Beyond the Allegory: Timeless Reflections of Society in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Abstract:

George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945) remains one of the most influential political allegories in modern literature. While the novella has traditionally been interpreted as a satirical representation of the Russian Revolution and the emergence of Stalinism, contemporary scholarship increasingly recognizes its broader significance as a critique of political power, ideological manipulation, and social inequality. This article re-examines Animal Farm as a timeless reflection of societal dynamics rather than merely a historical allegory. Drawing on Marxist theory, Gramscian hegemony, Foucauldian discourse analysis, and Althusser’s concept of ideological state apparatuses, the study analyses how Orwell’s narrative exposes the corruption of revolutionary ideals, the manipulation of language and propaganda, and the reproduction of class hierarchy. Integrating recent scholarship on political discourse and ideological control, the article argues that Orwell’s allegorical narrative provides enduring insights into contemporary political systems characterized by propaganda, misinformation, and authoritarian populism. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that Animal Farm continues to serve as a powerful literary framework for understanding the cyclical nature of political power and the vulnerability of societies to ideological domination.