Fascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism. In fascism, the country is considered to be more important than any one person or group (Widener, 2007). A fascist country would be ruled by a single person called a ‘dictator’, who has the right to control over the government and people. It would also often be totalitarian, controlling every aspect of everyones life, and be intolerant of differing opinions opposing the dictators (LitCharts, 2008).
The revolution in Animal Farm , like all revolutions, arises out of the hope for a better future. After he chases the competition, (Snowball) out of the farm, Napoleon elects himself as dictator of the farm, and no one argues (Chapter 5). After gaining full power, Napoleon uses strong totalitarian discipline to keep all the farm animals in line. Fascist dictators often use methods such as discrimination, propaganda and violent punishments for anyone not abiding by his wishes. Napoleon enforces these fascist actions. He considers himself to be of higher importance over all other farm animals, allowing himself luxuries the 'lower class' would only ever dream of having. Napoleon uses violent threats towards the animals, and does not hesitate to murder or punish them when they are not satisfactory to him. After the bloodbath in the barn with numerous innocent executions, it proves Napoleon's only way of successfully keeping power over the animals is through terror (similar to The Reign of Terror stage in many revolutions, French, Russian etc). This is a classic Fascist strategy for keeping power. This occurred in the Russian Revolution known as the 'Revolutionary Terror', where innocent people would be kept hostage and murdered in front of thousands of people, terrifying them into playing along with the governments wishes ('Russian Revolution', 2008).
Orwell's underlying point is that the anatomy of all political revolutions are ideals of justice, equality and community, but the reality is quite the opposite. Throughout the book, he successfully paints a grim picture of the demand for freedom and will always result in corrupt and fascist dictatorship, even worse than before (Eissen, 1997) . Animal Farm is the story of a revolution gone sour. How greed for power in one overrides the good-will and honesty of all others. It soon spirals into fascism, illusions used by the pigs for satisfying their appetite for power (“Power Corrupts”, 2003). Orwell truly believed the 20th century, marks the end of the very concept of freedom (Lee, 2001).
The revolution in Animal Farm , like all revolutions, arises out of the hope for a better future. After he chases the competition, (Snowball) out of the farm, Napoleon elects himself as dictator of the farm, and no one argues (Chapter 5). After gaining full power, Napoleon uses strong totalitarian discipline to keep all the farm animals in line. Fascist dictators often use methods such as discrimination, propaganda and violent punishments for anyone not abiding by his wishes. Napoleon enforces these fascist actions. He considers himself to be of higher importance over all other farm animals, allowing himself luxuries the 'lower class' would only ever dream of having. Napoleon uses violent threats towards the animals, and does not hesitate to murder or punish them when they are not satisfactory to him. After the bloodbath in the barn with numerous innocent executions, it proves Napoleon's only way of successfully keeping power over the animals is through terror (similar to The Reign of Terror stage in many revolutions, French, Russian etc). This is a classic Fascist strategy for keeping power. This occurred in the Russian Revolution known as the 'Revolutionary Terror', where innocent people would be kept hostage and murdered in front of thousands of people, terrifying them into playing along with the governments wishes ('Russian Revolution', 2008).
Orwell's underlying point is that the anatomy of all political revolutions are ideals of justice, equality and community, but the reality is quite the opposite. Throughout the book, he successfully paints a grim picture of the demand for freedom and will always result in corrupt and fascist dictatorship, even worse than before (Eissen, 1997) . Animal Farm is the story of a revolution gone sour. How greed for power in one overrides the good-will and honesty of all others. It soon spirals into fascism, illusions used by the pigs for satisfying their appetite for power (“Power Corrupts”, 2003). Orwell truly believed the 20th century, marks the end of the very concept of freedom (Lee, 2001).