One of the books from which I learnt how to use metaphors to communicate real-world events was the magnum opus by George Orwell, Animal Farm. He masterfully used it to pass a veiled message about the geopolitics of his day. If you thought the book was about animals, then what he really said must have flown over your head.
It’s a satire which he used to aim at political leaders, the weaponisation of propaganda and the undiscerning populace whose lack of critical thinking made them unable to see through the smoke and mirrors deployed by those who governed them. His choice of fable was genius because, in a primal sense, human beings are referred to as political animals, and the archetypes used in the storytelling couldn’t be more apposite.
The story is actually an allegory for a specific chain of events and personae dramatis, but I’m using literary licence here to extrapolate its subtle meanings to contemporary times. Recently, I was thinking about a country of particular concern which shall remain nameless, and I couldn’t help but identify certain characters and patterns from Orwell’s classic.
The Manor Farm This story starts at Manor Farm, a property owned by Mr Jones; it’s also where a group of animals call home. One day, a prize-boar, Old Major, calls for a meeting with other animals and gives a great speech about how they should revolt against Mr Jones, who they reckon to be a drunk and neglectful farmer.
Old Major’s vision is for the animals to liberate themselves from human control, accusing them of selfishly appropriating yields produced by the animals, so they can live in a world where all animals are equal. A speech about equality coming from a privileged and well-fed boar resonates deeply with the other animals who are overworked