Who is Stalin?
Joseph Stalin was born on December 18, 1879, in Gori, Georgia. Today, he is known as one of the most powerful and murderous dictators in history. He did well in school, with his efforts he managed to get scholarship which led to the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. (Joseph Stalin biography, 1996). He gained interests of the communist Manifesto and thoughts on the revolution against the monarchy of Russia. He was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century, during which his regime of terror caused the death and suffering of tens of millions. He improved his position by intensive police terror to destroy individual freedom. Although, Stalin is seen as a vicious ruler, he played a key role in the defeat of Nazism. He was identified as a historical figure. He ruled the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). He was the general Secretary of the Communist Party of Russia, a dictator. (Historic Figure, 2013). He was responsible for millions of death and killed countless people.
However, he was such a cruel ruler, he provided stability after anarchy, civil war, and revolutions in Russia. He took over Russia for 31 years in which time Russia became a world superpower.(Britannica, Joseph Stalin, 2013) He forced collectivism on the people, which was not benefited at all, but it greatly increased the amount of agriculture that was able to be done and increased industrialism in Russia. Stalin stabilized the economy and Russia became one of the most industrial countries in the world. Furthermore of positive impacts, he gave women their individual rights in education and employment. He considerably enhanced the health care of his nation, which led to increase the life expectancy in Russia. Stalin created a mighty military industrial complex and led the Soviet Union into the nuclear age. (Spartacus Educational, Joseph Stalin, 2013)
Why did Orwell represent the events/system or character this way? (compared to Napoleon (book character and real person)
Orwell used Napoleon in the book to emphasize the major themes or social issues of the time including socialism and reactions of the oppressed. These are shown in tandem with the way dictators often gain and retain power. In the beginning, Napoleon is presented well with good leadership. However, throughout the story, greed gets the better of him. Orwell puts Stalin in the metaphor of a ‘pig’ to compare Napoleon with the hunger of power and dictatorship. Napoleon symbolizes all the fragilities of human nature.( Animal Farms, Character profiles, 1999)
Socialism is a political structure where the state or the government controls and owns the economically valuable resources. (Socialism, 2013) Orwell puts this theme of class stratification to input his own comments and views towards class tyranny, the inequality in society. Such as the pig being “brainworkers”, dividing classes between intellectual and physical labour; the pigs exploit the society’s norms to their advantages.
Another theme Orwell inputs into the novel is the portrayal of the emotions of the people oppressed. Orwell does this by telling parts of the story from perspective of ‘common people’, animals. He characterizes the oppressed animals as naive and diligent, but does not notice the motives of the ones controlling their lifestyles, one of the animals repeatedly convinced himself “Napoleon is always right”.
Socialism is a political structure where the state or the government controls and owns the economically valuable resources. (Socialism, 2013) Orwell puts this theme of class stratification to input his own comments and views towards class tyranny, the inequality in society. Such as the pig being “brainworkers”, dividing classes between intellectual and physical labour; the pigs exploit the society’s norms to their advantages.
Another theme Orwell inputs into the novel is the portrayal of the emotions of the people oppressed. Orwell does this by telling parts of the story from perspective of ‘common people’, animals. He characterizes the oppressed animals as naive and diligent, but does not notice the motives of the ones controlling their lifestyles, one of the animals repeatedly convinced himself “Napoleon is always right”.
Was he successful?
Orwell successfully portrayed Snowball as a ideal character, but with moral flaws. For example, the author puts the symbol of windmill to represent the future of Animal Farm visualized by Snowball’s dreams; reflecting Trotsky’s aims of spreading the Communist Revolution worldwide. He also highlights the flaws of this character when the symbol of the windmill is destroyed, and the pigs put Snowball in the responsibility of its damage. This event directly reflects Stalin forcing Trotsky out of the Communist party, acting as another motif Orwell uses to portray the effect of the hunger of power.
Bibliography
1. Joseph Stalin Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com . (n.d.).Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/joseph-stalin-9491723
2. historic figure . (n.d.). Joseph Stalin. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stalin_joseph.shtml
3. Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9277202?query=stalin&ct=
4. October., 1941., weeks, G. t., Moscow, t. m., Stalin., & Commander-in-Chief, a. S. (n.d.). Joseph Stalin : Biography.Spartacus Educational. Retrieved April 10, 2013, from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUS
5.Animal Farm: Character Profiles Study Guide| Novelguide. (n.d.). Free Study Guides, free study guide, free book notes, free literature notes. Retrieved April 10, 2013, from http://www.novelguide.com/animalfarm/characterprofiles.html6. socialism. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/551569/socialism
2. historic figure . (n.d.). Joseph Stalin. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stalin_joseph.shtml
3. Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9277202?query=stalin&ct=
4. October., 1941., weeks, G. t., Moscow, t. m., Stalin., & Commander-in-Chief, a. S. (n.d.). Joseph Stalin : Biography.Spartacus Educational. Retrieved April 10, 2013, from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUS
5.Animal Farm: Character Profiles Study Guide| Novelguide. (n.d.). Free Study Guides, free study guide, free book notes, free literature notes. Retrieved April 10, 2013, from http://www.novelguide.com/animalfarm/characterprofiles.html6. socialism. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/551569/socialism