Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Animal Farm
George Orwell- Animal Farm-Book Review
QUOTE OF THE BOOK: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
CONNECTIONS:
• Animal farm relates directly, and was written for the sole purpose, to illustrate, and retell, the story of the emergence and development of Soviet communism, but obviously in the form of an animal fable. Animal Farm describes Napoleon, the protagonist pig of the story, as history describes the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Snowball, the antagonist of the story represents Leon Trotsky, Stalin’s initial political opponent. The actions shown throughout the story are identical to the political, military, and psychological actions done in Soviet Russia. The story shows runs through how Napoleon eliminated his enemies and solidified his political base in several cases including the collapse of the electric wind-mill, just like Stalin did to gain control. Napoleon claims all controversial confessions from other animals to be false and calls for their execution, like Stalin did to obtain omnipotence. The book as a whole is a metaphorical “play-by-play” of the Soviet occurrences in Russia.
• Animal Farm serves as a “break-down” of the development of class tyranny and the human tendency to maintain and reestablish class structures. In the book, even though the farm was run with the idea of total equality, an order of things began to seamlessly impose itself. The motto of the so called society in the farm was, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The motto itself serves as an underscoring of the fact that total equality is impossible. The novella illustrates how classes that are initially unified in the face of a common enemy, the humans, may become internally divided when that enemy is eliminated. Nothing stands in the way of hierarchy and fluctuation of power.
VISUAL REPRESENTATION:
This image shows the idea having one omnipotent person rule the entirety of the population, like Stalin, and like Napoleon. There is no other power, no controversy; there is only one ultimate power. This book shows these ideas constantly through its characters and the actions they take. Orwell seems to be under a deep spell of hatred fro the Soviet and Nazi parties, seeing how, both 1984 and Animal Farm, are deliberate attacks and analyses of the organizations and their history.
QUESTIONS:
• WHY IS ORWELL SO CAPTIVATED BY THIS THEME OF SOVIETS AND NAZIS?
• WHAT’S THE VALUE OF HAVING THE STORY TOLD THE AN ANIMAL FABLE?
• Of ALL OF THE CHARACTERS IN ANIMAL FARM, ARE THERE ANY WHO SEEM TO REPRESENT THE POINT OF VIEW OF ORWELL?
REFLECTION:
I ENJOYED READING ANIMAL FARM AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE WRITING STYLE ORWELL USES. PERSONALLY, I AM AN AFICIONADO OF WWII AND COLD WAR RELATED BOOKS, THUS MY LEVEL OF INTEREST WAS MUCH HIGHER. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY READER LOOKING FOR A GREAT BOOK WITH EXCELLENT WRITING STYLE AND TONE THAT USES AN OIVERLAYING METAPHOR TO EXPLAIN HISTORICAL EVENTS.
QUOTE OF THE BOOK: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
CONNECTIONS:
• Animal farm relates directly, and was written for the sole purpose, to illustrate, and retell, the story of the emergence and development of Soviet communism, but obviously in the form of an animal fable. Animal Farm describes Napoleon, the protagonist pig of the story, as history describes the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Snowball, the antagonist of the story represents Leon Trotsky, Stalin’s initial political opponent. The actions shown throughout the story are identical to the political, military, and psychological actions done in Soviet Russia. The story shows runs through how Napoleon eliminated his enemies and solidified his political base in several cases including the collapse of the electric wind-mill, just like Stalin did to gain control. Napoleon claims all controversial confessions from other animals to be false and calls for their execution, like Stalin did to obtain omnipotence. The book as a whole is a metaphorical “play-by-play” of the Soviet occurrences in Russia.
• Animal Farm serves as a “break-down” of the development of class tyranny and the human tendency to maintain and reestablish class structures. In the book, even though the farm was run with the idea of total equality, an order of things began to seamlessly impose itself. The motto of the so called society in the farm was, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The motto itself serves as an underscoring of the fact that total equality is impossible. The novella illustrates how classes that are initially unified in the face of a common enemy, the humans, may become internally divided when that enemy is eliminated. Nothing stands in the way of hierarchy and fluctuation of power.
