​       Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell, was first published in 1945. It is a political allegory that uses the events on a farm to provide commentary on the events that lead to the Russian Revolution.​​​​​​​​​​

       The story’s setting is a farm, where the animals live together with their human owner, Mr. Jones. Old Major, the elderly pig, inspires the other animals with his rhetoric, so the animals decide to rebel against Mr. Jones and establish their own regime. The story’s main characters are the farm animals, led by two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. Snowball is an intelligent and charismatic leader, while Napoleon is cunning and greedy. After Old Major dies, the animals successfully overthrow Mr. Jones and take control of the farm, renaming it Animal Farm. Initially, the animals work together to create a new society based on Old Majors’ seven commandments of animal equality and cooperation. However, Napoleon plots against Snowball, driving him out of the farm. The remaining pigs, led by Napoleon, gradually take control of the farm and use their knowledge and power to manipulate and oppress the other animals.​​

       One of the book’s central themes is the corrupting influence of power. Through the pigs’ actions, Orwell shows how those in power can manipulate and control others for their own benefit. The pigs slowly change the farm’s rules to suit their needs and use force and propaganda to brainwash the animals and maintain their control. Orwell uses this to warn against the dangers of supreme power and authoritarian control and note the importance of maintaining a healthy system of checks and balances in a society.​​​​​​​​More themes present in the novel are the importance of education and the power of language. The pigs weaponize theirintelligence and education to control the other animals, twisting the meanings of words and symbols to retain their power. For example, the fifth of the seven commandments states, “No animal shall drink alcohol.” Still, Napoleon changes this line to “No animal shall drink alcohol in excess” for his own benefit. These themes emphasize the necessity of equal access to educationin maintaining a free and fair society.​​​

       In conclusion, Animal Farm is a powerful novel that addresses ubiquitous political and social dilemmas plaguing all societies to some degree. Orwell uses the events in this book to provide commentary on real issues of his time, ultimately warning the reader about the dangers of a dictatorship and the corrupting influence of absolute power.