Friday, July 18, 2014

How is inequality portrayed in George Orwell’s allegorical fable?

Inequality is portrayed through the pigs' treatment of the other animals and the unfair privileges they give themselves. Following the Rebellion, the pigs begin to organize and essentially run the farm. Since they are more intelligent than the other animals, they consider themselves "brain-workers" and begin giving themselves special privileges. They begin by secretly mixing their mash with milk and apples, which is considered a delicacy on the farm. Fortunately for the pigs, the other animals accept Squealer's explanation. While the other animals toil, the pigs sit back and give orders.
After Snowball's expulsion, Napoleon begins to push the envelope as he gradually breaks each tenet of Animalism. While the other animals sleep outside or in the barn, Napoleon and the pigs begin living in the farmhouse. They sleep in Mr. Jones's bed, drink his alcohol, and eventually wear his clothes. By the end of the novella, the pigs resemble humans, and the other animals are treated like slaves. The younger pigs are the only ones educated, and they are forbidden from interacting with other animals. The other animals are even forced to move out of the pigs' way when they walk past them. The best example of inequality concerns the only "remaining" Commandment, which reads,

"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" (Orwell, 40).

This Commandment illustrates the extent of inequality throughout the farm and allows the pigs to have unfair privileges.

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