Social Criticism In Literature
Many authors receive their inspiration for writing their
literature from outside sources. The idea for a story could come from
family, personal experiences, history, or even their own creativity.
For authors that choose to write a book based on historical events,
the inspiration might come from their particular viewpoint on the
event that they want to dramatize. George Orwell and Charles Dickens
wrote Animal Farm and A Tale of Two Cities, respectively, to express
their disillusionment with society and human nature. Animal Farm,
written in 1944, is a book that tells the animal fable of a farm in
which the farm animals revolt against their human masters. It is an
example of ...
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similar in that both describe how,
even with the best of intentions, our ambitions get the best of
us. Both authors also demonstrate that violence and the Machiavellian
attitude of "the ends justifying the means" are deplorable.
George Orwell wrote Animal Farm, ". . . to discredit the Soviet
system by showing its inhumanity and its back-sliding from ideals [he]
valued . . ."(Gardner, 106) Orwell noted that " there exists in
England almost no literature of disillusionment with the Soviet
Union.' Instead, that country is viewed either with ignorant
disapproval' or with uncritical admiration.'"(Gardner, 96) The
basic synopsis is this: Old Major, an old boar in Manor Farm, tells
the other animals of his dream of "animalism": " . . . Only get
rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost
overnight we would become rich and free.'" (Orwell, 10) The other
animals take this utopian idea to heart, and one day actually do
revolt ...
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begins his book by criticizing the capitalists and ruling
elite, who are represented in Animal Farm by Mr. Jones, the farmer. He
is shown as a negligent drunk, who constantly starved his animals.
"His character is already established as self-indulgent and uncaring."
(King, 8) Orwell shows us how, "if only animals became aware of their
strength, we should have no power over them, and that men exploit
animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat."
(Gardner, 97) What was established in Russia after the Bolshevik
Revolution was not true communism ("animalism"), which Orwell approved
of, where the people owned all the factories and land. Rather, ...
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"Social Criticism In Literature." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 May. 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Criticism-In-Literature/46596>
"Social Criticism In Literature." Essayworld.com. May 27, 2006. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Criticism-In-Literature/46596.
"Social Criticism In Literature." Essayworld.com. May 27, 2006. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Criticism-In-Literature/46596.
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