
- The original dictator of the Russian Revolution was Vladimir Lenin, who Stalin was close too. When he passed away (leaving unfinished business behind), Joseph Stalin fought for leadership and took over his ruling.
- As a dictator, Stalin used terror and fear to stay in power. During his time as a ruler, millions of innocent people were executed and arrested.
- To protect himself, he hired the 'Secret Police' who were like spies. They arrested, executed people and collected information for Stalin.
- Stalin used the Secret Police to get rid of and executed of anyone who was seen as capable to overthrow him immediately. The slightest hint of opposition to Stalin or his plans resulted in the oppression of the secret police, meaning execution or being exiled to a labour camp in the far east/north.
- There were many labour Camps during his ruling, in which millions of citizens were sent to.
- Purges and Show Trails were common, where forced confessions and accusations were shown in public.
- He used his power to report false information to his favor to the citizens.
- He had a 5 year plan to make Russia a more developed country, insisting that “comrades” had to work harder in order for Russia to rise above.
- One of his plans to improve Russia was to take away land from farmers to the government, creating what he called a state-owned farm. The plan was supposed to increase food production but instead sent the country to starvation and decreased production of food.
Animal Farm - Napoleon
- It’s original revolution leader was Old Major, who gave a inspirational speech that started the rebellion. Old Major passed away in his sleep, leaving the revolution hanging and Napoleon and Snowball both fought for leadership, Napoleon eventually won, becoming the dictator of Animal Farm.
- To stay in power, Napoleon used fear and terror to keep the Animals of Animal farm oppressed. Many were executed in public which caused fear in the other Animals and kept them from going against Napoleon. (Page 36: “...they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon.”
- Napoleon had his own ‘secret police’, the dogs who he had trained from young were used to protect him. The dogs executed and scared off any animals who dared to rebel against Napoleon.
- Execution and being exiled was used to stay in power. On page 35 and 56 it is seen that the dogs first chased Snowball out of Animal Farm then executed betrayers.
- ‘Purges and Show Trails” is also shown in Animal Farm when Napoleon had forced the animals to confess in public how they had betrayed him and then killed them in front of the other animals to warn them.
- Napoleon had also reported lots of false information to the other Animals of Animal Farm in his favor. Ranging from how he had first came up with the idea of the windmill rather than Snowball to how Snowball was helping the humans in the first place.
- Napoleon had plans to make Animal Farm a more developed Farm, he insisted that ‘comrades’ had to work harder for Animal Farm to Rise above and made them work harder. (Page 40: “...Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well...any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.”)
- Napoleons plan to further develop Animal Farm had flaws as the farm started to fall short of food and many animals started to starve. (Page 49: “They were always cold, and usually hungry as well...In January food fell short. The corn ration was drastically reduced, and it was announced that an extra potato ration would be issued to make up for it.”)
Analysis
From the points presented above, it is shown that George Orwell has adapted Joseph Stalin's style of ruling into Napoleon's leadership in Animal Farm. From doing this, George Orwell is able to clearly show how dictatorship ruling can corrupt a entire country (Farm). It also clearly shows how Orwell had adapted the Russian Revolution into Animal Farm, which allows Orwell to exaggerate certain points and express how he feels about the Russian Revolution through his Characters and the events that happen. I think that this has allowed most readers to understand and interpret Orwell's opinions and thoughts through his writing and he has successfully displayed his message to us.