A Similar Difference

The definition of fable: “a short allegorical narrative making a moral point, traditionally by means of animal characters who speak and act like human beings” (Emery).  However, in the book Animal Farm,the animals don’t just act like people, they are actual people.  I am comparing the once well known and highly intelligent man, Karl Marx, to the simple and minor role of Major the pig in Animal Farm by George Orwell. 

Let’s start with how these two think: “Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours?”(Animal Farm  28).  Here Major can be seen questioning the way of life.  Likewise, Karl Marx “…soon found himself having to consider communist theory” (Wolff).  Both thought something was  wrong in life and it needed to be changed.

Unfortunately, nothing changed until after their deaths.  The rebellion on the farm started after Major died because the revolution was kind of Major’s death wish. Karl Marx died and then his economic and political ideas gained rapid acceptance in the socialist movement (Kreis). 

This leads to their actual deaths.  “Old major died peacefully in his sleep”, taken from Animal Farm on page 35 relates quite a bit to how Karl Marx fell asleep in his armchair and died a few minutes later (Kreis).  A peaceful death fits perfectly with their personalities.

Both were highly thought of in life and even after their deaths. Frederick Engels wrote about Marx: “And he fought with a passion, a tenacity and a success such as few could rival” (Lepore). Karl Marx was a very respected man in life.  George Orwell also shows this in Animal Farm: “Old Major was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say” (25).

 

“A new revolution is possible only in consequence of a new crisis", quoted from Karl Marx himself.  (Kreis)  Yet in Animal Farm the animals rebel against an old problem. Another quote from Mr. Marx, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs” (Network).The animals worked as much as they are able to, but the pigs didn’t work at all, instead they just accorded to their wants.

This particular book creates a simply and slightly questionable fable.  Also, it hints and weaves in little details that help you realize that the book is actually all about real people.  George Orwell had to be revealing enough with his characters so they can understand what he was really trying to say.  He just about had Major exactly like Karl Marx except for a few little details here and there.  Karl Marx and Major could be twins, but even twins have their differences. 

                                        Bibliography

Emery, David. "fable- definition of fable." 2012. About.com Urban Legends. 28 3 2012

<http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/glossary/g/fable.htm>.

                                                                                                         

Kreis, Steven. "Karl Marx, 1818-1883." 2000. The History Guide. 19 March 2012 <http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/marx.html>.

Lepore, Mike. "Engels' burial speech." 1993. The Death of Karl Marx. 19 3 2012 <http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1883/death/burial.htm>.

Network, BookRags Media. "Karl Marx Quotes." 2001-2012. Brainy Quote. 19 3 2012 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/k/karlmarx136396.html>.

Wolff, Jonathan. "Karl Marx." 2010. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 19 3 2012 <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/#1>.