The Use of Distortion as a Literary Device in George...

Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is an excellent example of distortion as a literary device. The story is set up as a fable using a third person objective viewpoint and personification of animals to represent historical figures and stereotypes. Distortion can also be found in much of the symbolism throughout the novel. Similar to a fable, Animal Farm makes use of personification. In the story, farm animals are used to represent different classes of people, from the average working man to government officials and police or military personnel. This element of the novel goes deeper, when the pigs on the farm begin to resemble historical figures such as Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky, of Russia. Through distortion of character, Orwell brings†¦show more content†¦This brings the reader to the level of the working class animals and instills a sense of uncertainty and disillusionment that is felt by most of the characters in the story. In the beginning, the animals are excited by Ma jor’s talk of rebellion against Mr. Jones and through Orwell’s objective point of view, the same feeling of insurrection is passed on to the audience. As the pigs weave an intricate web of lies and scandal, the reader gets the sense that not all is well in the same way the animals do. The difference between the animals and ourselves lies in intelligence. The author deliberately makes the characters dumber than the average person, allowing us to see through the deception of the pigs, without the use of a third person omniscient viewpoint. Symbolically, Animal Farm itself is supposed to represent Russia and the Soviet Union under Communist control. The farm in today’s world, being a small, self-sustaining entity may relate to current conditions in North Korea. It seems that Kim Jong-il, like the pigs, is much more equal than his subjects. Kim and Napoleon seem to share the paranoia of being attacked by more powerful rivals, and both it seems, have a desire to keep their respective nations in the dark. Perhaps less specifically, the farm could represent human society as a whole. As mentioned earlier, the characters display an entire spectrum of human classes and stereotypical personalities. The way the pigs altered the seven commandmentsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book 1984 By Winston Smith2218 Words   |  9 Pagesbefore everything ended forever? Either way, the novel ends with one undeniable conclusion. The character the reader knew as Winston Smith, with his spark of rebellion, his questioning of the world, and his hope in the darkness...is dead. Four literary devices feature prominently within the text of 1984, adding another layer of unspoken depth to the eerie fictional, but all-too-real, world. Perhaps the most notable of these, many paradoxes line the pages and the walls of the world. Even the motto ofRead MoreCritics of Novel 1984 by George Orwell14914 Words   |  60 Pages1984 In George Orwells 1984, Winston Smith wrestles with oppression in Oceania, a place where the Party scrutinizes human actions with ever-watchful Big Brother. Defying a ban on individuality, Winston dares to express his thoughts in a diary and pursues a relationship with Julia. These criminal deeds bring Winston into the eye of the opposition, who then must reform the nonconformist. George Orwells 1984 introduced the watchwords for life without freedom: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU. WrittenRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†