About Lenin
Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov was born in Simbirsk on the Volga River on 22 April 1870 into a well-educated family. He excelled at school and went on to study law. At university, he was exposed to radical thinking, and his views were also influenced by the execution of his elder brother, a member of a revolutionary group.
In 1917, exhausted by World War One, Russia was ripe for change. Assisted by the Germans, who hoped that he would undermine the Russian war effort, Lenin returned home and started working against the provisional government that had overthrown the tsarist regime. He eventually led what was soon to be known as the October Revolution, but was effectively a coup d'etat. Almost three years of civil war followed. The Bolsheviks were victorious and assumed total control of the country. During this period of revolution, war and famine, Lenin demonstrated a chilling disregard for the sufferings of his fellow countrymen and mercilessly crushed any opposition.
Although Lenin was ruthless he was also pragmatic. When his efforts to transform the Russian economy to a socialist model stalled, he introduced the New Economic Policy, where a measure of private enterprise was again permitted, a policy that continued for several years after his death. In 1918, Lenin narrowly survived an assassination attempt, but was severely wounded. His long term health was affected, and in 1922 he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. In his declining years, he worried about the bureaucratisation of the regime and also expressed concern over the increasing power of his eventual successor Joseph Stalin. Lenin died on 24 January 1924. His corpse was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square.
In 1917, exhausted by World War One, Russia was ripe for change. Assisted by the Germans, who hoped that he would undermine the Russian war effort, Lenin returned home and started working against the provisional government that had overthrown the tsarist regime. He eventually led what was soon to be known as the October Revolution, but was effectively a coup d'etat. Almost three years of civil war followed. The Bolsheviks were victorious and assumed total control of the country. During this period of revolution, war and famine, Lenin demonstrated a chilling disregard for the sufferings of his fellow countrymen and mercilessly crushed any opposition.
Although Lenin was ruthless he was also pragmatic. When his efforts to transform the Russian economy to a socialist model stalled, he introduced the New Economic Policy, where a measure of private enterprise was again permitted, a policy that continued for several years after his death. In 1918, Lenin narrowly survived an assassination attempt, but was severely wounded. His long term health was affected, and in 1922 he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. In his declining years, he worried about the bureaucratisation of the regime and also expressed concern over the increasing power of his eventual successor Joseph Stalin. Lenin died on 24 January 1924. His corpse was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum on Moscow's Red Square.
Connection between Lenin and Animal Farm
Vladimir Lenin1. Orwell expresses through Old Major's speech that there is no way to escape the grasp of capitalism
2. Main leader of the Animal Farm Revolution 3. During Old Major's speech in the barn, as well as when they start singing "Beasts of England", Mr. Jones fires a shot into the barn. 4. Old Major's bone structure and the way his body was displayed after he died. (Buried at the "Foot of the Orchard" with a full body display). They keep his head to pay homage to how the rebellion started. 5. Wanted a fair and equal society for the Animal Farm |
The Old Major1. Lenin's main platform was a non-capitalistic society for Soviet Russia
4. A similar description of Lenin's remains that were displayed to the public. Lenin's full body was shown with his head embalmed. (Images shown below). 5. Lenin's premier goal was to turn antisemitism into hate towards capitalists |
WHY DO YOU THINK ORWELL CHOSE TO REPRESENT THE EVENT OR CHARACTER IN THE WAY HE DID? HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU THINK IT WAS?
George Orwell used Old Major to represent Lenin. Lenin was a predecessor to the cruel dictator and a very spiritual and philosophically orientated leader which is like Old Major who gives a inspiration speech before his death. They were similar in the sense both wanted to make a society where there is no capitalism and everyone is equal and sharing. Their remains were both publicly displayed after their death and symbolised as spiritual figures by their successors as their legacies such as the anthem "Beasts of England" and spiritualism of Lenin of anti capitalistic hatred. The representation of Lenin was successful because the readers can make easy connections of the two through simple and easily visible traits and legacies. It is also very similar how they both die before being able to lead their people and unleash their dreams and through this people can see Lenin and his passing through Old Major's death and the rising of Napoleon and Snowball, just like Stalin and Trotsky.
Bibliography
collectivizing. (n.d.). Animalism Vs Marxism As Discussed In Animal Farm | Essay Coursework. EssayCoursework.com | Essay, Dissertation, PhD & Coursework Writing.... Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www.essaycoursework.com/coursework/animalism-vs--marxism-as-discussed-in-animal-farm.php
Lenin, Vladimir Ilich. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/eb/article-9108666
Aryan Unity - Animal Farm. (n.d.).IMPERIUM PRESS - FLAGS. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www.aryanunity.com/afarm.html
Animal farm - Chapter 1 | The Aberdourians | my-bookclub.com. (n.d.).My Book Club | Read Any Good Books Today? | Create and Find Book Clubs | my-bookclub.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www.my-bookclub.com/bookclub/the-aberdourians/discussion/animal-farm-chapter-1/
Lenin, Vladimir Ilich. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/eb/article-9108666
Aryan Unity - Animal Farm. (n.d.).IMPERIUM PRESS - FLAGS. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www.aryanunity.com/afarm.html
Animal farm - Chapter 1 | The Aberdourians | my-bookclub.com. (n.d.).My Book Club | Read Any Good Books Today? | Create and Find Book Clubs | my-bookclub.com. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www.my-bookclub.com/bookclub/the-aberdourians/discussion/animal-farm-chapter-1/