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 social criticism ...
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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
and drive the humans out. Two pigs emerge as leaders: Napoleon ...
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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, "state communism" was established, where a
central government owned them. Orwell thought that such a political system,
"state communism," was open to ...
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"Social Criticism In Literature." Essayworld.com. December 31, 2003. Accessed December 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Criticism-In-Literature/726.
"Social Criticism In Literature." Essayworld.com. December 31, 2003. Accessed December 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Criticism-In-Literature/726.
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