George Orwell, Animal Farm

George Orwell has lots of symbolism here, not to mention the gluttonious pig. Just guess what does it portrays.

The animals live under the rule of Jones. In this state, they are treated unfairly. Major is very old and has recently had a dream about a world where animals are free from humans. He tells all the animals this and then teaches them a song called "Beasts of England." The animals start singing it immediately and love it. After Major dies a few days later, the animals start plotting their overthrow of Jones. This is not just because of Major's inspiration, but also because Jones has begun binge drinking and because of this, he is often forgetting to feed the animals. One day, when he and his hands again force the animals to work, they decide that they've had enough of Jones and drive all the humans off the farm. Upon their departure, Snowball paints the Seven Commandments on the wall, most of which are defied later by the pigs. This story uses symbolism to depict the events of the October Revolution and is something every adult should read.

I doubt anyone really needs a write up of Orwell's most cherished work. You'd expect to see it on many people's top 10 list in terms of that profound effect it has on so many readers. There are many things to praise about it:

Firstly, Animal Farm is a wonderfully rich fable, and how the animals are given very human characteristics is a peerless achievement by the author.

The story works on its own, but the sub-text (that of the corruptive forces that plague socialism) is so transparent, that it is no wonder this is the seminal text at schools across the planet for introducing the concept of hidden meaning.

Importantly, the whole thing veritably races towards the harrowing conclusion at breakneck speed, and you're probably done in one sitting, or at least faster than most other novels you'd pick up.

I fancy Orwell knew this one would get the juices flowing. It just sets the reader up to comment about the subject matter; I've never seen a book debated with more gusto than Animal Farm, because it brings out of us the very core of the human condition, and not just the obvious political overtones.

A casual dip into other works would find quotes, references or homage paid to Orwell at almost every turn. No other work quite matches it in that regard. Probably the most enduring aspect of which (though by no means Orwell's idea exclusively) is the term 'Sheep' to depict unthinking, indifferent masses. It's Sheep we're up against, said the Housemartins, decades later. Still, the same basic issue, the same metaphorical notion.

Personally, I'd have to consider the Pigs themselves as probably the most brutally powerful analogy of the book. The transformation is so vivid and, dare I accept Orwell's politics so readily, appropriate. I don't know whether the view was entirely based on the USSR exclusively, perhaps it was merely meant as a literary rebuttal to Das Kapital. I doubt we'll ever know. But either way, it worked.

As millions of English students would attest, this is definitely one of your top 10 books to read before you die, and it fully deserves its popular billing as a classic.

George Orwell, Animal Farm - When we look at great novels, we often like to see powerful messages portrayed within them. Literature is such a powerful tool, it is so refreshing to see it used in such a positive way as it is in Gerorge Orwell's - Animal Farm. There is so much truth to be read into the novel, so much we can understand and appreciate. The novel is constructed around the principals of revolution and the Soviet Communism/Socialism. The novel is read from a very simplistic fairy-tale style of approach, but behind the tale lies the truth of the matter. This is the magic of the novel. Read it as you will, the message is always the same and such an important one too. I would say that this novel is such an important novel to read, I would always encourage someone to read it. I hope it is a novel that will be read from generation to generation. The real magic to it is how easy it is to read, and how well the principles shine through. This novel will always remain a classic....and rightly so.