Posted by Mike on June 11, 2002 at 20:08:28:
In Reply to: thesis - it is aparent through 1984 as it is today how people will do anything for what they believe is a perfect society! BIG HUGE PAPER PLEASE HELP! posted by gracie on June 11, 2002 at 18:56:53:
Animal Farm & 1984 looked political events of the day and showed how people tried to put revolutionary ideas into practice to create a "better" society. However, what usually happened was that this ideas became corrupted resulting in a worse situation. This has been one of the dominant themes in Western history over the last 300 years.
Example #1: The French Revolution
The first real attempt to recreate society. The idea was to overturn the old political order of the monarchy and church and create a democratic state "for the people". In those days the rule of kings and princes was absolute. What happened instead was the bloody French revolution with radical left wing governments killing thousands and a series of wars with other countries scared of their revolutionary ideas. Out of this chaos came Napoleon who took over. In the end he made himself and "Emperor", no better (if not worse) than the Kings who where deposed. ****That's why Orwell call's the major villain Napoleon in Animal Farm.****
Example #2: Russian Revolution & Stalin
The Communist overthrow of the Tsar's had the same impact as the French Revolution. Starting off with high ideals about creating a "worker's paradise" the Revolution became more and more bloody as they tried to impose their vision. To create a perfect society it was thought you has to DESTROY THE OLD ONE. This mean's not only destroying institutions such as the Church or Monarchy, but reshaping society as a whole. Yet when these revolutionaries came up against resistance from certain parts of society their reaction was to destroy them. The Russian Revolution also had it's own version of Napoleon: Stalin.
Stalin wanted to transform Russia from a backward semi-feudal agrarian country into a modern industrialised state in a very short time (his first effort was known as the "Five Year Plan") to catch up and surpass the "capitalist" states such as the USA. To do this millions of Russian peasants where forced of the land and their farms "collectivised" (made state property). However they resisted: Stalin then unleashed a wave of terror to subjugate them. Millions died through starvation and at the hands of Stalin's Secret Police and Army. Millions more where sent to forced labour camps in Siberia. Animal Farm is an analogy of the Russian Revolution. ****Much of events & characters in the book are based on the events in Russia. The paln to build the Windmill is the modernisation program, the killing of animals is Stalins persecution of those who objected****
Example #3: The Nazi Revolution
Hitler and the Nazi's often said they where leading a revolution. The society they envisioned was a "Greater Germany" populated by a "master race" of Aryans (think blond haired blued eyed German Calvin Kline models...). Hitler's vision of society was racially based: all his ideas revolved around creating living space for his "Aryans". Anyone who did not fit this profile was sub-human. Thus Jews, Slavs and Gypsies where persecuted and killed (the Holocaust). The Nazi's treated non Aryan peoples with contempt, and had no qualms about killing millions. That's why Hitler invaded Poland and Russia. His vision was to create a Germans state with all their land.
Example #4: Religious Fundamentalism
At this time many religions are seeing a surge in fundamentalists beliefs. Islam AND Christianity has seen the rise of groups that think the only way to achieve the perfect society is to adhere to a strict set of religious rules. Afghanistan under the Taliban is an example, or Fundamentalist Christians who want to ban the teaching of evolution because it clashes with their world view the Bible is the literal truth. ***It's why in 1984 the Party is so obsessed with reshaping the past to conform with their political belief. It's also whay they persecute Winston for "thougt crimes", as his belief run counter to that of the Party****
All these revolutions and movemenst have a vision of a perfect society, a utopia where everything will be perfect. Yet the reality is different, everyone has different beliefs, ways of thinking and thoughts about how things should be done.
These revolutionaries thought/think there was only ONE WAY to achieve Utopia, and any objections, resistance or deabte would stop them realising this perfection.