In Animal Farm, the pigs no sooner weasel their way into power than they start taking milk for themselves—and pretty soon, they've moved on to harder stuff. Like whiskey. So, is there any hope?
1 of 10
CONTROL OVER THE INTELLECTUALLY INFERIOR
in Animal Farm pigs take control because they're the smartest animals on the farm and then turn right around and start abusing that power. The pigs would never have succeeded if they other animals hadn't blindly gone along with it.
2 of 10
LIES AND DECEIT
A lie is something that contradicts the pigs' agenda; a truth is something that supports it. Napoleon might try to justify the lies by thinking they're for the good of the cause, but his propaganda machine is still cranking out the myths.
3 of 10
RULES AND ORDER
the animals get rid of an old set of rules just to find themselves oppressed by a new one. At first, new commandments and traditions are supposed to energize and unite the animals. But these rules turn out to be not so much rules
4 of 10
FOOLISHNESS AND FOLLY
faulting the lower-class animals for not being smart enough to realize what's going on. Either they fail to recognize their oppression, or they ignore it because they want to wear ribbons in their hair
5 of 10
DREAMS, HOPES, AND PLANS
Animal Farm may be a specific criticism of one dream—the dream of a communist Russia—but it's also a criticism of utopian ideals in general. The problem is people. No matter how great your manifesto, it can only be put into action by people.
6 of 10
CUNNING AND CLEVERNESS
the communist revolution quickly sours when it turns out that the animals all have different innate gifts—and some of those gifts, like cleverness, are particularly good at oppressing animals with other gifts, like brute strength.
7 of 10
VIOLENCE
From the violent Rebellion to the violent Battle of the Windmill to the violent executions, Napoleon's reign is one big ick-fest.
8 of 10
PRIDE
Napoleon is smart enough to use that pride to manipulate the animals into obedience and then to convince them that the whole system isn't just failing and corrupt. And… it seems to work.
9 of 10
RELIGION
Moses might be a manipulative liar, but his little tale about "Sugarcandy Mountain" is also the only thing that keeps the animals going after a long day of hauling hay. We don't blame them for wanting to believe it—but we can blame the pigs.
10 of 10
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
CONTROL OVER THE INTELLECTUALLY INFERIOR
Back
in Animal Farm pigs take control because they're the smartest animals on the farm and then turn right around and start abusing that power. The pigs would never have succeeded if they other animals hadn't blindly gone along with it.
Comments
No comments have yet been made