https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia John Blouch - ORB Quarter 1 en-us 2018-10-30 17:48:14 UTC 2018-11-01 18:23:50 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298667579 2018-10-30 17:56:43 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298667579 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298671278 The New York Times review by Arthur C. Danto describes Animal Farm in a way in which I could not even begin to shed light on. Cleary, I agree with his analysis and review of the book. Danto breaks down everything in the book. From its over-arching message, even to its subtitle: "A Fairy Story". Discussing the obvious Soviet and Facist actions in the book, Danto makes it clear what his, and Orwell's, stance on the book and the time period it was written in is. 

New York Times]]> 2018-10-30 18:02:09 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298671278 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298674541 “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (Orwell 139)

The pigs have bcome humans. Initially, when the rebellion and revolution first began, pigs, as well as all animals, detested humans. They were leeches who profited off the work of their animals, and gave nothing back to them. Humans steal the chickens' eggs, drink the cows' milk, and still, the animals live in squalor. The humans have always been parasites to the animals. But at the end of the book, the pigs have become humans. Playing cards and drinking with humans. They have become the very things they sought out to destroy. Showing an effect not dissimilar to the Ouroboros. That any revolution will lead to dictatorship, and any dictatorship left with absolute power will become the very thing the revolution sought to dispose of.]]> 2018-10-30 18:07:15 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298674541 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298687934 The entire book of Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and Joseph Stalin's rise to power.  Following the beginning with the forceful expulsion of the current ruling party, alluding to the October Revolution, two characters vie for ultimate power and control: Snowball and Napoleon. While the two publicly battle for political power, Napoleon privatley raises and trains dogs. One day at a meeting, Napoleon sics the aforementioned dogs onto Snowball. Snowball flees, and once he does, Napoleon decnounces him, as a traitor, showing similarities to the assasination of Leon Trotsky. After Snowball has been exiled, Napoleon becomes dictator of the farm. With the appropiatley named Squealer being Napoleon's head of propaganda, and ruling with an iron fist, Napoleon has finally become the dictator of the farm. Eventually, Napoleon will become corrupt changing the very core of Animalism. A perfect example of how absolute power corrupts absolutley.]]> 2018-10-30 18:29:37 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298687934 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298694777 Dramatic Irony: Once Snowball is exiled, the 7 Comandments of Animalism begin to change. However, because most of the animals are illiterate, they do not know that they have been changed. As far as the animals know, the 7 Commandments of Animalism have always remained the same. The first rule to change is the sixth. Originally, the sixth commandment reads "No animal shall kill any other animal.". However this rule is changed to "No animal shall kill any other animal without reason." when Napoleon and his dogs execute several animals for allegedly collaborating with Snowball. With no proof and barely even a trial, the dogs rip out the throats of the animals, and leave their blody bodies as a sign of what happens to traitors. The second commandment to go is the 4th, that "No animal shall sleep in a bed." but after the pigs break into the old farmhouse, the rule is changed to "No animal shall sleep in a bad with sheets.". After living in the farmhouse for a while, the pigs stumble upon a case of whisky, and the fifth commandment now reads "No animal shall drink alchohol to excess.". Finally, breaking the first commandment, the pigs begin to talk on two legs. The sheeps constant bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad." present since the beginning of the revolution has become "Four legs good, two legs better.". Eventually, after donning clothes and inviting human farmers over to inspect Animal Farm, all of the 7 commandments are replaced with just one: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.". ]]> 2018-10-30 18:41:48 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/298694777 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/299508973 The final commandment "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal." perfectly exemplifies the message of Animal Farm and its commentary on the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. The goal of communism is to make all people equal, as is the goal of Animalism. However, this simply cannot be done. Some people will be smarter, some jobs will be in higher demand and from this social classes will arise, and from social classes, inequality. ]]> 2018-11-01 17:53:44 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/299508973 blo07375 https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/299513168 Both books are writen by George Orwell and have similar themes. However the point of view and overall plot of both books are drastically different. The main similarity between the two is the redaction practiced by both ruling parties. In "1984", it's the censorship of any news that shows that Big Brother, and by extension the ruling party, is not perfect. In Animal Farm, it's the changing of the Seven Commandments of Animalism. By the end of the book, Napoleon has violated all of the original commandments and arguably some of the new ones too.]]> 2018-11-01 18:00:38 UTC https://padlet.com/blo07375/theriseandfallofsovietrussia/wish/299513168