My freshmen are starting George Orwell’s Animal Farm, published in 1946 and, considering the yammering political rhetoric of today, the allegory’s becoming uneasily familiar. Here’s the Amazon review:
Amazon.com Review
Fueled by Orwell’s intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing, both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. . . All animals are equal. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. . .While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm. Orwell’s view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy. –Joyce Thompson –This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Today, in anticipation of the reading, my students responded [agree OR disagree] to seven statements, and then answered two opinion questions. The class tally is intriguing…remember these are 13 and 14 year-olds.
All humans are equal. 8 agree/ 12 disagree
All people have freedom of speech. 11 agree/ 9 disagree
A dictator has complete control of his country. 11 agree/9 disagree
People who cannot read are easier to control than those who can read. 7 agree/ 13 disagree
People are always free to make their own choices. 9 agree/11 disagree
Power corrupts those who have it. 9 agree
/ 11 disagree
You should never question those with power or authority. 1 agree/ 19 disagree
And the freedoms they think we take for granted [in their words]?
- the right to own guns/to bear arms
- freedom
- freedom of speech
- freedom of being able to do pretty much whatever we want besides what the law says
- freedom of the press
- freedom of being free
- that our parents have money
- our own jobs, education, choosing our own religion
- driving at 16
- freedom of religion
- voting
- “we take for granite the ability to get an education and all we do is wine over it”
