Hannah Bea S.

Velasquez February 14, 2019

Book Review: The Animal Farm: A Fairy Story

The Animal Farm: A Fairy Story was originally published on the 17 th day of August

1945, and has been continually famous globally since the day of its publication. The book is still

relevant for readers of this generation who is fond of allegories, satires, novels and literary and

political fictions. It is authored by Mr. George Orwell, who is one of Great Britain’s most famous

writers. He gained worldwide respect because of this controversial allegorical novella. In fact, you

may finish the book in a span of approximately 2 – 3 hours. In year 2005, this book was chosen

by Time Magazine as part of the 100 Best English – language Novels. It also ranked at 31 on the

Modern Library List of Best 20th Century Novels and soon turned into an animated comedy-

drama movie directed and produced by Jon Halas and Joy Batchelor. The released date of the

movie was December 29, 1954 in New York City. The total running time of it was 72 minutes

and first viewed in cinemas in United Kingdom and United States. There is a total of $ 350, 000

budget allocated for this film. This literature is old but gold.

Since it is called a fairy story, and animals were presented as the characters, most of

us thought it is a great book for children, but no, it is amazing how the author used animals to

purposively hide its political meaning: on how a revolution turned into tyranny; on how power

can lead to corruption and oppression. Metaphorically, the characters used in the story (animals)

highlights a theme that every human hides a demon inside them. Those kinds of beings let

themselves be dominated by hunger of power, greed, jealousy, cruelty and laziness. Moreover, the
animals in the story agreed to follow “The Seven Commandments” which seems fair for

everyone, but those laws are changed as the story keeps rolling in. Applying it on a timeless

principle, in what way do our current leaders change rules to achieve their personal agendas? Are

we even aware of it? Or you are one of those people mislead by a promising cancer of the

society?

What makes me like this book more is the way it tells me to think more, the urge to

decipher the equivalent knowledge from the hidden context of the story, and to create a deeper

understanding of how a government should be, not the way how politicians want it to be for their

personal benefits only. The use of language in the book is absolutely simple yet striking. The

author successfully illustrates the steps on how a good intention turns to totalitarianism when

someone tasted political power and cannot get enough of it. “All animals are equal but some

animals are more equal than others” is one of the famous quotes from the novel which shows

social injustice and bringing label as to which is more of a priority, as to who is more important,

rather than making them feel secure, truly equal, and has the right to freedom and liberation they

all hope for. “No other animal shall kill another animal” is another quote from the book which

later on revised to “No other animal shall kill another animal without a cause”..