The Effectiveness of Orwell's Use of Animals as Characters

Orwell, in Animal Farm, wrote an allegory of Russia and its communistic past, in an unimpressed manner. Some could say his manner was even one of laughing. It is common knowledge that fairy tales and fables are, more often than not, aimed at children and are therefore hardly taken seriously by those above the age of twelve. Animal Farm was dubbed by its own author a "fairy story." The satiric content of this story, involving talking animals as the main focus, could be said to be mocking the Russian failures.

The animals on the farm, though clearly endowed with human characteristics, are still felt to be animals by the reader, of course. These creatures' pursuit of freedom/their own utopia causes feelings of uneasiness in readers. We humans hardly think about animals and their means of existing, but Animal Farm forces readers to look into and ponder what we hardly would have otherwise. Orwell's use of animals expresses the fact that it is important to think about all the affected sides in a manner.

Orwell's use of animals as characters was more effective on readers than if the characters had been humans. It is apparently natural human nature to have more pity for "cute, cuddly-wuddly" animals than "stinky and stupid" fellow men. The feelings (such as sympathy) felt by the readers would not have been felt had the characters been anything other than animals; some of the important story elements (feelings evoked have different effects on people as they read) would have been lost.

Yeah, Sheee, Yeah!

Paranoia runs in my family. I'm always devising plans in my head of what other people are doing, the motives that drive them to do something, etc. My parents are always questioning me about every little thing and attempt to be slick about making me incriminate myself in whatever I'm supposed to have done.

They are not slick, no offense meant. I realize what they are doing when they are doing it, but I usually just submit. Way easier, conflict is avoided, less stuff to deal with. Plus, I only have two more years of it to deal with (constantly, that is) so I can take it.

I say "deal with" and "take it." Maybe not the right words. I love both of my parents and am thankful for the role they play in my life. I am also quick to anger, though (like my dad). The fact that I know they think they are slick rubs me the wrong way sometimes and the constant hints they are dropping that I am "in trouble" just sets me off.

Back to the point, if I am suspected of doing something as slight as dropping a sock on the way to the laundry room, I get confronted by Dad with a false cheerful shout of "Uhh..Son? Heh, you dropped a sock, ya know!" His shouting puts me in an ill mood, so I go to pick it up. Apparently, I'm "storming" and he wants to know what's wrong. "Nothin', just get tired of you always yelling unnecesarilly." This continues and expands for quite some time.

A grade of 80 on anything causes my parents to question my sobriety and ethics. I am glad that my parents are strict because of what that means in the future (virtuous, better character, better job) but right now, I sometimes feel it is impossible to deal with the fecal matter they always drop on me(possible explanation: standard teenage mentality).

Poem Modeled After "The Red Wheelbarrow"

Fantastic rays

shine,



Flow from the

fireplace,



Sparked at will,

blaze



Awakens the

int'llect