Similarities

I found many similarities between Animal Farm and 1984, which is not surprising since they were both written by George Orwell. They are both about how Stalin governed the Soviet Union.

In Animal Farm Napoleon, who represents Stalin, has this big idea to build a windmill. But then the windmill is broken so Napoleon orders the animals to build another windmill. In 1984 Big Brother has implemented multiple three year plans. Both the windmill and three year plans represent the five year plans that Stalin had implemented but didn’t work out.

Both governments lowered the rations of the people it ruled. The revolution in Animal Farm was started so that the animals would have better living conditions and more food for themselves. But, their rations actually decreased and the pigs gave themselves more food. In 1984 the chocolate rations were decreasing, but the government ordered the media to print that rations had increased so that people would be more thankful to the government.

In Animal Farm the original seven commandments that were agreed upon by all the animals was changed by the pigs. However, because the other animals couldn’t read the new rules Squealer told everyone that they remembered them wrong and they have always been that way. This is just like in 1984 when the government ordered the media to rewrite the history so that the Party could never be proven incorrect.

In the beginning of Animal Farm Napoleon promised to lead the revolution in the best interest of the novel but then returned the farm back to Manor Farm. This is like how O’Brien let Winston think that he could be trusted, and then O’Brien turned Winston into the Ministry of Love.

In both novels the most patriotic character was betrayed by the government he had worked for. Boxer worked the hardest on Animal Farm, but instead of retiring Napoleon sent him to be made into glue. In 1984 Parsons was a loyal member of the Party his daughter turned him into the Ministry of Love because he spoke against Big Brother in his sleep.

George Orwell was able to turn one idea into two novels.