VISUAL REPRESENTATION:
This image shows the idea having one omnipotent person rule the entirety of the population, like Stalin, and like Napoleon. There is no other power, no controversy; there is only one ultimate power. This book shows these ideas constantly through its characters and the actions they take. Orwell seems to be under a deep spell of hatred fro the Soviet and Nazi parties, seeing how, both 1984 and Animal Farm, are deliberate attacks and analyses of the organizations and their history.
QUESTIONS:
• WHY IS ORWELL SO CAPTIVATED BY THIS THEME OF SOVIETS AND NAZIS?
• WHAT’S THE VALUE OF HAVING THE STORY TOLD THE AN ANIMAL FABLE?
• Of ALL OF THE CHARACTERS IN ANIMAL FARM, ARE THERE ANY WHO SEEM TO REPRESENT THE POINT OF VIEW OF ORWELL?
REFLECTION:
I ENJOYED READING ANIMAL FARM AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE WRITING STYLE ORWELL USES. PERSONALLY, I AM AN AFICIONADO OF WWII AND COLD WAR RELATED BOOKS, THUS MY LEVEL OF INTEREST WAS MUCH HIGHER. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY READER LOOKING FOR A GREAT BOOK WITH EXCELLENT WRITING STYLE AND TONE THAT USES AN OIVERLAYING METAPHOR TO EXPLAIN HISTORICAL EVENTS.
Friday, October 8, 2010
George Orwell- 1984-Book Review
Allan Krinsky George Orwell- 1984-Book Review
Quote of the Book:
“Who controls the past, controls the future; who controls the present, controls past.”
I understand this quote to mean that the victor (in any controversy) controls not only the outcome of things, but the story told behind it. One that controls what has happened is consequently in control of what will be told about it. Just as one that is in control of the here and now, is in control of what is told of the past. Basically, this quote describes power and what comes with it in terms of history, and how it is told not through the truth, but through the mouth of the winner.
This quote was said in the context that Winston, the main character, held a particular knowledge that proved that Eurasia and Oceania, two hypothetical nations illustrated in the book, were once allies. Here, the book was discussing how Winston’s mind and this hidden fact that he knew could be erased in an instant, by killing him. His conscious was the only mind aware of this fact. By killing Winston, the government could take control of the present and therefore the past.
This idea of the government hiding the truth and deceiving the civilians is shown throughout the entire book. In fact, that is practically the purpose of the book to show a potential future with a negative utopia run by a totalitarian government.
Connections:
· The book in general exemplifies a totalitarian society which correlates directly with the Communist regime of the late 1900s Soviet Russia. Seeing that Orwell had firsthand experience of the horrific rule, he wrote this book to alarm people of western nations of communism and what evil potential it had.
· 1984 shows the idea of absolute domination by a government, and the dangers that come with it. By deliberately weakening people’s memories and flooding their minds with propaganda, the Party is able to replace individuals’ memories with its own version of the truth. This explains the idea of,” he who controls the past, controls the future; who controls the present, controls past.”
· The telescreens used throughout the book are an obvious symbol of technology. However, the book not only shows the advancement of technology, but the possible dangers and advantage taking that can come from it. In their dual capability to blare constant propaganda and observe citizens, the telescreens also symbolize how the government abuses technology for its own means, in place of exploiting its knowledge to expand civilization.
Visual Representation:
This image relates directly with the book in that there is a seemingly omnipotent power, here being the face. The face, like Big Brother in the book, imposes a sense of fear. The intensity of the eyes of Big Brother in this image instills a sense of power and confidence, like that shown in the book.
Questions:
1.) Is the society shown in 1984 possible?
2.) Does the totalitarian government shown in 1984 relate to our American government in any way?
3.) How can we protect ourselves from a government of this sort?
4.) When you read “Who controls the past, controls the future; who controls the present, controls past,” what is the first thought that comes to mind?
5.) What importance does this book have?
Reflection:
I felt that this book was not only interesting, but possibly real, giving it that scary edge. I did; however, feel that the writing style is relatively complicated. It was tough to adapt to. The change in tense and location, along with the change in dialogue from people to monitors seemed to confuse me indefinitely. Aside from the complexities, I recommend the book, fully, to any reader looking for a good read. The book is captivating and constantly brings in fear, and therefore more intrigue into the picture. The fact that the story in the book is possible makes the book all the more interesting and easy to relate to.
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