Name: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell

Synopsis

Tired of being exploited, the animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and start governing themselves under the motto that all animals are equal. George Orwell's fable about what happens to revolutions after they win.

My notes

The animals drive out the human to end exploitation, and in the end the pigs become the human
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
The seven commandments get rewritten little by little, and nobody remembers the original version
Squealer is the propaganda: he convinces everyone that the worst is the best
Boxer: the loyal, hard-working horse ("I will work harder"), used until he is of no more use
Snowball becomes the enemy blamed for everything after he is driven out
Napoleon uses the dogs (force) to seize power
Benjamin, the donkey, sees everything and does nothing
The sheep repeat slogans and drown out any discussion
The other animals' lack of education and memory is what makes the tyranny possible
A direct parallel with the Russian revolution and Stalinism

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