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A Society: A Sociological Interpretation of Animal Farm (George Orwell)
Harjot Singh

The fundamentals of any society are a direct result of the system of cooperation amongst beings
of a society. The people of a society choose their own structure of rules and regulations that they
see to be fit; regardless of the society’s nature, whether primitive or an industrial capitalist
society, there is always an established order of societal norms and rituals. The disciplines of
Philosophy and Sociology have crafted various thinkers who have presented ideological
arguments regarding the functions of an ideal society. One such text that challenges various
ideals of existing societies is “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. Interpreting George Orwell’s
“Animal Farm” is not a straightforward task, considering the manipulative language Orwell uses,
one must be wary of the meaning that is interpreted. The following essay examines the argument
various sociological theories would put forward if applied to animal farm; and thus, answer my
question as to whether hierarchy is an integral part of any functioning society and should there be
safeguards to this.

I
The first chapter of Animal Farm is a representation of a divided society wherein a farmer named
Jones who exploits the animals for profits owns the farm. The representation of the farm
coincides with Marx’s Model or Class Theory in a Capitalist Economy (or Society); the Marxian
Class Theory suggests that society is divided into two classes, in a capitalist society, which are
the “Bourgeoisie” or the owners of production and the “Proletariat” or the labors who work for
the owners of production.
The farmer Jones is seen to be a representation of the owner of production or the Bourgeoisie, as
he owns the farm and exploits the animals that work on the farm. Both Jones and the Animals are
involved in the production process on Manor Farm (changes to Animal Farm after the Rebellion)
but the animals receive no profit for their work. As per Karl Marx’s argument, this is the
problem that resides at the core of a capitalist society, which in this case is Animal Farm.
However, Orwell’s manipulative text, which doesn’t specify the exact model of society Animal
Farm incorporates, leads to indications of alternate systems within Animal Farm itself. Such can
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be seen in the following instance present in the book, “Because nearly the whole of the produce
of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. There, comrades, is the answer to all our
problems. It is summed up in a single word — Man. Man is the only real enemy we have.
Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not
lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is
lord of all the animals” (Orwell, 1945, p.2); man here representing the Marxian Bourgeoisie, the
Feudal Lord and the horrible Dictator. Orwell’s polysemantic language creates an enigma for the
reader who now tries to figure out the underlying nature of the society animal farm inscribes.
However, the initial pages of the text make the underlying situation very clear; the animals are
being exploited for produce that man enjoys and the animals detest the inequality and the burden
of their work that they themselves can’t relish.

II
As the story at Animal Farm proceeds, the author introduces many new concepts. The system of
production under Jones is not seen to be in the best interests of the animals who are being
exploited as labour. It is at the moment Old Major, an old white boar, addresses all the animals at
animal farm about their current state of misery, don’t the animals realize the need for change,
there is a sudden surge of collectivistic emotions that runs through the gathering. A sense of
rebellion, a need for change in the fundamentals of the organization of Animal Farm was afoot,
as Old Major said, “Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own.
A1most overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and
day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades:
Rebellion!” (Orwell, 1945, p.3)
Many Sociologists such as Marx and Durkheim would attribute the need for revolution as a
result of the many inequalities in the system. Marx would argue that when inequalities, such as
seen in Animal Farm, reach an extent, Social Revolution becomes inevitable as now, “The
proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.” (Marx and Engels,
1948, CH4)
Durkheim would attribute another cause for the revolution that was now an idea on Animal
Farm, this one being that of alienation. In my interpretation of the concept of Alienation, I
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believe that the entire society, regardless of class, needs to understand the concept of mutual
dependency. When one class or section of society forgets the idea of mutual dependency, a sense
of alienation develops with the overall system. If the Bourgeoisie don’t realize their dependency
on the exploited, the Proletariat, and in turn do not do enough to keep the system in order by
looking into the condition of welfare for the suppressed, rebellion or revolution becomes
indefinite.
The collectivistic identity that now emerged on Animal Farm, despite their differences (i.e.
Species, Breed), was a result of the mass exploitation that led them to overwork and not enjoy
their own produce; while another approach can be seen in Old Major’s speech to the animals (in
Chapter One) where he unites the animals against the general concept of man. Man as an entity
has been taken as a symbol of hierarchy and inequality, a symbol of exploitation for the working
class (animals).
Nearing the end of Old Major’s speech, the ideology behind the rebellion further strengthens
when he emphasizes on the factor of complete equality on the basis of produce and opportunity
after the rebellion that animals will receive; “And remember, comrades, your resolution must
never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the
animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is
all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there
be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are
comrades.” (Orwell, 1945, p.3)
At this point the ideology behind rebellion can be seen to resemble many of the Revolutions, in
some ways, seen throughout World History, such as, The French Revolution, The Bolshevik
Revolution, The Cultural (Mao) Revolution and Arab Spring. While the list of actual revolutions
and rebellions throughout the world is exhaustive, the need to topple over regimes or fight for
change in the fundamentals of society, when it becomes unfair, is seen as an innate quality of
every society.

