A comparison of the Animal Farm and Edmond Burke 4 Stages of Modern Revolutions - Essay Example

A Comparison of the Animal Farm and Edmond Burke 4 Stages of Modern Revolutions I. The “Animal Farm” is a story written by George Orwell, the pen name of Eric Blair who writes novels and essays for a living. The said fable takes place in Manor Farm, the usual English farm (Orwell 1-113). It is called a fairy story for it portrays how animals captured the Manor Farm from its drunken incompetent farmer named Mr. Jones and how they changed its name to Animal Farm (Orwell 1-113). The animals here also employ a government that depicts that of human rule wherein they established a model community wherein all animals are equal (Orwell 1-113). This paper endeavors to make a comparison of the events in the “Animal Farm” and the 4 Stages of Modern Revolutions by Edmond Burke. II. A. The first stage of Modern Revolutions according to Edmond Burke is the widespread support of the uprising wherein change occurs. Old Major, the prize Middle white boar had a dream about rebellion; hence, he called the other animals for a meeting (Orwell 5-7). He declared to the other animals that “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever” (Orwell 8). This remark of Old Major opened the eyes of the other animals about how they are being abused by humans; hence, they were motivated to conduct a rebellion as highlighted again by Old Major in the story, “Rebellion! I do not know when that rebellion will come , it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, the sooner or later justice will be done” (Orwell 10). B. The rebellion came earlier than expected, the animals were underfed because Mr. Jones was so busy with his vices that he neglected his animals; hence, the animals could not take this treatment any longer (Orwell 18). The animals flung themselves among their tormentors who utilized whips lashing out in all directions, Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides (Orwell 18). The situation got out of control and the humans never seen animals behave like that before and the sudden uprising of creatures who were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose, frightened them out of their wits (Orwell 18). And so, almost before they knew what was happening, the Rebellion had been successfully carried out: Jones was expelled, and the Manor Farm now belongs to the animals (Orwell 19). What the animals did was similar to what humans do when they revolt, they stand up for what they believe in and they fight for it until they are victorious. C. After the Rebellion, the animals then opted to make changes like naming Manor Farm as Animal Farm which was painted by a pig named Snowball, and they also summarized the principles of Animalism into seven commandments (Orwell 20-26). The seven commandments are as follows: “whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy; whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend; no animal shall wear clothes; no animal shall sleep in a bed, no animal shall drink alcohol, no animal shall kill any other animal; and all animals are equal” (Orwell 25). III. A. The second stage of Modern Revolutions is focusing on Independence wherein the society becomes divided by the change. The farm was then governed by two of the smartest pigs named Napoleon and Snowball, the opinions of these two differ; hence, most of the time, there seemed to be a division between them in making decisions as emphasized in the book: “But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement; whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it” (Orwell 28). Conversely, Mollie decided to be with the human who was stroking her nose as highlighted by the sentences from the story: “Three days later Mollie disappeared; for some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts, then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon where she was between the shafts of a smart dog painted red and black…A fat red-faced man in check breeches and gaiters, who looked like a publican was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar…She appeared to be enjoying herself” (Orwell 35-44). The animals were starting to make choices where their benefit was given more regard. B. The animals continue to have debates regarding a variety of ideas especially the two clever pigs, Snowball and Napoleon as suggested by the sentence from the book: “Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies, but in a moment Snowball’s eloquence had carried them away” (Orwell 45). The animals, just like humans, started to choose sides, which can be compared to choosing the political party they think would best consider their welfare and interests. C. At the meeting where Snowball was discussing his future plans for the farm, Napoleon did not agree with what he was saying; hence, a new chapter in the life of the animals will soon materialize (Orwell 45). IV. A. The third stage of Modern Revolution highlights the event where a civil war breaks and a dictatorial power emerges. Napoleon opposed Snowball in his decisions and chose to end the leadership of Snowball as suggested by the lines: “Napoleon stood up and casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before…At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn… They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws” (Orwell 46). B. Napoleon now became the sole ruler of the farm and he set new rules: “Sunday-morning meeting would now come to an end… In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself…The animals would receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates” (Orwell 47). Napoleon gained absolute power during this time where only his words would command the whole farm on what the animals should do as they were told. C. Napoleon was the one who always decided for what the other animals should do, so the other animals seemed to rebel against this in their own ways like the hens refuse to lay eggs for they were forced to lay a lot more during the time of Mr. Jones (Orwell 50-72). V. A. The fourth stage of Modern Revolutions portrays that someone comes along and will take matters into his own hands. Whenever an animal opposes Napoleon’s commands and whenever they sided with the beliefs of Snowball, they were punished by Napoleon, which led to the execution of the so-called traitors though previously the Commandments tell them that no other animal shall kill another animal (Orwell 73). B. Napoleon always had his way and he was always given recognition for his governance and was deemed as their “Beloved leader Napoleon” (Orwell 75). C. The animals became old but the pigs still were considered the highest class of all the animals as reiterated by Mr. Pilkington: “If you have your lower animals to contend with, we have our lower classes” (Orwell 111). VI. The Rebellion in the “Animal Farm” was brought about by the desire of the animals to stop the abuse done to them by humans; hence, they despised everything that humans do including their vices such as drinking alcohol but in the end, the animals particularly the pigs who were the leaders of the rebellion were the ones who violated the Commandments, and in the end, became like humans themselves indulging in drinking alcohol a lot (Orwell 111). Works Cited Orwell, George. Animal Farm. United States of America: 1st World Library-Literary Society, 2004. Read More