Political Science: The United States’ Politics and Governments in Relation to George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
The novel “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is an artistic work that explains the illusion of equality and freedom in the political class as exhibited in various nations. George Orwell makes use of allegory by using animals with particular characteristics to paint a real picture of the situation happening in the political world. His work majorly reflected the then situation in Russia. In 1917, a revolution occurred in Russia, whose purpose was to topple the capitalistic political system and replace it with communism, which was considered more just. (Orwell, 1945). However, after the successful revolution, capitalism was not phased out but was replaced with another version of it. George Orwell depicts that scenario through the Animal Farm, where animals rebelled against the exploitative nature of man, only for the lead animals to take power and extend the same exploitation they had led their colleagues in fighting against. From history, the American political system depicts similar scenarios that relate to Orwell’s Animal Farm. These scenarios include the fight for independence, freedom and human rights, foreign governments’ interference, and actions by leaders that resemble the Animal Farm scenarios. Therefore, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a depiction of the American political system that is riddled in satire and irony, proclaiming respect for human rights but doing the opposite.
The United States of America was formerly under British control, and it formed part of the British Empire. Therefore, the British exerted both political and economic power over America, exploiting America’s resources for their benefit. However, after the revolutionary war of 1775, America got independence and later formed the United States of America. In the struggle for freedom, Thomas Jefferson stated that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights (Pruitt, 2018)” Those words would be interpreted to mean that all humans are equal regardless of their race, gender, or origin. However, the Americans did not live by these words after independence. They continued with the slave trade, especially in the South, until 1862, when the 13th amendment was passed to abolish slavery (Pruitt, 2018). The fact that it took so many years to abolish slavery is in contrast to American’s claim that all men are created equal. Such a scenario is similar to Animal Farm’s story. In the Animal Farm, Snowball and Napoleon lead other animals into a revolution due to Jones (a human) mistreatment. However, after the victory, Napoleon takes charge of the farm, and gradually begins exploiting the animals like their previous master. He and his fellow pigs begin to supervise and overwork the animals in constructing the windmill (Orwell, 1945). Similar mistreatment like Jones had done. That is similar to the U.S. scenario where it fought against British oppression but continued to practice slavery even after independence.
The final chapter of the Animal Farm, reveals a manipulation and change of the seven rules that governed the Animal Farm. Initially, the animals had rules governing their conduct. Some of the rules stated that the animals should never drink, should never sleep on a bed like humans, should not kill other animals, among others. However, Napoleon and his fellow pigs defied these rules and changed them. He would drink alcohol, kill rebellious animals by using his killer dogs and sleep on Jones’ bed. In the last chapter, Clover notices that the wall on which the commandments were written had been repainted and only contained the words, “All animals are equal/, but some animals are more equal than others” (Orwell, 1945). The sheep were also singing a different anthem, stating that “Four legs were good, but two were better” (Orwell, 1945). Such a statement was in contrast to animal rules that prohibited walking on two legs like humans.
The decision by Napoleon and fellow pigs to walk on two legs negates the idea of equality, which they led the other animals in fighting for. Such a scenario mirrors that of Americans after independence. Despite them fighting the British to attain freedom and equality, the Americans practiced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. The Americans gained independence in the 17th century and took two centuries to grant equal rights to Africans despite proclaiming to be the leader of the free world. It was only until 1964, after the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, that segregation of Africans stopped in the United States (Pruitt, 2018). It is also this time that Africans received the right to vote. The discrimination of Africans was in contrast to America’s claim as the defender of human rights and freedoms. The U.S. went to practice the ills they were fighting against in their quest for freedom. Such a situation is similar to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where Napoleon does not grant his fellow animals equal rights to the pigs despite all animals fighting the same ills against Jones, the human farm owner.
Another aspect of irony in U.S. politics and that resembles George Orwell’s Animal Farm was the United States’ invasion of Iraq in 2003. The attack was anchored on the claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The war ran from 2003 to 2011 and led to the loss of both civilian and military deaths. Over 4700 U.S. troops and over 100,000 Iraqi residents were reported dead by the end of the war (The Iraq War 2003-2011). The battle was also characterized by abuse of human rights, as evidenced by the many civilian deaths. The leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was also captured, tried and found guilty of crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to execution through hanging. The whole war led to regime change in Iraq, but at the end of it, it was found that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction. The fact that the U.S. led a regime change in a foreign state goes against its own ideals of promoting democracy and respect for human rights. Despite the whole idea having good intentions, its execution violated U.S. ideals as the leader of the free world.
Such an account of events mirrors those in the Animal Farm by George Orwell. Napoleon and his fellow pigs rely on propaganda to keep the other animals under their control. In chapter eight, the animals fight Fredrick and his men, who come to take control of the farm. Some of the animals are severely injured, and Squealer, the propagandist, explains to them that they were victorious, and the battle was for their own good (Orwell, 1945). The battle is later named “The Battle of the Windmill.” That is similar to the U.S. case where the government tried to rally public support for the Iraqi war by drawing explanations of how the war was of strategic importance to Americans. Similarly, invading Iraq contradicts its values of respecting human rights and freedoms, just like Napoleon went against the values of Animalism that prohibited the mistreatment of fellow animals.
The current holder of the presidential office, President Donald Trump, continues to act and portray America as George Orwell’s Animal Farm. That arises from his actions since he assumed office. Since assuming office, some of Trump’s controversial policies migrant separation policy, saw immigrant children being separated from their parents and locked in cages (BBC, 2018). That act is inhuman and goes against the American spirit of respect for human rights. That resembles Napoleon’s act to sell Boxer to a knacker, where he would be slaughtered (Orwell, 1945). Napoleon had no respect for the rights of the other animals. Similarly, the president has continued to express racist acts and utterances. Recently, the president responded to Weijia Jiang, a CBS new journalist who has roots in China, to direct her Coronavirus questions to the Chinese government (Scarborough, 2020). Despite such racist remarks, the president continues to receive massive support across the country. Such naivety among Americans is similar to that of Boxer, who claimed anything Napoleon said was right until Napoleon sold him to a knacker.
In conclusion, various happenings in the U.S. political scene since its independence resemble those in the Animal Farm by George Orwell. The act by the U.S. residents to continue practicing slavery long after fighting for their freedom and independence, resembles that of the pigs especially Napoleon, to continue mistreating the animals even after they revolted against Jones due to similar mistreatment. Similarly, despite the U.S. declaring itself the leader of the free world, it continued to practice racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans until 1964 when the Civil Rights Act. Such irony is similar to that of Napoleon and his fellow pigs, who saw themselves unique compared to the other animals. The invasion of Iraq on the pretext of destroying weapons of mass destruction, which were never found, is similar to how Napoleon relied on propaganda to justify his mistreatment of the animals. Lastly, the current president continues to go against the American ideals of equity, just like Napoleon went against Animalism.
References
“The Iraq War 2003-2011.” Cfr.org. https://www.cfr.org/timeline/iraq-war
Pruitt, S. (2018). “Eight great strides for freedom in U.S. history.” History. https://www.history.com/news/8-moments-freedom-us-history
Orwell, G. (1945). Animal Farm. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/animal-farm/animal-farm-at-a-glance
BBC. (June 18, 2018). “Trump migrant separation policy: Children ‘in cages’ in Texas. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44518942
Scarborough, J. (May 12, 2020). “Trump’s racism will bring his party down with him.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/12/trumps-racism-will-bring-his-party-down-with-him/