III
The smart animals of the farm, the Pigs and two Boars named Napoleon and Snowball,
strengthen the idea of Rebellion. They convinced the other animals on the farm why the idea was
important and argued against the sceptics of the rebellion. The Pig named Squealer, who was a
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brilliant talker, argued for Rebellion along with Napoleon and Snowball until things began to get
worse on the farm; Jones started underfeeding the animals and this caused a huge outrage and the
animals realised the immediate need for change now.
The Animals united and began fighting the humans who were expelled from the boundaries of
the farm. All symbols of human cruelty was destroyed; “The harness-room at the end of the
stables was broken open; the bits, the nose-rings, the dog-chains, the cruel knives with which Mr.
Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs, were all flung down the well. The reins, the
halters, the blinkers, the degrading nosebags, were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was
burning in the yard. So were the whips.” (Orwell, 1945, p.7)
Now came the stage of establishing a New Society that incorporated the fundamentals of
Animalism. Jones and all other humans were expelled and the animals had the farm to
themselves. From here on every step for this Society should be critical but as Orwell continues
into Chapters two, three and four, this new Society has already made mistakes at its core, which
in the end will lead an unjust and unequal society.
At this Juncture, a very important Political Theory comes into play; the formation of a new
society or the transition resembles a position, which puts all the beings outside any particular
society. As the animals go into transition from the Society that functioned under Jones (the
Farmer) to a new Society, some imperative and critical steps are required to be taken.
John Rawles, a famous Political Philosopher, gives the principles of an equal and fair society;
these principles are at the core of every democratic society. John Rawles (1985) puts all beings
in an original position, which means that no one is a part of any particular society; a situation
that exists on Animal Farm following the Rebellion. Under this, John Rawles further asserts that
every being must cooperate and coordinate together and create the new set of rules and
regulations (fundamental principles) that would come to govern the new society. The Pigs,
Napoleon and Snowball wrote the Fundamental Principles for the new society of Animal Farm,
these were:
“1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
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6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.” (Orwell, 1945, p. 9)

However, as seen in Animal Farm, the Pigs, Napoleon and Snowball take up Political Power and,
what at first was a function to give the animals a new direction in the farm, establish a hierarchy.
From Chapter two to Chapter five, the pigs who have taken the position of being in a higher class
by default of their knowledge and ability to read. Napoleon and Snowball, being the two boars
who are smart, ambiguously take up leadership positions as a result of; one their leadership in the
rebellion; and second, their position as intelligent animals. After the Rebellion, the Pigs,
Napoleon and Snowball continuously violate the established rules; the three have a justification
for their actions every time.

IV
The last phase of the book and this paper, concludes my argument; my argument being,
regardless of what type of society is established, a system of hierarchy, either Economical or
Political will exist and if so, there will be a requirement for safeguards against the exploitation of
this hierarchical system. The presence of this hierarchy doesn’t always have a negative meaning;
hierarchy is important for various reasons, one being that considering everyone’s individual
opinion is counterproductive to the society. By the end of the book, Napoleon using his
manipulative skills, tricks everyone to believe that Snowball, who becomes his rival, is an enemy
of Animal Farm. Napoleon now becomes a symbol of fear, a leader who will slaughter any
animal who stands against him, using his Guard Dogs he brings in a new political regime unlike
any of the discussed in this paper. Napoleon and the pigs didn’t work in the farm’s everyday
business for production but kept a majority chunk for them, despite a revolution, a certain class
divide was being created.
Napoleon and the Pigs were in the highest strata and a new kind of Political Power whilst all
other worked for the state but didn’t receive full benefits. Napoleon now became an Autocrat; in
autocracy, the political power of government rests within one person’s hand that is not subjected
to any sort of legal restraints. This can be seen after Animal farm is declared a Republic, “In
April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President.
There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously.” (Orwell, 1945, p.45)
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Napoleon began becoming relentless with his rule over animal farm and did what he felt was
right or benefited him; the pigs who were the teachers before the revolution supported Napoleon
as they were getting certain benefits themselves.
The story in the last chapter takes its last turn when the Animal Farm Society ends up into a
condition it existed under Jones’ time. Napoleon became so powerful that the fundamental
principles of Animal Farm were changed; the society that was founded to create equality for the
suppressed took a vicious circle and ended up in the same place; yes hierarchy is seen as an
important principle of a society, but equality of opportunity and treatment should not disappear;
the totalitarian regime that was now underway at animal farm was an example of hierarchy
without safeguards and result of mob-mentality. Here is the last surviving principle that was left
on the wall of the Barn in Animal Farm; “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” (Orwell, 1945, p.51-52).

Reference List:

• Orwell, G. (1945) Animal Farm. London: Secker & Warburg.

• Rawls, J. (1985) Justice as Fairness: Political not Metaphysical. Philosophy and Public
Affairs, Vol. 14, No. 3, p.223-251.
• Marx, K. and Engels, F. (1848) The Communist Manifesto.
• Jones, P., Bradbury, L. and LeBoutillier, S. (2011) Introducing Social Theory. 2nd Ed.
Cambridge: Polity