Comparisson Between Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies

Wasindi Chea

Ms. Laura Flaquer

English 10th

30 November 2016

Comparative essay: Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies

William Golding`s “Lord of the Flies” and George Orwell`s “Animal Farm” are brilliant symbolic works hoping to increase awareness among people of their evil and ambitious nature. In both stories, there`s a democracy at first yet it starts falling apart as ruthless leaders rise in society. These stories show how human nature has an unchangeable and hopeless destiny through powerful allegories. In addition, the authors portrait their political views incarnated in the characters. Whereas Orwell perceives human nature as politically power-thirsty and manipulative, Golding views human nature inherently evil.

Both stories reveal people`s ambition and power-thirst and its catastrophic consequences when people oppose each other violently in society, however, each author focuses differently. Orwell focuses on how human nature is ambitious throughout the process in which Napoleon seizes power in the farm. Napoleon opposes everything Snowball proposes and one day Snowball was expelled by Napoleon`s ferocious dogs. In Snowball`s absence, Napoleon declares himself leader, “Too amazed and frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were closed on his heels. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Then he was up again, running faster than ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball`s tail, but Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more” (Orwell 53). Determined to be the boss, Napoleon used oppression to drive snowball away. His madness took him to eliminate his adversary. Additionally, Napoleon manipulated the animals to believe that Snowball was a traitor and make them fear and hate Snowball, “Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball” (78). Napoleon was not satisfied with his adversary gone, it was better to have the community despise Snowball as he did. More was better, because too much of a good thing can be truly wonderful.

On the other hand, using the evil all humans have inside, Golding shows how it can get people to commit atrocious crimes that lead to savagery. Jack did not stand Ralph, to the point of planning his death and kill him like a pig. Jack had under his control all the boys, which were savages, and they were preparing themselves to hunt big game: Ralph. “The chief [Jack] and Roger, they hate you Ralph. They´re going to do you. They´re going to hunt you tomorrow” (Golding 188). The hatred was so intense between Jack and Ralph, that it became savage, out of control. Jack was willing to murder Ralph for the chief position, to be leader. Moreover, after looking for the beast in the mountain, Jack called an assembly having a different agenda. “Who thinks Ralph oughtn´t to be chief?” He looked expectantly at the boys ranged round, who had frozen. Under the palms there was deadly silence. “Hands up,” said Jack strongly, “whoever wants Ralph not to be chief?” (127). Jack sabotaged the assembly telling to the boys that Ralph wasn’t a proper chief. To his surprise, no one raised his hands, and that made him even more furious. There´s no doubt Orwell and Golding prove, although differently, what human nature is capable of doing to fulfill vain desires.

At the same time, Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies question political issues regarding the government. Set in different important political event in history, and with different concepts concerning the government, they both end in the same way because human nature remains the same. While fighting to bring down a monarchy, people weren’t expecting a dictatorship as Stalin was rising: allegorically, Napoleon. Napoleon abuses his powers, making life harder for the animals while reserving privileges for the pigs. Even the seven commandments were changed little by little; “no animal shall sleep in beds” is changed to “No animal shall sleep in beds with sheets” when the pigs are discovered to be sleeping in beds in the farmhouse. Napoleon has become a dictator doing and undoing rules according to what pleased him and his fellows, the pigs. The animals were under his control, and nothing was to be done because they were scared of Napoleon. Furthermore, the pigs learn how to walk, carry whips and wear clothes. Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and the humans of the area, who congratulate Napoleon on having the hardest-working animals in the country on the least feed. During the party, an argument breaks out and the animals, confused, see no different between the pigs and men. “Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. 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.” (141).They became the thing they were fighting at the beginning to stay as far as possible: humane.         

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