This book was a slow read for me, as it is monotonous and slow. However, I am glad to have read it since I had never had the displeasure of being required to read it in school. Reading it has given me an opportunity to learn about the book, Orwell, and provided some ideas as so why it is so prominent in American literature teachings. I had never known that the CIA had investing in the books movie rights and slightly altered the message.

It seems there are two ways this story can be perceived: that it is anti-communist, stating that there is no reality in which everyone can be equal and that hierarchy is a natural element of society; or that it is anti-capitalist, and that the only way for a society to properly rebel and sustain equality is if the people/workers have the intellect to discern and stand up against those who grip the reins of power tighter than is needed.

Personally, I don’t know what the intention of Orwell’s writing was, but I think if the book was intended to be anti-capitalist, it did not quite succeed. Orwell consistently harps on how stupid the animals are, both directly and indirectly throughout the story. Even towards the end, only the final line draws the parallel between Jones/the humans and Napoleon/the pigs. Without any indication that the animals have realized their mishap of trusting the pigs or that they have finally realized that the wool has been pulled over their eyes, the book seems to leave with the message of “that is how the world works!”, even if it’s tone is heavily depressing.

I’d be interested to listen to a high school classes analysis of this book.

It is not quite the story I expected it to be, and I am interested to one day reread 1984 and see how that book compares. But not anytime soon, because Orwell’s writing is kinda dry.